The 1970s was a time of change and advancement on Elizabethtown College’s campus. The administration made a significant commitment to improving the diversity of the student body through the creation of the Commission for the Advancement of Racial Equality (CARE) in 1971, which still operates on campus as the Coalition for Anti-Racist Education.

The College experienced challenges both on- and off-campus during the decade as well. Under the guidance of President Mark C. Ebersole, the fiscal constraints from the mid-1970s were largely overcome toward the end of the decade. Admission standards and faculty hiring became more selective as well as the College worked toward a higher level of academic dedication.

On March 28, 1979, the nuclear plant at nearby Three Mile Island experienced a failure of a cooling system that prompted a campus-wide evacuation that students referred to as a “radiation vacation.” Classes resumed on April 7. In the following weeks, Dr. Donald B. Kraybill, an Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the College’s Research Center, joined with his students to conduct the first survey of area residents using phone polls.

A Look Through the Decade

  • 1970 – The Alumni Physical Education Center, later known as Thompson Gymnasium, is dedicated on Jan. 7. It contained badminton, handball, and volleyball courts as well as a wrestling room, training rooms, a remedial gym, locker rooms, physical education classrooms, a laundry, 10 offices, a lobby, and storage rooms.
  • 1970 – Fairview Hall receives a renovation and is renamed the Christian Wenger Center for the Humanities. The space was renovated to house offices and seminar rooms for the departments of English, history, as well as religion and philosophy.
  • 1971 – Ralph W. Schlosser completes his work, “History of Elizabethtown College,” the first comprehensive narrative of the College’s history.
  • 1973 – Nicarry Hall is dedicated on May 5, named after Wayne and Frances Nicarry. Wayne Nicarry served on the Board of Trustees for 31 years and received an honorary doctorate from the College.
  • 1974 – The first Thank Goodness It’s Spring (TGIS) weekend takes place on April 5, a continuing and beloved tradition on campus.
  • 1975 – The Elizabethtown College Athletic Hall of Fame is established and dedicated to Coach Ira R. Herr, Etown’s first Athletic Director.
  • 1978 – Drs. John F. and Shirley W. Steinman donated what was the single largest gift ever received by the college, $550,000, to transform the Gibble Science Hall into the Steinman Center for Art and Communications.

Snapshots of the Decade  

 

Throughout Elizabethtown College’s 125th anniversary year, follow along as we share 125 compelling stories about the College’s defining moments, alumni stories, and fun facts since our founding in 1899 at etown.edu.