Southeast Missouri State University - Sagamore Yearbook (Cape Girardeau, MO)

Page 9 text:

University changes to keep pace with seventies With all the changes that have come to SEMSU in the decade of the 70s, one has to wonder how university alumni even recognize their alma mater. Even the name SEMSU is an acronym of re- cent origin. Prior to 1977 this universi- ty was known to all as simply SEMO. Although it was decided to be changed to SEMSU, many students, faculty members, and alumni still refer to it as SEMO. But the changes came almost from the beginning of the decade. In 1972, just prior to celebrating its Centennial, Southeast Missouri State College be- came Southeast Missouri State Univer- sity, and In 1973, the university cele- brated its lOOth year as an institution of higher learning. By 1976, the university had been di- vided into six colleges and the curricu- lum began to expand rapidly. Many new majors were instituted, among them communications, early child- hood, and criminal justice. The com- munications major was enhanced by the opening of KRCU, the campus radio station in the spring of 1976. Another major change came about in 1975 when Dr. Robert E. Leestamper came to SEMSU from Massachusetts to take over duties as university presi- dent. Former President Mark F. Scully had held the position for almost 20 years.

Page 11 text:

Signs of the times As the pace in the world around SEMSU began to shift and the pro- tests of the 60s began to fade, the students here settled down to the business at hand . . . academics. This is not to say that the masses never again ros up in protest. Many students will remember the escapades of Leestamper ' s Camp- ers in the fall of 1977. The protest centered around the university open house policy and culminated when a handful of students pitched tents on the terraces of Academic Hall and camped out there for sev- eral days. Although the protest did not bring about the immediate desired results, it did manage to bring the concerns of the students in front of the administration, the media, and others in the general public. And, small though they may seem, the 70s did bring some more liberal poli- cies into effect. For one thing hours for women were eliminated. The physical face of the universi- ty has changed too. Early in the decade the Mark F. Scully Educa- tional-Psychology Building was opened and the two departments moved from the old History Build- ing into their new quarters. The long awaited University Center was J opened in the fall of 1975 and stu- m dents were able to take advantage of its many facilities including the bookstore, cafeteria, meeting rooms, bowling alley, and the crafts center. Another landmark was add- ed in 1977 when SEMSU erected the Bubble, which was purchased from a company in Springfield, Mo. While in Springfield the Bubble housed a skating rink, at SEMSU it serves as extra space for P.E. classes and it houses an indoor track. Predictions for SEMSU ' s future indicate that the peak enrollment of the past few years will level off and decline soon, but it is certain that as long as there are students, the changes will continue. .? ' !»? ' RIGHT TO Ot al Hall IS now cmcd. i Jflivcrir lei r Is OPSr. . S L£ ! : i--- M i if 3350O3 I b( -- fi ' ■ ' ■ -mTfm s ,,H., ' ' Irl B ' ' fj- tre H V V