Carolyn

Once upon a time in a quiet corner of the campus, UP had a Starr Observatory.  That is, an actual astronomical observatory with a twenty-inch computer-operated telescope for looking at stars in the night sky.  The all-too-appropriate name was bestowed in 1985, honoring Professor Merle Starr at his retirement after years of teaching astronomy in the observatory shed.

The Observatory was the 1952 Class Gift; and in actual fact, members of the graduating class worked together with faculty to build it after Br. Godfrey Vassallo, C.S.C., secured the gift of the 20-inch instrument for campus (see, Dr. James Covert, A Point of Pride.) The 1952 installation of the telescope is documented as a campus-highlight page-filler in the 1959 Log.

Through its first twenty-five years stories labelling the Observatory as a hidden-treasure-on-campus featured as an almost annual feature in the pages of The Beacon (14 stories and notices).  The building came down in 2009, making room for the addition of the Quiet-Side of the expanded Bauccio Commons.  The real doom of the observatory, however, was urban growth and the increased ambient light which washes out the night sky.

The building was not indicated on campus maps until 1958 (number 15).  The lens and refractor (which was created as a prototype for the 200-inch Mt. Palomar Observatory in California) is currently in the care of the Environment Studies faculty.

The tonsillectomy (tonsil-removal surgery) has been a rite of passage for many children (especially children from classic family television from the 60s and 70s). After-care always promising ice-cream treats!

In real life, discharge instructions suggest applying cold-therapy externally in order to reduce swelling and inflammation. Today’s therapies might favor using a bag of frozen vegetables or a sealed bag of ice. Before ziploc, the Davol Company (maker of rubber medical supplies) produced this ugly, but functional item. A brown, rubber circular bag for cold water or ice and wrapped around the neck to secure in place. Estimates place its manufacture in the 1940s or 50s.

University Museum, Nursing Collection, M2009.9.4

From its inception in 1951, the Associated Women’s Students sponsored awareness events. One such popular event was a Women’s Week to mark women’s accomplishments and activities. They capped off the week with a Sadie Hawkins-type dance — The TWIRP Dance (which was also a fundraiser). The woman partner arranged the date and purchased the dance ticket = TWIRP (see our header); at the end of the evening the attendees voted (by bid) to select a King of the event.

The dances begin in 1954 and were held at various venues, both on-campus and downtown. 1965 appears to be the last in the series.

The dashing king of the Dance is First-Year Student Benny Dean (right).  Mr. Benjamin Dean, BA ’60 is the brother of Kay Frances Dean,  BA ’64.  Ms. Kay Dean Toran (PhD., Honorary, 2012) has served on the University’s Board of Regents since 2006, and helps support both the Class of 1964 Endowed Scholarship and the Class of 1964 Leadership in Ethics or Diversity Endowed Scholarship. Part of the UP family. Defining a legacy of commitment.

The yearbook page from 1960– sixty years ago– prompted this fact-check: in that year women constituted 35% of the undergraduate population at UP. The education school had not yet been separated, but we do find certain stereotypes fulfilled: women dominated the nursing enrollment (124-0), and they were over-matched in Engineering (1-188). Today the undergraduate ratio of women is approaching 60%. The picture constantly changing, and different doors constantly opened (there are even male students in the School of Nursing, the first of whom graduated in 1973.)

Photo & article credits:
top, 1960 LOG, p. 109
middle, 1957 LOG, p. 162
bottom, The BEACON, Oct. 22, 1954

For Kay Toran, see Portland Magazine, Winter 2020

American society seemed to fracture and unravel in the late 1960s; a time of social revolution and mutual distrust characterized by the generation-gap, Nixon’s Southern strategy, tense race relations, anti-war and draft protests. Many of these protest movements found natural outlets on college campuses. But the University of Portland was not much disturbed or disrupted by the larger social unrest. As reflected on in this retrospective piece from the July 1971 UP Alumni Bulletin:

During the time of unrest and splintering, UP practiced a measure of ‘Social Distancing’ seen appropriate to the circumstances.

