California State University, Stanislaus: A History California State University, Stanislaus: A History Robert LeRoy Santos Reference Librarian & University Archivist California State University, Stanislaus [email protected] Introduction History can be written in various styles. An unbroken narrative is one. Another is the segmental approach where history is written by standardized topics. The latter method was chosen for this history allowing the reader to see the evolution of the university by topic while still being able to read its history each year if so desired. The standardized topics are: (1) Chronology (2) Campus Development, Planning, and Physical Plant (3) Administration and Support Staff (4) Student Body (5) Faculty (6) Curriculum (7) Enrollment (8) Academic Support (9) Sports (10) Major Events and Issues. The sources employed to write this history are all found in the University Archives. They include: the Campus Digest, official press releases, local newspaper clippings, faculty minutes, Academic Council minutes, President's Cabinet minutes, college catalogs, the Signal, the Legend yearbook, and other pertinent documents. Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 : July 1957 Through June 1961 Introduction http://library.csustan.edu/bsantos/camptoc.html (1 of 4)2/11/2009 4:28:37 PM California State University, Stanislaus: A History Chronology Campus Development, Planning, and Physical Plant Administration and Support Staff Student Body Faculty Curriculum Enrollment Academic Support Sports Major Events and Issues CHAPTER 2: September 1961 Through August 1962 Introduction Chronology Campus Development, Planning, and Physical Plant Administration and Support Staff Student Body Faculty Curriculum Enrollment Academic Support Sports Major Events and Issues CHAPTER 3: September 1962 - August 1963 Introduction Chronology Campus Development, Planning, and Physical Plant Administration and Support Staff Student Body Faculty Curriculum http://library.csustan.edu/bsantos/camptoc.html (2 of 4)2/11/2009 4:28:37 PM California State University, Stanislaus: A History Enrollment Academic Support Sports Major Events and Issues CHAPTER 4: September 1963 - August 1964 Introduction Chronology Campus Development, Planning, and Physical Plant Administration and Support Staff Student Body Faculty Curriculum Enrollment Academic Support Sports Major Events and Issues CHAPTER 5: September 1964 - August 1965 Introduction Chronology Campus Development, Planning, and Physical Plant Administration and Support Staff Student Body Faculty Curriculum Enrollment Academic Support Sports Major Events and Issues APPENDICES. http://library.csustan.edu/bsantos/camptoc.html (3 of 4)2/11/2009 4:28:37 PM CSUS History Chapter 1 California State University Stanislaus: A History Robert LeRoy Santos Reference Librarian & University Archivist California State University, Stanislaus [email protected] Chapter 1: July 1957 Through June 1961 Introduction World War II brought about immense changes in California. The military-industrial complex, to which President Eisenhower referred, transformed the state from a dominant agricultural economy to an industrial one. The aerospace industry and related manufacturing and technology literally took over southern California and many parts of northern California. The state was so progressive in all aspects of life that many said "California is the Future," and Californians agreed with that. To protect this premiere status, it was felt that young Californians needed to be well-educated, and because the Golden State had always taken a egalitarian position, being settled by pioneers, everyone had to have that right. Politicians and high level state educators heard the prophecy, and felt they were destined to be the facilitators of the promise; thus came the impetus to create new public institutions of higher learning, and out of it came Stanislaus State College and three sister campuses. Population influx too fanned the fires. The state was growing enormously, and there were regions that especially reflected that growth. State officials studied the population data, and concurred that state colleges were needed in prescribed areas. One of the areas was inland central California where the cities of Stockton, Modesto, Turlock, and Merced were found. After evaluating all the determining factors, it was decided that Stanislaus County was the center of population, and hence, that would be a site for a state college. Up in Sacramento, the Chief of the Division of State Colleges and Teacher Education, Dr. J. Burton Vasche, an Oakdale native and Stanislaus County educator, was very supportive of this plan. In his short tenure in that position, he saw the planting of the four expansion campuses, and he was appointed to be president of the Stanislaus one. A man of great determination and creativity, he sought to make the new college the best it could be. Thus, begins the story of Stanislaus State College. http://library.csustan.edu/bsantos/chap1.html (1 of 44)2/11/2009 4:28:40 PM CSUS History Chapter 1 Chronology 7/5/57 California Governor Goodwin Knight