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1940s
Our
orchestra had Howard Hanson conducting his symphony. The excitement
of playing with him was almost impossible to imagine. The tension grew
and grew. I looked back at the trombone section and there were tears
in the football playersÕ eyes. I think we were all affected!
Dorothy Lichty Crawford, ISTC '41
San Jose, CA
I came back to ISTC and got my M.A. in 1962. A great
school and wonderful accommodations.
Norman Hanson, ISTC '41
Cedar Falls, IA
Hearing the campanile
chimes- bells! Sweating through calculus classes! Working at the Commons
cafeteria!
Glenn Miller, ISTC '41
Hemet, CA
Riding on the
trolley to downtown Cedar Falls to work at Boysen's Shoe Store. A pleasant
escape from school studies.
Ivan W. Maurer, ISTC '41
Decatur, AL
Meeting my lovely
wife, Lois, of 58 years!
Don Eells, ISTC '41
Cedar Rapids
Dancing at the
commons to the "Tutor Ticklers." Moving into the "new" Lawther Hall.
My favorite professors were Miss Smith and Miss Arey. Having to sit
at the baseball games where Forrest was the catcher.
Marjorie Johnson Hanifan, ISTC '41
Knoxville, IA
Hurrying to eat
dinner so we could get to "rec" dancing.
Charlene
Gilbert Muir, ISTC '41
Oak Park, ILL
Commons dancing
at noon and lunch in the fountain lunch counter of an olive and nut
sandwich and a Coke.
Luella Workman Larsen, ISTC '41
Cedar Falls, IA
Rec. dancing
Ð Tutor Ticklers. College Eye reporter, my first big assignment was
to report on Lawther Hall before it opened.
Betty L Burley, ISTC '41
Mason City, IA
1. Night lady
bawled me out for ringing the bell so long instead of being late.
2. Women's Phys. Ed. Dept. taught me how to walk down stairs after I
showed up with bleeding knees form falling down Auditorium steps.
3. Sadie B. suggested I not take Contemporary Affaires because most
students felt it was difficult and I was working at Clay Equipment on
war time productions at night. I enjoyed that class and did well. I
was even written up in the College Eye because at that time I was the
only student commuting!
Rita Kane
Weapie, ISTC '41 and '46
Independence, IA
For 25
cents per hour in 1941 or 1942, I followed Phi Mu Alpha frat brother
Myron Messerschmidt as the Campanile player (and this was before it
was electrified and turned into a carillon). Climbing all those stairs
on a cold Iowa morning, taking off my jacket in order to push down the
heavy levers with my arms for each note, and obtaining a triad by playing
a pedal with my foot was this non-jock's 15-minute phys ed period. "Smitty
on the Keys," my column in the college newspaper, referred more t o
my playing piano in the Commons. But oh the joy of crazily clanging
away on the huge bells, yelling instead of singing along, and arching
my back as if I were Quasimodo up in the belfry. Little wonder that
I switched from music to literature in my senior year . . . and am about
to be included in the upcoming CONTEMPORARY AUTHORS.
Profs I recall with fondness: Brock Fagan and John Cowley in English;
Lyle Baum and Carl Wirth in music; George Holmes in journalism; Martin
L. Grant in biology; and President Malcolm Price (for I drew him as
my beat on the COLLEGE EYE). When in my Manhattan recording studio I
once recorded the organist of Radio City Music Hall, I told him I had
played an even larger instrument. He was incredulous . . . until I told
him about the ISTC campanile.
Warren Allen Smith, ISTC '48
New York, New York
1950s
Intramural basketball-so much fun. Many good times-good classes.
Ray Cooper, ISTC '51 & '59
Clear Lake, IA
I had many wonderful teachers at ISTC and they all brought a love for
learning to the classroom!
Gerald Carpenter, ISTC '51
Ramona, Ca
My memory is more a feeling than an event. Given the era 1947-1951,
and being female coming from a modest income family, each day I felt
thrilled to be a college student on my way to becoming a bonafide 4-year
college graduate. I sensed the dawning of an era of social permission
for women to wake up their respective minds for service to themselves
and to others. I feel grateful that ISTC was an encouraging academic
setting for women as well as men. Dr. William Lang, Dr. Josef Fox and
Dr. Lloyd Douglas were among special mentors.
