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.

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.

Always a day to remember, Commencement 1967 was especially memorable. The Baccalaureate was marked by a massive blackout and the service was carried out in darkness.

Cross country track began at Susquehanna University in 1961 under the direction of coach David Hindman. The cross country tradition continues today as the University supports both a men's and women's team. This image shows the 1962 cross country team.

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.

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 success of "The Association" concert in the spring of 1967 led the Student Government Association to decide that big name band concerts should replace the traditional Homecoming dances. The rock and soul group "The Young Rascals" was scheduled for Homecoming 1967 but the chance to participate in a European tour left the band unable to fulfill its contract. Instead, students would just have to settle for a rock band known as "The Doors".

This 1967 article in The Crusader explains the band change for that year's Homecoming. After "The Young Rascals" cancelled, "The Doors" became the most economical choice for the Student Government Association as most other big name bands charged $6,000-$7,500 to appear, a mere pittance by today's standards.

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.

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.