For many years, Winter Carnival was a mid-winter campus celebration featuring concerts, comedy shows, dances, the crowning of a winter carnival queen and, of course, the construction of elaborate snow sculptures.
But as the 1970s dawned, student interest in Winter Carnival waned. Like many other campus traditions, it seemed quaint and outdated and it breathed its last in 1971. In 1988, a student group tried to revive the carnival and organized a snow sculpture contest, but their hopes of an annual event melted away.
Still, in its heyday, Winter Carnival was a lively celebration that drew a
Twenty years ago this week, officials from Westmass Area Development Corporation unveiled plans to develop an 80-acre parcel off North Maple Street in Hadley. Known as Hadley University Park, the project was intended to provide office, research and light industrial space for University spinoff companies and firms interested in locating near the Five Colleges.
In July 1989, work was forging ahead on the installation of the campus’ $29.5 million telecommunication system.
Twenty years ago this month, the Board of Regents and the University system released dueling reports calling for overhaul of the state’s public higher education system. The release of the reports underscored the tensions that developed between the regents and the Board of Trustees.
If there is a yardstick to measure hurricanes against, old-timers say it is the fabled Hurricane of ’38, the ferocious storm that ripped through New England and the Massachusetts State College campus 70 years ago this month.
When it comes to star power, the lineup for honorary degrees in 1969 may have set the standard. Among the 10 degree recipients were legendary CBS newsman Walter Cronkite, poet Archibald MacLeish and Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who gave the Commencement address.