Berdena J. Nelson Beach, ISTC '51 & SCI
'75
Cedar Falls, IA
I took several classes from Dr. Elaine McDavitt in Speech. She was a
perfectionist and hard to please. Once in an interpretation class, she
asked me to repeat a long line in a poem over and over: "I must
go down to the sea; the lonely sea and the sky," etc. I was to
feel what she felt for the idea in that line. At that time this Iowa
farm boy of 18 had never seen a sea, let alone been tossed around on
one! I just could not make her sense that I dramatically measured up
to that great line! But I learned that there was a real beauty in words,
especially in poetry, and we had to feel what we performed. I did not
get an A in that course but I did in later ones. I thank her for insisting
on a higher degree of perfection in me.
Bernard J. Brommel, ISTC '51
Chicago, IL
Triple jeopardy of 1) dating a town girl, 2) who was also one of my
students, while student teaching, and 3) who was also a professors daughter.
P.S. We're celebrating our 50th Anniversary in December.
William Gauger, ISTC '51
Iowa City, IA
When I attended summer school, Campus Kindergarten was held in a small
wooden building near the Women's Gym. Five of us did student teaching
under a wonderful instructor. Rewarding!
Naomi Kimberley Ritzman, ISTC '51
Hampton, IA
Sorority events and especially leadership opportunities!
Natalie Clayton Meyer, ISTC '51
Denver, CO
My first class as a freshman was 1 credit hour- it was a
beginning typing class and it was an 8:00am class across campus on the
3rd or 4th floor, and many typists were not beginners, as I was. Most
pleasant memory was being an attendant to Old Gold Queen in '51.
Ardello Recher Butler,
ISTC '51
Clarinda, IA
I
really enjoyed being a member of the A Cappella choir and also the trips
we took. Mr. Gerard was a fantastic director.
Barbara
Long Bratland, ISTC '51
Bode, IA
Simply the entire four-year process of preparing me to realize my dream
of becoming a basketball coach.
Don
King, ISTC '51
Cedar Rapids, IA
I played football for four years ('47-'50), coach
was "Buck" Stanbeck. I rode a triumph motorcycle. The
two of us were visiting by side of men's gym and he wanted to ride my
'cycle, identifying he knew how to ride one. He took off with it, balanced
bad and ran into a tree. He was my "ideal" for a coach.
Homer
C. Bienfang, ISTC '51
Clear Lake, IA
I met so many nice people with such varied interests;
they helped expand my views of the world. Working in the Commons did
much to this.
Enid
Roth Roscoe, ISTC '51
Atlantic, IA
October 1, 1948 - At a night dance, Colleen Gadwin chose me to dance
at a "Ladies Choice". That's when we ment, and we have now
been married for 49 years, have raised 4 children, and we now have 10
grandchildren with number 11 & 12 on the way!
Robert
P. Robinson, ISTC '51
Overland Park, KS
Sharing a 2 1/2 year Honeymoon with my new bride, Norma, with whom I
have enjoyed 53 years of marriage.
DeWaine
Silker , ISTC '51
Rochester, MN
Dancing in the Commons; working on art projects in the "new at
that time" art building; having "gab fests" with my Pi
Theta Pi Sorority sisters; football & basketball games; listening
to the Campanile at 6p.m..
Virginia McGovern Abney,
ISTC '51
Cedar Rapids, IA
Meeting friends on the "Hill" for a coke. Also, dorm or wing
parties.
Shirley Miller Joens, ISTC
'51
Clarinda, IA
Dancing and music in the Commons after meals.
John M. Wallace, ISTC '51
Rogers, AR
Art class with Devid Delafield. He made class interesting even for those
who had no Art. A Cappella choir - Maurice Gerow. Marching Band. Tours
with A Cappella choir & Marching Band. You were not just a number.
Dorothy
Zirat Rokes,
ISTC '51 and SCI '62
Cedar Falls, IA
They are many and meaningful but don't deserve special mention.
Shirley
Bollhoefer Suckow,
ISTC '51 and SCI '63
Newton, IA
I enjoyed living in both Bartlett and Lawther Halls. I made many lifelong
friends. We had so much fun together. Some of my classes were very interesting
and opened up a wider world to me. Thanks for the education.