(looking out from the Bluff over a not-yet-developed industrial Swan Island, and Mt. Hood, circa 1968)

However, some assembly of persons was allowed—and even encouraged—to move towards healing divisions, expressing grievances, and valuing the free exercise of speech and opinion. Though students were expected to observe the ‘5-minute rule’ (the context for this directive is found in the exhibit at the bottom).

Gatherings and communication were expected in that moment of national stress; however, the Administration anticipated that after people had their say, then dispersal would follow, all students would return to studies and the work of education would resume. Asking for continuity-determinedly so—in unsettled times. So that, despite not being able to see the future clearly, the academic community continued to watch and prepare whatever the future would bring.

(this image cheats a little, grainy; The Columbiad October 1923, p.17; another old view of Swan Island)

This last exhibit is spliced and edited from the Alumni Bulletin, January 1969, pp. 6, 11.

At the end of the 2019-20 academic year, nine members of the University of Portland faculty will retire after many years of service to this institution and making a difference in the lives of untold numbers of students.  The University gives thanks to our retiring faculty for their dedication and commitment to teaching and learning and wishes them all the best.

Dr. Robert J. Albright, Professor of Electrical Engineering, at UP since 1970
Dr. Robin D. Anderson, Dean of Pamplin School of Business and Franz Endowed Professor of Entrepreneurship, at UP since 1998
Dr. James B. Carroll, Professor of Education, at UP since 1994
Dr. Willoughby Deming, Professor of Theology, at UP since 1992
Dr. Mark Eifler, Associate Professor of History, at UP since 2000
Dr. Richard Gritta, Professor of Business, at UP since 1976
Dr. Pamela Potter, Associate Professor of Nursing, at UP since 2007
Frances Simmons, Instructor, School of Nursing, at UP since 1989
Dr. Thomas G. Greene, Provost and Professor of Education, at UP since 1983

(Photos from the University Archives, School of Nursing, School of Education, Pamplin School of Business, Marketing & Communications; Click on image to enlarge)

Among the awards and distinctions conferred at the Columbia University commencement exercises on June 14, 1905 was the Blanchet Gold Medal for outstanding bookkeeping student. This academic award is one of the earliest objects in the University’s museum collection and was named for its donor, Monsignor F. X. Blanchet, who was also present for the occasion.

The Blanchet Gold Medal was presented to Frederick L. Weber. One of a class of ten graduates. Mr. Weber was awarded a Commercial Diploma. Archbishop Alexander Christie, founder of the University, was in attendance and addressed the members of the graduating class. Mr. Ignatius McNamee delivered the valedictory.

The medal was only awarded twice, 1905 and 1906.  These academic honors were, as it were, personal gifts by the sponsors to the student-recipient.  And Monsignor Blanchet died in 1906. 

Columbia University was the precursor to today’s University of Portland, existing from 1901-1935. The ten diplomas awarded in 1905 were in the high school division.

Reference:
The Columbiad, June 1905, vol. 3, no. 9

Employing once more the same format for this The Beacon series, here is the campus response to the disruptions and sorrows of September 11, 2001; another day that tested American society and the strength of our community bonds. First, the editorial statement. The front page is reproduced at the bottom.

The text surrounding the front-page poster-montage reads:

(from top left-corner) William Pitt (1777) * “God bless America, land the I love.” * “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me.” Psalm 23 * “I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you, and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.” – President G. W. Bush * “And the rockets red flare . . . . gave proof through the night that our flag was still there” * “U.S.A.!” “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see.” * “You cannot conquer America.”

The text superimposed on the photo-montage is a quotation from Fr. Obermiller, the then Director of Campus Ministry (pictured at lower right)

“The Events from the last few days do not make any sense.
The people who have done this tragedy
to us as a country obviously do not know us.
They do not know our faith, our compassion, and conviction.
We cannot be broken because we have our faith and support of each other.
Buildings may be destroyed, but our spirits cannot.
We are shaken, yes, but not destroyed.”
–Rev. Edwin Obermiller, C.S.C.