Class of 1955, 50 years later
Back when the jitterbug was hot and penny loafers were in style, USU’s campus was quite a bit different. Campus was more spacious and Utah State University, as we now know it, was called Utah State Agricultural College.
This Thursday, the class of 1955 celebrated their 50-year “golden” reunion. Campus has seen plenty of changes since these students, now in their 70’s were living in the dorms and walking to class.
For Matt Trontel, alumnus of the class of ’55, campus has changed for the better.
“It’s beautiful, it’s big, it’s exciting. It’s one of the most beautiful campuses,” Trontel said.
In the 1950’s on-campus dormitories included Kerr and Lund Halls, which university archivist Bob Parson said were built as Works Progress Administration projects after the war. One building was the girls’ dorms, the other was the guys’
Other big changes, as noted by alumnus Carl Ebert, are the loss of the cow corral and barn near the Quad.
Many students wish they could go back to 1955 when there were 3,600 students on campus and in-state tuition and fees added up to $139.
Parking may not have been as big of a problem in 1955 as Ebert pointed out, there weren’t nearly as many cars on campus.
In the 1950’s on-campus dormitories included Kerr and Lund Halls, which university archivist Bob Parson said were built as Works Progress Administration projects after the war. One building was the girls’ dorms, the other was the guys’. Aggie sports remain a tradition with each graduating class. Aggie football was something alumni could remember participating in. Ebert said he went home every weekend unless there was a football game.
Trontel can still remember playing on the team in the early ’50s. Not only can he remember how many times they beat the BYU Cougars, he can remember the game scores.
Although USU’s campus has changed through the years, adding more buildings sprouting up in different places, getting rid of some parts of campus and changing the uses of some of the building, but a few things have stayed the same.
Campus Buildings
* The Family Life Building was the home economics and the commons building
* The Ray B. West Building was used for engineering.
* The Animal Science Building didn’t house journalists and toxicologists, it was actually used for animal science.
* The bottom floor of the Animal Science building was the home of Aggie ice cream was located.
* The Agricultural Science Building was just being completed. According to the biennial report for 1954, 513 students were part of the school of agriculture. Five of them were women.
* The university president lived on campus in what is now the David B. Haight Alumni House.
Old Main
* Many classes were held inside Old Main and the original chapel inside the building was an auditorium.
* Students could listen to their favorite tunes on the campus radio station, KVSC, which was broadcast from Room 202 of Old Main.
Library
* The original library was where the Merrill Library stands today. The current Merrill Library was built around the original library when it was constructed in the late 1960s.
Athletics
* Basketball games were held in the Fieldhouse
* Football games were held in Romney Stadium
* Romney Stadium stood where the HPER field is now, until 1969 when it was demolished.
* There was a time when all students were being X-rayed for tuberculosis in the Fieldhouse
TSC
* The Taggart Student Center, built in 1953 and was originally called the Student Union Building.
* After many additions throughout the years, in 1979, when Glen Taggart retired, the building became known as the Taggart Student Center
Student Life
*Campus news was reported in the school newspaper called “Student Life.”
* Newspaper ads were for Portable typewriters, tennis rackets, bermuda shorts, Pepsi Cola and button-up blouses and of course, engagement rings.
Greeks
*The same houses that make up the Greek row today were also in existence then.
*The school yearbook, “The Buzzer,” shows 24 pages of members’ portraits from the 12 different fraternities and sororities.
*Greek news was consistently printed in the school newspaper and fraternities and sororities would list their new members and activities.
*The Sigma Kappa sorority even announced their “annual spring house-cleaning party,” which included playing bridge afterward.
ROTC
* Male students were required to be in the ROTC during their freshman and sophomore years
* Males were also required to give two years of service in the military.
HOUSING
* On campus rent was $48-$50 a month.
* Curfew was strictly enforced in the dormitories. All residents must be in their hall by closing time at 11 p.m. on weekdays and 1 a.m. on weekends. After these times, the doors were locked, and for those not staying overnight, a note must be given in advance.
Festivities for the class reunion included a luncheon at the Alumni Center followed by a bus tour. That evening was the Golden Aggie Dinner. About 30 class members and their partners were in attendance.
-ashleykarras@cc.usu.edu