Ellen Boust Opsal,
ISTC '51 and SCI '65
Cedar Falls, IA
Times spent with friends. Meeting my husband, Lee
Miller.
Donnabelle
Beatty Miller, ISTC '53
Dewey, AZ
As a freshman
I lived in Stadium Hall. It got so cold that a bowl of goldfish froze
solid during the night. We also used the women's restroom during the
week. One Saturday morning on a game day I went into the restroom and
all of a sudden I noticed women's shoes on both sides of me.
Jere Graetz, ISTC '56
Burnsville, MN
In 1950 I shared a room in Stadium Hall with five other guys in three
bunk beds. It was a terrible situation for an incoming freshman. I left
at the end of my freshman year for four years in the U.S. Navy returning
to ISTC in 1955. I remember living in Sunset Village in quonset huts
as a married veteran. When I returned from class one day in a raging
blizzard, I found my wife crying her eyes out and when I asked what
was wrong, she replied "Why did we have to leave San Diego?" I didn't
have an answer for her but we finished in January, 1958 and lived happily
ever after.
Jim Berry, ISTC '58
Iowa City, IA
1960s
I
remember my inability to grow a substantial beard for Men's Union Day...
getting dumped into a cornfield near Dike by my TKE "brothers"...
paying $100/semester to attend ISTC, what a bargain!... watching Dutch
Elm Disease wreak havoc on campus trees... and watching athletes sweat
as they had to recite bone landmarks in Art Dickinson's anatomy course.
David (Bert) Lamb, ISTC/SCI '61
Worthington, OH
1970s
It
was the fall of 1966 and I was a freshman looking forward to watching
the Panther football team play. UNI, then SCI, had pretty good football
back in the 60's and we were looking forward to the game (and a big
win) against Morningside College. One the first possession of the game
the UNI defense held, forcing the Chiefs to punt. Our defense blocked
the punt and it rolled out of the back of the end zone, giving us a
safety and the early lead, 2-0. Incredibly, those would be the only
points scored in the game. I have never forgotten that game. I am sure
that UNI has never had another game quite like that one, winning 2-0.
Then, in late spring of 1970, my senior year, I was all set for graduation.
All that remained were final exams, which were scheduled to start the
next week. This was also the time of the Vietnam war and on many campuses
around the country there was considerable unrest and student protests
against our involvement in the war. The Univ. of Iowa in Iowa City was
the site of some particularly violent protests. In Cedar Falls though,
things were fairly quiet. Suddenly, without any warning came the announcement
from the President's office, that to avoid any potential protest problems
on campus, final exams were being canceled. What a graduation present
for us seniors.
Bob
Saunders, SCI/UNI '70
Iowa
City, IA
I
have so many fond memories of my time at SCI and UNI that it's impossible
to stop at just one. I remember dances every weekend in the gym and
in the Commons Ballroom (no suitcase college for me!). I remember hollering
myself hoarse at basketball games in the Men's Gym. I remember scheduling
as many classes as possible in the Old Aud because it was the shortest
distance from Bartlett Hall where I lived and therefore the least amount
of time in the cold during the winter months. Those worn oak floors
always seemed warm and welcoming. And the theater productions in the
Auditorium were a real treat. I often volunteered to usher so I could
see more productions. One of my favorite spots was the library. So many
books; so little time. My love of research started there, no doubt.
And it was a much better place to study than the dorm, although the
ironing room down the hall in Bartlett was at least quiet after midnight.
I remember great professors like Dr. Eiklor in Humanities and Dr. M.B.
Smith in Advanced Speech. I could go on but I just have to say UNI was
and is a great place - Happy 125!
Carol (Denter) (Koch) Bodensteiner, UNI '72
West Des Moines, Iowa
I
remember the snow storm that hit Cedar Falls, for the first annual SUNI
Days (Spring U.N.I.) in April of 1973. It caused classes to be canceled
for 2 days. And during that time there was a food fight in the 'Regents',
and then the banning of kegs from the dorms thereafter!
Kathy Mundt Henningsen, UNI '75
Atlantic, Iowa
A
blonde blue-eyed girl named Paula and studying for the CPA exam in the
library.
