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75th Anniversary of Boise State
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“It all began on a Tuesday morning in the midst of the Great Depression — September 6, 1932, the day after Labor Day … on a tree-lined Idaho Street near downtown Boise. Led by its founder and president, Idaho Episcopal Bishop Middleton Barnwell, Boise Junior College opened its doors for the first time.”
At http://www.boisestate.edu/diamondyear, a unique Website for Boise State University’s 75th anniversary created and maintained by the Department of Communication and Marketing, the description of the origin of BSU illustrates the simple beginnings of the university.
According to the Website, Barnwell was undaunted by the Great Depression in his belief that Boise was ripe for a two-year college. BJC survived the economic struggle. After the first few years it eventually gained solid community support.
Barnwell’s two-year junior college has grown into what is now Boise State University, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary with a 3-week celebration. Beginning in the fall 2007 semester, the commemoration starts with the State of the University address and continues through Homecoming week.
On its first day, BJC consisted of four buildings, 15 faculty members, 41 male students and 37 female students. Today BSU includes more than 165 buildings, more than 500 full-time faculty and an enrollment of approximately 19,000 students.
According to Director of Communications and Marketing Frank Zang, BSU continues to transform itself every day “into a campus that includes state-of-the-art buildings and facilities, professors with ambitious research agendas, high-achieving students and new graduate and Ph.D. programs.”
BSU is developing a unique mission with the union of its metropolitan character, traditional undergraduate teaching mission and advanced research and graduate studies, Zang said.
“The anniversary celebration reflects the remarkable and exciting transformation that is taking place on this campus,” Zang said. “Boise State has evolved over the last 75 years from a small church-sponsored college in a downtown schoolhouse to an aspiring metropolitan research university on a 175-acre campus.”
The theme of the anniversary celebration is “Treasuring the Past … Shaping the Future.” According to Zang, the theme is intended to salute Boise State’s history as well as recognize the university’s continued growth and development.
“From academics to athletics, Boise State is moving forward in the areas of academic excellence, public engagement, vibrant culture and exceptional research. While other institutions may maintain the status quo, we will not be the same place in five, 15 or 25 years,” Zang said.
While the anniversary will be recognized throughout the academic year, the primary celebration will occur during the three weeks beginning with the State of the University address.
Students, faculty and staff will celebrate the 75th anniversary with a series of events and activities, some of which include a historical photo exhibit in the Student Union Building Gallery showing campus scenes from past and present, the opening of a time capsule that dates back to 1964 as well as starting a new one that reflects BSU in 2007.
“Counselor and adjunct art professor Alma Gomez-Frith is painting a special historical mural that will be unveiled at the beginning of the fall semester,” Zang said. “FOCUS, the alumni magazine, has dedicated both its spring and summer issues to the subject, recounting the people and places that have made Boise State what it is today.”
According to Zang, 75 years is in some ways a brief period of time.
“We have already made major strides from our humble beginnings… so as we celebrate our first 75 years, we are working hard to be a successful institution in the next 75 years,” Zang said. “My hope is that the 75th anniversary is a time to celebrate, learn about our history and look to the future.”
Historical information, trivia, photos and stories about Boise State’s 75th anniversary is available at http://www.boisestate.edu/diamondyear.
DARCIE NUTT
News Writer