signed AB 166, authored by Assemblyman Ralph M. Brown (D), Stanislaus County, an appropriations bill for $500,000 to purchase and prepare a site for a new state college 9/1/57 California State Public Works Board selects Turlock as the site of the new state college - the permanent campus would be at Monte Vista Road and Geer Road 5/8/60 A proposal of $56 million was submitted to the California State Department of Finance for construction ($46 million) and equipment ($10 million) for the permanent campus 5/13/60 Dr. J. Burton Vasche (California State Associate Superintendent of Public Instruction & Chief of the Division of State Colleges and Teacher Education) appointed to be president 5/25/60 First faculty member appointed, Dr. Lloyd E. Bevans, Professor of Elementary Education 9/1/60 First faculty meeting 9/19/60 "Opening Day" (first day of classes) 9/21/60 First student body meeting 10/24/60 First "SSC Student Directory" 12/7/60 President Vasche receives medical treatment at Stanford 12/8/60 First practice of the men's basketball team 12/12/60 "Warriors" was selected as the mascot 12/13/60 First issue of The Signal student newspaper 12/15/60 The "College Singers" gave their first performance 12/16/60 First college dance "Winter Wonderland" 12/22/60 First men's basketball game 1/22/61 First baccalaureate service http://library.csustan.edu/bsantos/chap1.html (2 of 44)2/11/2009 4:28:40 PM CSUS History Chapter 1 1/28/61 First commencement service 3/16/61 Faculty constitution and by-laws are approved 4/13/61 Selection of school colors of rich red, gold, and light green 4/13/61 First spring concert performed 5/8/61 The name "Kiva" was chosen as the name of the bookstore 5/19/61 Junior-Senior Prom, "Moonlight and Roses" 5/20/61 Senior banquet 5/25/61 First faculty Retention, Promotion and Tenure Committee elected 6/4/61 Second baccalaureate service 6/10/61 Second commencement service 7/1/61 The California State College system was formed as an independent unit governed by a board of trustees Campus Development, Planning, and Physical Plant Even though the permanent campus site had not been chosen by the state, money was allocated on July 5, 1957 of $500,000 to purchase and prepare a site for the new state college (the fifteenth) to be located in Stanislaus County. The appropriations legislation (AB166) was authored by Assemblyman and Speaker Ralph Brown, Democrat of Stanislaus County and was signed by Governor Goodwin Knight. On September 1, 1957, the Turlock site at Monte Vista and Geer Roads was chosen by the California State Public Works Board. The Turlock selection became controversial because Modesto site supporters could not accept the decision. They became outraged that the Turlock site had been selected, and they sought to have the decision overturned. There had been a friendly rivalry between the cities of Turlock and Modesto concerning the site, but after the selection a heated debate ensued even involving Governor Edmund Brown. (See "Major Events and Issues" section) The Turlock site was 220 acres in size and was in field crops and orchards. It was purchased for $371,150. The following is a listing of the ownership at the time of purchase: http://library.csustan.edu/bsantos/chap1.html (3 of 44)2/11/2009 4:28:40 PM CSUS History Chapter 1 Abner Crowell---40 acres with buildings Coleman Crowell---10 acres with buildings Loren Crowell---20 acres Orvan Crowell---20 acres Darpinian & Sons---90 acres with buildings Frank George, Jr.---10 acres with buidlings Roy Hedstrom---10 acres with buildings Tony Ferreira---20 acres At the first faculty meeting on September 1, 1960, Gerard Crowley, Campus Development Officer, spoke of the permanent campus which was projected to serve 10,000 fulltime students maximum by the year 2020. (This figure was formally established by Dr. Roy Simpson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, in a communique of August 19, 1960.) Crowley listed these nine phases the permanent campus would go through before it would be ready for instructional use: Educational specifications by the college Review by Department of Education Review by Department of Finance Preliminary plans by architect and college Budget from legislature Working drawings from architect Public Works Board approval Construction Equipment installation On November 3, 1960, President Vasche commented on the progress being made concerning the permanent site: The general development of the college is well ahead of schedule, since the negotiations for purchase of site proceeded at almost unprecedented pace. It is hoped that progress can be made at the 1961 Legislative session on the matter of budget for the development program, and that the first permanent buildings can be available as early as 1963. On December 13, 1960, President Vasche issued this statement: The college hopes that it may occupy its first building on the permanent campus site in the fall of 1963. This means that the work which was done this fall will in turn be translated into a legislative program, to be considered in Sacramento by the Legislature shortly after the first of the year.