Illinois State University History Video Series

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  Academic Retrenchment and Social Redirection: 1977-2007

  Illinois State University, University Marketing and Communications and Eye to Eye Productions

  Summary: Lloyd Watkins becomes 13^th president – Watkins’ tenure characterized by revision of academic policies and standards – university faces significant budget troubles – laboratory schools reorganized into independent school district – tuition hikes and low faculty morale – integration of computer technology into university operations – alcohol-fueled parties in Normal lead to police crackdowns and Beer Riots in 1984 – Big Red Marching Machine wins accolades – first Illinois Shakespeare Festival held at Ewing Manor – construction of Redbird Arena funded by increased student fees – budget woes return and tuition raised again – frustrated by continued deficits, Watkins steps down – Thomas Wallace appointed 14^th president, immediately moves to increase fundraising and “privatize public higher education,” leading to faculty salary increases, enrollment caps, and doubling of endowment – Katie School of Insurance and Center for Mathematics, Science, and Education open – Wallace unilaterally moves to close University Museums and eliminate College of Continuing Education – Illinois Board of Higher Education recommends cutting many additional programs, including Department of Agriculture – Wallace strenuously objects, but is not able to save them all – the university purchases several nearby buildings, builds additional parking structures, and secures funding for a new science building – institutional identity review undertaken, resulting in revised logo and motto – faculty hold no confidence vote in Wallace, he resigns – David Strand steps in as 15^th president – state Board of Regents system transitions to Board of Trustees – budget pressures ease – Mennonite College of Nursing established – Strand oversees a period of growth and renewal – investiture ceremony held to welcome Victor Boschini as the 16^th president – Educating Illinois strategic plan publicized – state once again decreases funding, leading to layoffs and hiring freeze – Boschini departs for a better-funded institution – faculty member Al Bowman steps in as next president – State Farm College of Business building opens – Redefining “normal” fundraising campaign raises almost $100 million – sesquicentennial celebration held.

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  Unrest, Controversy and Rethinking the Plan: 1967-1977

  Illinois State University, University Marketing and Communications and Eye to Eye Communications

  Summary: Samuel Braden becomes 10^th president – state institutes deep budget cuts – Braden navigates student activism and protests, including famed “Flagpole Incident” – Braden resigns after three years – Geigle appointed interim president – inflation and declining state support puts pressure on students and university – David Berlo assumes position of president, proposes cuts to many programs and quickly proves unpopular – relations break down between Berlo and Academic Senate – construction begins on Bone Student Center and new Milner Library – Affirmative Action Office established – town of Normal drops prohibition of alcohol – Berlo resigns amidst scandal – Gene Budig becomes 12^th president, is charged with repairing morale – enrollment holds steady at 17,000 students during his tenure – Budig reestablishes and expands administrative and student support positions – student population grows older, more diverse – 60% of students live in off-campus apartments; university seeks to quell exodus by requiring dorm living for freshmen and sophomores – student organizations expand and diversify, sororities and fraternities sanctioned by university for the first time – controversial Rites of Spring concerts held annually on the quad, leading to destruction and rampant drug use.

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  A Vigor Uncoiling: 1956-1967

  Illinois State University, University Marketing and Communications and Eye to Eye Communications

  Summary:

  Hire of Robert Bone as ISNU’s 9^th president – centennial celebration – university greatly expands its footprint amidst massive construction boom – facilities opened during this time include Schroeder Hall, Thomas Metcalf Laboratory School, Student Union, Centennial Fine Arts Building, Horton Fieldhouse, Felmley Hall of Science Annex, Turner Hall and current University High School – new dormitories include Hamilton-Whitten, Atkin-Colby, Tri Towers, and Hewett-Manchester – Old Main torn down – enrollment more than triples from 3,000 to 10,000, causing overcrowding – convocation held in response to President Kennedy assassination – “Normal” removed from university’s name after much debate – security force (now ISU Police Department) hired for the first time – Honors and Bone Scholars programs established – university moves to multi-purpose mission – students secretly plan celebration for President Bone’s 60^th birthday – Bone appeases large demonstration of students demanding cancelation of classes due to basketball team’s success in NCAA tournament.

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  The Era of Uncertainty and the Post War Renewal: 1930-1956

  Illinois State University, University Marketing and Communications and Eye to Eye Communications

  Summary: Harry A. Brown becomes the university’s 7^th president – Brown’s brief tenure and abrupt departure – Raymond Fairchild appointed 8^th president – coping with the Great Depression – establishment of University Senate and Publicity Office – construction of Rambo House and first Milner Library (now Williams Hall) – impact of World War II and Navy V-12 program – establishment of graduate program and Division of Special Education – removal of Old Main belltower and third floor – construction boom following legislative changes allowing ISNU to set up a foundation and accept gifts – President Fairchild’s illness and resignation.

