Each month, the Lake E-ffect Newsletter will feature a photo from the archives - and we'd love to see yours! Submit your photo from your time on campus to alumni@oswego.edu for consideration. Include your name, class year and a short caption to accompany your photos.
May 2024: Park Hall Display Case
April 2024: Optimistic 1939 Oswego Baseball Team
“It is April and never have things looked so bright for a good baseball team at Oswego, as only one man, Captain Jarvis, was lost by graduation. Coach Ziel has a team of well-seasoned veterans around which he will build his team. We only regret that the location of the school and the lack of a good diamond makes an extensive home schedule impossible. Home games this season, and the first two on the schedule, are with Brockport and Hartwick. And then the team takes to the road and engages Ithaca, Colgate, Oneonta, Hartwick, and as the grand finale, the traditional game with Cortland. The roster of the squad is made up of 15 veterans and ten newcomers.” ~ 1939 Ontarian
March 2024: SUNY Oswego Music Legends
After reading last month's From the Archives post, Oswego Alumni Association Lifetime Award of Merit winner Mark Allen Baker '79 submitted the above photo collages and the memory below. We invite your photos and memories to be featured in this column. Please email them to alumni@oswego.edu.
"From 1975 until 1979, the Student Association’s Program Policy proved that SUNY Oswego could be an epicenter for music. From Bruce Springsteen, Poco, Emmy Lou Harris and Ramsey Lewis, to Art Garfunkel, McGuinn-Clark-Hillman (The Byrds) and Andrew Gold, we brought over 50 shows. We played basketball with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, lost comedian Steve Martin in the library and played games with Sea Level, aka Chuck Leavell (The Rolling Stones).
"Tickets were cheap, seats were good and lines were short -- and it worked because we were one big family. We always strived for a perfect production. "Enjoy the photographs. I am so honored to be a small part of all of these shows. I cherish the memories and all the wonderful people involved."
~Mark Allen Baker ’79 (Program Policy Board and Yearbook Editor)
On April 14, 1983, SUNY Oswego hosted "An Evening of Music and Discussion with Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills and Nash and former Connecticut Congressman Toby Moffett: Politics and Music ... From the 60s to the 80s" in the Waterman Theatre. Tickets to the event were $2 for students and $3 for others, as it was underwritten by the Student Association fee. An advertisement for the event from the April 7, 1983, edition of The Oswegonian assured readers that the event was: "continuing our commitment to provide stimulating and thought-provoking presentations."
These photos were taken by business administration major Dave McCormick '83, who shared them on the Facebook Group, You know you attended Oswego State University if... in March 2023. His post prompted other alumni to recall the memorable performances from their college days, including many who recalled Bruce Springsteen's Dec. 16, 1975, performance in Laker Hall.
Do you have a favorite memory to share? What bands played while you were a student here? Send your photo and memory to alumni@oswego.edu be featured in From the Archives.
One hundred years ago, the university held a winter Commencement Ceremony in January, rather than December as it does today. The program was very simple as compared to today's Commencement Ceremony, as shown above. The 1924 Normalian (Ontarian) includes a thank you from the January Class of 1924 to the June Class of 1924. It reads:
"We extend sincerest thanks for the kindness and good fellowship shown by them in allowing us to share in their year book. We acknowledge their generosity the more because they have shouldered the responsibility of the entire business management of the book. May success be ever theirs." ~ Class of January 1924
Unfortunately, neither the December nor May graduates today are included in an annual yearbook anymore, as the Class of 2005 was the last SUNY Oswego class to produce a yearbook. You can view the online archive of Ontarian yearbooks.
December 2023: December Commencement
Every year, hundreds of SUNY Oswego students complete their degrees and graduate in a special December Commencement Ceremony. This year on Dec. 16, approximately 425 Lakers will walk across the stage in cap and gown in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall in the Marano Campus Center. The ceremony has evolved over several decades to more closely follow the Commencement Ceremony in May. In the early years, December graduates didn’t wear caps and gowns for the ceremony. But by 1993, the ceremony followed the formalities of today’s Commencement, according to the 1994 Ontarian, from which the following description was pulled: On Dec. 11, 1993, students in their caps and gowns filed into the Hewitt Union Ballroom to celebrate their Commencement Ceremony while the now late music professor Jerry Exline performed “Pomp and Circumstance” on the organ. Public justice professor Celia Sgroi '70 welcomed graduates and guests, and then sophomore Wendy Adamkoski Benson ’96 sang the national anthem. President Stephen Weber conferred the degrees and issued his charge to the graduates.
