Southwestern Louisiana Institute - Lacadien Yearbook (Lafayette, LA)

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This year, 1976. the United States of America is observing its two hundredth birthday. Looking back over two hundred years, the history presents a colorful array of events which drastically altered the course of this country. It all started on July 4, 1776, when a new nation was founded. This Nation set up a new system of government, which many Europeans thought would never last. The Americans, then, as now, thought of themselves as a new strain of people in a fast growing but young country. These first Americans were intent on proving to the rest of the world that they could carry out their plan of having elected officials govern the new nation. They also advocated equal opportunity for all men and a system to protect and extend personal liberties. The goals of the new nation were documented in The Declaration of Inde- pendence. This document contained two earth-shaking propositions: that all men are created equal and that government must not exist without the consent of the governed. Thus the country was an independent nation and no longer considered The Thirteen Colonies.

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1956 — Institute authorized to grant Master ' s degree in Education, thus provided for the forma- tion of a Graduate School. Graduate Council was created. The SLI Foundation was created to receive and administer private gifts to the Univer- sity. 1957 — State Board of Education authorized Mas- ter of Science degree in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering. Passed first bond issue for buildings. Constructed Roy and Caffery Halls; Student Union Group — Coronna Hall; Guillory Hall; Olivier Hall; Resweber building; Home Econom- ics House; H. Flood Madison Hall; Marine Biol- ogy Laboratory at Red Fish Point in Vermilion Bay; Billeaud Hall; and renovated DeClouet Hall. 1958 — Graduated first five students from Master degree programs. 1959 — 20 units of Married Student Housing built. Renovated O. K. Allen Dining Hall and Brown Ayres Hall for Art and Architecture Department. UNIVERSITY YEARS 1960 — Name changed to The University of Southwestern Louisiana. Enrollment was 4,910. USL Opera Guild was created. 1961 — Completed first floor of Dupre Library. Acquired first digital computer. 1962 — Bonm Hall built. 1963 — McCullough Hall completed. Martin Hall (Administration building) and F. G. Mouton Hall completed. Began broadcasting over KRVS-FM, the student radio station. 1964 — Master ' s degree offered in Computer Sci- ence. Began program in Medical Records. 1965 — Constructed Voorhies Hall. 1966 — Dr. Clyde L. Rougeou succeeds as Presi- dent. Masters ' degrees offered in Political Science and Statistics. 1967 — Maxim D. Doucet Hall and Stokes Hall built. 1968 — Denbo Hall and Wharton Hall built. 1969 — Ph.D. degrees in Biology, English, His- tory, Mathematics, Microbiol ogy and Education authorized. 1970 — Opened Cajun Field Stadium. Opened Student Union facility. Digital computer system installed. 1972 — H. L. Griffin Hall built. Architecture pro- gram given full accreditation. Opened first Student Government Child Care Center in the state. 1974 — Dr. Ray Authement became President in July. 1975 — Music degrees accredited. Began school of Life Insurance Marketing; National Bilingual Resource Center. Expanded Computer C- nter. Began construction on new Art and Architecture building from design selected in open competition. For completion in August 1976.

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SH.MNl. TIIK DEC ' LVKATION OK IS DKrENUKNC K. THE BECKONING OF A NEW NA TION E Pluribus Unum was proposed as the motto of the United States in 1776 by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin FrankHn. It took six years to agree on the motto. In the early 1600 ' s the North American shore was invaded by a host of European peoples as well as enslaved Africans. These immigrants displaced the Indians along the seaboard. Throughout the years the settlers established small communities along the east- ern coast of the North American shore. By 1773 the people, still faithful to English customs and institu- tions, were starting to regard themselves as a distinct people. The British, feeling that the Americans were straying from their authority, tried to tighten controls but this only led to a split between the Mother Country and the TTiirteen Colonies. Thus in 1776 the Americans proclaimed their independence.