Joe Ryan, UNI '76
Oskaloosa, IA
I
remember attending football games at O.R. Latham Stadium during my freshman
year. I also remember using food service trays as sleds on the hill
near Bender & Dancer Halls.
Janis Wehner Jehle, UNI '79
Cedar Falls, IA
I remember the
dance marathon my freshman year in the union. I remember the long journey
on cold, windy days from the Towers to "upper campus".
Sandy Murphy Wilder, UNI '79
Des Moines, IA
1980s
Stumbling,
(I mean walking) home from the hill. Great friends who I still see every
year.
Rick Umsted, UNI '80
Indianola, IA
There are so many memories...eating popcorn by the "vators" in Dancer,
the opening season of football in the Dome, penny draw night at the
Stein, people watching in the Union, mixers, food fights in the Towers
dining room, living off campus in an apartment with 8 other women whose
friendships I still cherish today...it was such a fun, carefree time
in our lives.
Sheree
Meyer Menadue, UNI '80
Ankeny, IA
Being proposed to at the top of the Campanile.
Vannessa Rolison-Foelske,
UNI '83
Ankeny, IA
I remember the
winters being so cold and windy that your eyelashes would freeze when
walking to class.
Michelle Ludwick Walker, UNI '86
Urbandale, IA
First
trip to the Campanile for homecoming my freshman year - Bay of Pigs
- Dr. Halverson.
Susan
K. Conner Voss, UNI '86
North English, IA
I
remember the positive learning experience I had at the School of Industrial
Technology and the mentoring from Dr. James LaRue. UNI's foundry education
program gave me the start of a very successful career in the foundry
industry. Finally, I can't forget the fun we had at Stebs on the hill
and Mary Kay's cheese fries!
John
L. Grahek, UNI '88
Oskaloosa,
IA
1990s
I
remember playing in intramural flag football games for Hagemann Hall.
Parking in "Dike" really was bad when you had a ton of laundry and books
to carry back to the quads. I loved the times we spent sitting out in
the grass outside Hagemann in the sun during the beginning of spring.
Kara Shultz Schnathorst, UNI '96
LeGrand, IAx
Faculty/Staff
In
the fall of 1973 I came to UNI for one-year temporary appointment as
an Associate Professor with the Geography Department. I remember fondly
of Dr. Basheer Nijim, Head of the Geography Department, who made me
felt at home during this year.
A year later, I became a regular faculty member at UNI until my retirement
from the University in 1992. During the years, I appreciated, among
others, Dr. Bill Lang, Dr. Gordon, Dr. Bill Dryer and Dr. Valj as he
is called. Drs. Lang and Gordon were real Christian gentlemen as well
as is Bill Dryer. During my last years as the department head, I appreciated
very much the service which Mrs. Sandra Heller randered and the cooperations
of my contempory colleagues who helped me to do my work easier.
It was through the introduction of Dr. Nijim that I met Professor Denis
Baly of Gambier College who helped me to develop my interests in biblical
geography. With the approval of the departmental as well as the University
Curriculum Committees, I introduced and offered a course, Geography
of the Bible, as an academic subject at the University.
I remember appreciatively my old colleagues, Murry Austin, Roy Chung,
David May, Fred Fryman and Bob Clark, all of them made my years at UNI
memorable.
Among students, I remember Brenda and Tracy who met in my geography
of the bible class and later married and they are now serving as Christian
missionaries in one of the Eastern European countries.
Finally, but not the least, I want to say, God bless America, and God
bless UNI, with anticipations, during the second 125 years.
Jonathan J. Lu
Professor of Geography
In
February of 1967, I came to the campus of the State College of Iowa for
my interview. I was brought to the New Administration Building (Gilchrist
was at that time another building, attached to the Auditorium, and the
"Aud" was many years away from being renamed after the hero of this story).
I was introduced to a tall, distinguished-looking gentleman, named William
Lang. Dean Lang (really the equivalent of a VP and Provost) told me "Mr.
Oates, if you're a good teacher, we'll keep you and if you're not, we
won't". Our entire meeting lasted no more than 15 minutes. Later, after
I had returned to campus (now renamed UNI) as a beginning faculty member,
I was walking back to my office when I recognized that same tall gentleman
coming in the opposite direction. Before I could open my mouth, he said
"Hello, Mr. Oates. How is it going?" It so impressed me that Bill Lang
should remember my name! This incident helped me feel at home in Iowa
and gave me a sense of belonging to this university.
