Susquehanna University - 1960 to 1969

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.

U.S. military involvement was on the rise in the late 1960s and so was opposition to the draft. A bill was introduced to end the draft in 1969 and this Crusader article encouraged students to do all they could to support the abolishment. An all voluteer military was established in 1973.

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.

President Lyndon Johnson announced that he would not seek re-election in 1968 and in April of that same year a poll, sponsored by Time Magazine, was taken among college campuses to determine the most popular presidential candidates and the national issues students considered most pressing. Among Susquehanna students, Senator Eugene McCarthy was the most popular choice for president and the most pressing national issues were the suspension of bombing in Vietnam and government spending on education.

Susquehanna University was not exempt from the popularity of public protests sweeping the nation in the 1960s. In the spring of 1964, the behavior of students off campus was investigated by University officials after an article appeared in the Sunbury Daily Item concerning Susquehanna University students who had violated a Selinsgrove ordinance regarding the possession of beer. University officials met with Selinsgrove town authorities and informed the student body of the problems off campus. These probelms included drinking, littering, trespassing and a lack of proper moral conduct. The student body felt that specific proof of these matters was not given, that the University did not defend its students to the town authorities and that their moral characters had been insulted. In retaliation, students placed various protest signs in conspicuous places around campus. This newspaper article discusses the students choice of protest and other options they might have had to address their concerns.

Students often had jobs during academic semesters as well as summers. Shown here is student Bob Allen serving customers at his job at Kentucky Fried Chicken. Please note the prices on the selection board behind him.

Sporting one of the defining fashion trends of the 1960s, the mini-skirt, these young ladies take time out of their busy academic schedules to socialize in 1969.