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  From Normal School to Teachers College: 1900-1930

  Illinois State University, University Marketing and Communications and Eye to Eye Communications

  Summary: Faculty member David Felmley becomes the sixth president – agreement with nearby Walker School to become rural model school – establishment of Domestic Science and Commercial Departments – creation of University Farm and adoption of agriculture training program – implementation of simplified spelling – normal school presidents successfully petition legislature for right to grant professional degrees – Industrial Arts Building (now Edwards Hall), Fell Hall, and new gymnasium constructed – 50^th anniversary, first Founders Day, and first Homecoming celebrated – Impact of World War I – establishment of the Athletics Association, Gamma Phi Circus, and Student Council – President Felmley’s illness and death.

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  The Turn of the Century: 1890-1900

  Illinois State University, University Marketing and Communications and Eye to Eye Communications

  Summary:

  John W. Cook appointed 4^th president of ISNU – construction of Training School building and Gymnasium (now Cook Hall), electrification of Old Main – Governor Altgeld abolishes University High School in 1895, leading ISNU students to burn him in effigy – students enjoy athletic pastimes, including lawn tennis, baseball, football, women’s basketball, and field days –Wrightonian and Philadelphian Societies establish Dramatic Club – oratorical contests – 40^th anniversary celebration – President Cook takes position as first president of new normal school in Dekalb – brief presidency of Arnold Tompkins.

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  The Era of Transition: 1877-1890

  Illinois State University, Instructional Technology Services

  Summary: New president Edwin Hewett faces drop in enrollment and austerity measures during the Long Depression of 1873-1879 – Hewett’s petitions to legislature for new buildings and campus improvements denied – Old Main requires extensive repairs – ISNU’s 25^th anniversary celebration – Charles DeGarmo forms Faculty Club – students create Ciceronian Society (for men) and Sapphonian Society (for women) – Jesse Fell’s funeral at Old Main attracts thousands – legislature accepts proposal for construction of boiler house – Old Main basement renovated into gymnasium and model school manual training workshop – establishment of the university’s first library and hiring of its first librarian, Ange Milner – Hewett resigns.

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  Defending the Grandest Enterprise: 1868-1876

  Illinois State University, Instructional Technology Services

  Summary: ISNU’s 1,333 students makes it the largest normal school in the country – prominent alumni include Lyman Kellogg, John W. Cook, and Sarah Raymond – Edwards implements 21 required general education courses to supplement teacher training curriculum – profile of “demanding and Spartan” student life – establishment of ISNU’s two literary societies, Wrightonian and Philadelphian – Edwards begin campaign for free, tax-supported schooling in Illinois – Edwards resigns, Board of Education appoints ISNU faculty member Edwin C. Hewett as 3^rd president.

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  The Challenges of Change: 1867

  Illinois State University, Instructional Technology Services

  Summary: Jesse Fell completes his landscaping plans for ISNU – Normal chartered as a dry town – hire of John Wesley Powell as faculty member and curator – Powell convinces legislature to appropriate funds for creation of Illinois Museum of Natural History housed at ISNU – Powell makes specimen-gathering expedition to the west – Edwards unsuccessfully lobbies state for funds for new dormitory, gymnasium, and repairs to Old Main – faculty petition for salary increases – enrollment of Topsy, the first Black student at ISNU’s model school – media attention from Chicago generates controversy – Board of Education affirms commitment to unsegregated education at Illinois public universities – model school loses funding from town of Normal, is forced to charge tuition.

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  A New Era at Normal: 1862-1866

  Illinois State University, Instructional Technology Services

  Summary: Richard Edwards appointed principal of ISNU – Edwards hires Thomas Metcalf, Albert Stetson, and Margaret Osband – two Hovey hires, Edwin C. Hewett and Joseph Sewell, remain – model school run by Charles Childs and Livonia Ketcham – by 1862, model school has 226 pupils and university has 205 students – three women students raise funds to build 2-mile plank walkway from Bloomington to Old Main – strict code of conduct for students – memorial held at ISNU following assassination of President Lincoln – Jesse Fell campaigns for Bloomington to become site of new industrial university – bid won by Urbana, laying foundation for modern-day University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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  The Noblest Building/Go Forth to Danger: 1860-1862

  Illinois State University, Instructional Technology Services

  Summary: Completion of Old Main – advent of Civil War – five students volunteer to fight – to prevent more attrition, Hovey hires a drillmaster to keep students in school while training for military service – Hovey and Fell travel to Washington, D.C., are caught up in fighting near Bull Run – Hovey enlists as a colonel – 33^rd Illinois Infantry Regiment (“Teacher’s Regiment”) raised with Hovey commanding – 46 soldiers are ISNU students – only 80 students remain at Normal – Perkins Bass serves as temporary principal of ISNU.

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  The Founding: 1857-1860

  Illinois State University, Instructional Technology Services

  Summary: The young state of Illinois faces a need for practical, universal schooling – establishment of Illinois State Teachers Association in Bloomington – Association drafts Normal School Bill for creation of state-funded teacher training institution – bill is signed into law by Governor Bissell – Jesse Fell schemes to outbid Peoria – the contract for the new school is awarded to North Bloomington – Abraham Lincoln draws up the bond – Association selects Charles Hovey as Illinois State Normal University’s first “principal” – cornerstone and time capsule laid for Old Main building – university opens on the 3^rd floor of Major’s Hall in Bloomington – construction of Old Main halted for two years due to Panic of 1857 – graduation of first cohort in 1860.