Susquehanna University - 1980 to 1989

This amusing play-by-play description of an imaginary faculty food fight appeared in the 1980 April Fools Day edition of The Crusader, the University's student newspaper.

The Cycling Club was established in 1986. The group's activities included group rides as well as participation in races in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. The group's membership is shown in this 1987 yearbook photo.

In 1981, the Student Campus Center was renamed The Degenstein Campus Center in honor of Charles B. Degenstein, a retired businessman from Sunbury. Susquehanna had received from Mr. Degenstein its largest gift from an individual. Photographed is President Jonathan Messerli and Charles Degenstein in front of the Campus Center that now bears his name.

In 1983, Dr. Carl J. Bellas became the first dean of the Sigmund Weis School of Business. Departments in the School included accounting, business administration, and economics. Dr. Bellas led the School of Business for 13 years and during that time achieved the accreditation of the AACSB (American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business) in 1992.

Improving the sciences became a priority agenda item for Susquehanna University in the 1980s. The need for new courses and labs as well as the importance of recruiting high abilty students into the sciences were stressed. The Geology Department was transformed into the Department of Environmental Science. This 1980 photo shows collaborative research in the sciences in action.

Coach Dapp leads the 1983 football team in a post-game victory cheer. The team was the first undefeated team at Susquehanna University since 1962.

From home sickness to cafeteria food, freshmen give their first impressions of Susquehanna University to Crusader reporters Sue Leach and Lisa Metzger, in 1983. Doug Alderdice was the photographer for this assignment.

Sponsored by the Student Government Association, G. Gordon Liddy, made famous by his involvement in the Watergate break-in, presented the lecture "Government: Public Perception Versus Reality" in Weber Chapel Auditorium on April 13, 1984. At the time, the National Association for Campus Activities had named Mr. Liddy the top lecturer on the campus circuit.

Gertrude James '89, a philosophy major, helped to form the organization Minority Concerns. The club's goal was to "take out cultural monotony and replace it with cultural diversity". The idea to form the club took root in 1988. There was a noted lack of minority students at Susquehanna University. Ms. James' role in the group was to help minority students with any problems they might have and to coordinate efforts within the University to address these problems. The group presented radio shows during Black History month on WQSU, about black figures who contributed to history, guest speakers such as Robert Kalamho, who spoke of his native country, Namibia, and Griot music programs involving traditional music and story telling.

In 1930, under the direction of Luther Grossman, Director of Physical Education, tees and greens for a six-hole golf course were put into place on the athletic field. Students were able to borrow clubs and play a round of golf. Golf would later become an intercollegiate sport and Susquehanna's first golf team was established in 1986. Members from this team are shown posing for their yearbook photo.