Susquehanna University - 1960 to 1969

On April 14, 1966, 450 students held a rally in front of Seibert Hall to protest the "suppression of student dissent by the administration". The principal grievances were invasion of privacy, the construction of a chapel rather than a library and the failure of the administration to acknowledge the concerns of students. The students chose a boycott of mandatory chapel as the the chief way to force change within the University. The boycott lasted a week until the University's board of directors intervened in an effort to open a dialogue between students and administration.

Formed under the leadership of Chaplain Flotten, the Chapel Council assisted in all campus worship services and occasionally planned special services. The group was comprised of students representing several different denominations. The Council's 1967 members are shown in this photograph.

Mandatory daily chapel service came under fire by students who did not feel that the University had clearly defined the link between education and religion. A chapel protest ensued. Not all students objected to the chapel requirement, however, and these students chose to express their feelings on the value system that defined the University with a counter-protest held at the hockey field on April 19, 1966.

Susquehanna University 1966 Alumnus, Cheryl Dowling, graces a billboard advertisement for furs in Sunbury. Ms Dowling, a French major, was involved in activities such as the University Choir, Oratorio Choir, Kappa Delta, May Day Musical, Parent's Day Committee, SCA, and Orientation, during her time at Susquehanna University.

The Debate Club was formed in 1964 and would meet weekly to train and hone debates. The group participted in several competitions throughout the year with other universities and in 1966 participated in a debate held at Cambridge University. This image shows the Debate Club's 1964 membership.

The University's new student center opened its doors in 1968 and one of its most popular attractions was the game room. In addition to the pool and ping- pong tables shown in this image, students also enjoyed games of chess, checkers and Scrabble.

Ground was broken for the Univeristy's Student Center in 1965 and the building was dedicated in 1968. The Center's game room was a popular place to enjoy a game of pool, ping-pong, checkers or cards as described in this 1968 Crusader article. The next image provides an interior view of the game room.

"The Doors" would become one of the world's most influential rock bands but to one Crusader reporter the band offered "no real entertainment" and the "whole show should have been a required abnormal psychology exhibition." More of this scathing review can be read in this Crusader article.

By the 1960s, Steele Science Hall had become technologically dated and was no longer able to hold all of the students taking science courses. Groundbreaking for the University's new science building took place in 1962. Built at a cost of $1,100,000, Fisher Science Hall was dedicated in 1964. This 1965 image shows Faylor Lecture Hall in the new building.

A fire drill, held in Seibert Hall, catches students off guard.

Groundbreaking for Fisher Science Hall named for George E. Fisher, a professor of natural science, took place in 1962. This photograph shows members of the Susquehanna University community laying the cornerstone of the new building. The science hall opened for business in 1964.

Created in 1964 as a way to showcase the artistic and literary talents of students, Focus magazine was first edited by English Literature major Nancy Corson. Focus did its best to attract developing talent and this 1967 flier advertising a meeting of the literary magazine displays some of the art popular with the 1960s counter-culture movement.