Michael D. Oates
Professor, Modern Languages Dept.
I
remember many things about UNI - before I came here as a student, because
I grew up in Cedar Falls, also during the time I was a student. I also
have new memories - because now I work here at UNI. It seems that UNI
has been a part of most of my life. One of my fondest memories as child
was ice skating on Prexies Pond in the winter with my family and my friends
(now the site of the Curris Business Building). I also remember Prexies
Pond during my high school days. It was the place where "bra burning"
took place. Don't ask me why!
The year I graduated from Cedar Falls High School was the first year that
Maucker Union opened. We had our graduation dance there. Twenty years
later - in the Union Expansion - we had our 20-year class reunion dinner
and dance.
I also remember the April '73 blizzard. My roommate's professor walked
to campus just so he could keep a test schedule. Anyone who did not show
up for the 8 a.m. test failed. Later that morning classes were canceled
for two days - AND the Hill sold out of beer. Speaking of beer - does
anyone remember when you could get one in the Union?
Now that I work here on the campus I really enjoy meeting all the students
that I come in contact with and watching them make their own memories
of their time here at UNI. It is a great place and I hope there will be
another 125 years for all the future generations! Happy Birthday UNI!!!!
Sandee Ethington Murphy UNI
'75
Secretary, International Programs
I
have worked at the UNI physics department as a student, graduate assistant,
and adjunct instructor for many years. I have several memories to share,
First, I want to state the the Physics faculty are the friendliest, most
helpful people on campus. I have proof! On a wet, rainy day I discovered
I had a flat tire. When I went inside to phone for help, I ran into Ralph
Engardt and Frank Vilmain, both now emeritu professors. Between the two
of them they decided to change my tire! I couldn't believe it, but soon
they were out at my car, kneeling in the mud, replacing my flat with the
spare. Soon I was on my way, but I will always remember these two men
not only as excellent teachers, but as helpful friends as well.
My second memory is of my children, who came with me to the physics department
to play while I graded papers or worked on setting up labs. My children,
Vicky and John, were about 7 and 5. Dr. Dale Olson's daughter Sara was
about the same age, and she was also in the building with her dad. Sometime
during my conversation with Dale I mentioned there was a giant slide rule
up in the attic. Dale and I knew the slide rule was a lecture hall version
of the tool which is now extinct, replaced by electronic calculators.
That's why it was in the attic! We no longer needed a 6 foot long slide
rule to multiply, divide, etc. But our children had never heard of a slide
rule, and promptly found their way into the attic. It's an easy thing
to do in the Physics building, where the attic stares are accessed through
the bathroom on the top floor! They came down disappointed, there was
no slide up there! Certainly not any slide they were familiar with!
Not only were the physics faculty helpful and kind, they were match makers
as well! I was introduced to my husband, a returning veteran, by Verner
Jensen. Professor Jenson made quite a long, formal introduction, and I
could see that John was a little embarrassed by it, but he "hung in there"
and we chatted together. It turned out John was not only in Dr. Hanson's
Modern Physics class, but in Intoduction to Computer Science as well.
I sat in back and watched him in Physics, and he sat in back and watched
me in computer science! We got to know each other better in the punch
card room, poking holes in computer cards which sent the program to the
computer in Iowa City, since we didn't have one on campus. John's folk's
soon figured out there was something more than studying going on, because
they asked "What color are the computer's eyes?" The following summer
we were together again in the first holography class on campus, and were
married in the fall.
Patricia Henderson Higby, UNI '73
Adjunct Instructor, Physics Dept.
When I came
to UNI in 1962, the cold war was going strong. There was a threat of nuclear
attack by what was then the Soviet Union. As part of a safety program
in the event of a nuclear attack, I was assigned to monitor all of the
residents of Campbell Hall with a Gieger Counter for possible radiation
exposure. We were then to move to designated fallout shelters distributed
around campus.
Erwin Richter, MA,
SCI '63
Radiation/Chemical Safety Officer, UNI Public Safety
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