MAY 31, 2024
Dear Editor,
I recently finished reading the Spring 2024 issue of the Magazine, which prompted me to reflect on my time at The University of Akron (UA) more than 50 years ago. I leafed through the yearbooks I still have from those years.
The Magazine featured K9 Dunkan, the UA Police Department’s canine, patrolling the campus. I was also interested to read about Robertson Dining Hall’s diverse food selections, including tacos, fried rice bowls and vegan/vegetarian options. The history of the Edward G. Elias Bowling Alley caught my attention as well. Additionally, the growth of the women’s athletic programs has progressed beyond expectations.
My years at UA, from 1970 to 1973, reflect a different era, marked by both memorable experiences and periods of stress. As a freshman in 1969, I witnessed Black students taking over Buchtel Hall in a sit-in and campus rallies protesting President
Nixon and the Vietnam War’s escalation into Cambodia. The tragic May 4, 1970, shootings at nearby Kent State led to the cancellation of classes at UA, the closure of the campus and an immediate evacuation of residence halls.
I lived in Orr Hall, where bomb threats were common, and police frequently searched our dorm rooms. Residence halls were not coed, and male guests had to be announced with a shout of “man on the floor” to ensure everyone was appropriately dressed. Room telephones were scarce, so calls were typically made from the hall’s communal telephone. A small television in a hallmate’s room was a plus, and borrowing a typewriter was essential for writing term papers. With no microwaves yet invented, I relied on a “hot pot” to heat canned ravioli, soup or coffee.
Robertson Dining Hall was closed on Sunday nights, but I remember too many weeknight offerings of London broil. I recall attending concerts and football games at the Rubber Bowl, which has since been demolished, as has Memorial Hall, which hosted indoor athletics. I remember frustrating memories of standing in long registration lines at Spicer Hall, only to discover the needed class was already filled. We were on the quarter system then, not the semester system used now. I also recall walking across Lee Jackson Field to the Star Market on Exchange Street and shopping downtown at Polsky’s Department Store. Schroeder’s Bar was a popular weekend spot.
At the time, the E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall was not completed, so most events were held at the John S. Knight Center. The campus hosted many well-known performers and speakers, including Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, The Ides of March, Chicago and Edwin Starr, who sang the protest song “War (What is it good for).” Speakers included comedian Pat Paulsen, feminist Betty Friedan and anti-war activist/actress Jane Fonda.
Women’s athletics were nonexistent before Title IX and the NCAA’s involvement. The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics f or Women managed women’s programs and athletic scholarships were not yet a consideration. We did establish a women’s basketball team, initially called the Zipettes and later renamed the Lady Zips. We carpooled to games and even participated in a tournament at Cedarville College.
The campus has undergone significant changes with new buildings and expanded academic offerings. Reflecting on my time there, I’m reminded of the Charles Dickens line from “A Tale of Two Cities”: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” My experience included both joy and adversity, from friendships and fun to protests and unrest.
My graduation ceremony in 1973 at Blossom Music Center remains a cherished memory. Despite the passage of five decades, I continue to support UA and look forward to reading more articles about campus life and the community.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Bower ‘73
Do you have cherished memories from your time at The University of Akron that you would like to see featured in the next edition of The University of Akron Magazine? We would love to hear from you! Email your memories to the editor at magazine@uakron.edu. Whether it is a story about a special event, a memorable class or a meaningful campus experience, we want to celebrate it with our community. Include your degree, graduation year and where you live currently. Pictures are also welcome!