Q)FSoXDKoi UNL 's past 19501980
magazine of the daily nebraskan friday, december 12, 1980
Introduction
Students in the 1980s tend to view 1950 with a sense
of rosy nostalgia-as a time of clean-cut kids going to sock
hops in a nation full of pride in its patriotic citizens and
unparalleled power in world affairs, as well as economic
prosperity at home.
Fifties dances were the craze when today's college stu
dents attended high school. And now conservative
politicians are rallying around the cry. "Let's make
America great again"- presumably referring to a 1950s
sort of greatness.
Whatever one's conceptions or misconceptions about
the 1950s in general, it is certain that the lifestyle and
campus at the University of Nebraska (not UNL until
1968) were very different in 1950 than they are in 1980.
In this issue of Perspectives, the Daily Nebraskan takes
a look -through the eyes of old photographs, dusty
archives records and memories of alumni-at the realities
of college life in Lincoln around the year 1950.
In 1950 it was the Big Seven instead of the Big Eight,
and the Nebraska football team had not won the confer
ence championship for a number of years and would not
for many more, who was the big power? Yes, it was Okla
homa. There were no coeducational dormitories, and Greek
fraternities and sorority house members were the "big
wheels" in campus social events and organizations.
The campus had many fewer buildings and many more
parking stalls than it does today.
All men were required to take Reserved Officer Train
ing Corps courses. Yes, things were very different from
1980-whether better or worse depends on each indivi
dual's viewpoint.
Lnjoy. Significantly, the stoiies focus more on fun
activities and general lifestyles, on Greek houses and
dorms than on the problems that doubtless existed at the
university at that time.
The reasoning is that those are the parts of life that
make college enjoyable in any year and arc of inteicst to
ait' generation.
No, the 1950s were not the trouble-free times as
portrayed in the television series "Happy Days." They
were important educational years for many men and
women who are at the peak of their careers today. Their
perspectives on the past give today's student a more
accurate view of present-day UNL.
Diane Andersen
Perspectives editor
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Photo courtesy of UNL Archives
In 1950, the campus had more through streets (12th and 14th) and fewer buildings. Most modern dormitories, the Administration Building and two sides of Memorial Stadium did
not exist, for example.
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Photo cour
This 1977 photo shows that the campus is a much more cohesive whole. It is larger, with more buildings and fewer trees.
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Photo courtesy of UNL Photographic Services