November 2023: Spook-tacular Stories
October 2023: Campus Chest Weekend 1961
The seniors at SUNY Oswego went down to Fallbrook Lodge to participate in the charity fundraiser, Campus Chest Weekend, an offshoot of the United Way’s Community Chest. They played board games and enjoyed their time spent with one another. Photos from the 1961 Ontarian
~Josephine Taylor '24
September 2023: "Intermission" Sculpture
In fall 1976, renowned sculptor William King served as an artist-in-residence at SUNY Oswego. During that time, he created this 15-foot tall sculpture, "Intermission," fabricated from vinyl suede over an aluminum frame. Initially intended as an outdoor sculpture, the sculpture was moved into the Waterman Theatre lobby in Tyler Hall when it started to sustain damage from the weather. In 2017, it was cleaned and installed in the atrium of Park and Wilber halls, where it remains today.
King's study in architecture and engineering is reflected in his large-scale sculptures. Several SUNY campuses have one of his sculptures, as he was hired by the University-Wide Committee on the Arts to serve as the "Artist in Residence" in the mid-1970s. His work is featured in museums like The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. He was a 2007 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award from the International Sculpture Center. He died in 2015 at the age of 90.
August 2023: Breaking Glass Ceilings
It was 45 years ago when Dr. Virginia Radley was inaugurated as the eighth president of SUNY Oswego and the first female president in not only Oswego's history but also within the SUNY system. The following information was gathered from coverage of her inauguration in the 1979 Ontarian yearbook as well as university records. Born in Marion, N.Y., Dr. Radley graduated with a bachelor’s from Russell Sage College, an MA from the University of Rochester and an MS and Ph.D. from Syracuse University. Her career began as a teacher in Aurora, N.Y., before moving onto Chatham (Va.) Hall and Goucher College. In 1973, after holding administrative positions at Russell Sage and Nazareth colleges, she joined SUNY Central Administration as Provost for Undergraduate Education. She came to SUNY Oswego in 1974 as provost and executive vice president, and in March 1978, she was appointed president. During her tenure, Dr. Radley is credited with raising the academic profile of Oswego and shepherding the establishment of the college’s Honors Program, Quest day of scholarly and creative activity and other endeavors that continue to provide depth and diversity to the Oswego experience. She retired in 1988, and died in 1998 at the age of 71. In March 2023, SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. announced the creation of the Dr. Virginia Radley SUNY Fellowship Program, which provides support for a SUNY faculty member with scholarly expertise in history. The fellowship will explore women’s roles and leadership in the development of New York State—including SUNY’s founding, evolution and growth—and amplify these narratives to SUNY and broader communities. This week, Dr. Peter O. Nwosu began his tenure as the first Black president of SUNY Oswego—another glass ceiling broken.
July 2023: "Friends for Life”
Greek life at SUNY Oswego has long remained a staple of the university experience by promoting fellowship among students and facilitating priceless moments and memories. For the Omega Delta Phi sorority, this effect persists far beyond one’s college years. “Greek life was important,” said Kristin Lescyznski Tedford ’93, an Omega Delta Phi sister. “When I come back [to Oswego], I know it’s just like [reuniting with] a family. It’s just awesome." Photos provided by Tedford show the Omega sisters living like there was no tomorrow throughout the 1990s. These images find the sisters reveling in the joys of sisterhood in a variety of scenarios, from living it up at the Kingsford House to attending a range of functions, including Greek Socials, Bid Day and parties. Jump forward to the last decade, where the sisterhood is still going strong. A photo taken during Reunion Weekend 2023 sees many Omega sisters picking up right where they left off, as if their family had never parted. “I might not see them all the time, but every year we get together,” Tedford said. “They’re my friends for life.”
~Ethan Stinson '22
June 2023: Summer Session 1950
The SUNY Oswego campus was bustling with students and professors alike as the 1950 summer session got under way. Over 940 Lakers and 45 faculty members were present for the summer, which the 1951 Ontarian shows to have been a season of productive learning activities and rip-roaring fun. Over an eight-week span, undergraduates and teachers in the field returned to campus to complete necessary courses or work toward their master’s degrees. There was also much fun to be had outside of class, with canoeing, dances and trips to the beach representing some of the many ways students kept the spirit of summer alive while taking the extra step toward furthering their education.
May 2023: Springfest 1992
Frigid winds and a thunderstorm cut short Oswego’s annual Springfest in 1992 at Bay Shore Grove. A day intended for students to kick back and appreciate the spring prior to marching into finals and graduation became what the 1992 Ontarian describes as a celebration that “inevitably includes bad weather.” Though this Springfest came to a premature end, pictures featured in the 1992 Ontarian depict students all smiles in a sizable crowd enjoying the festivities. Thus, there was still some fun to be had as they soaked in time with great friends developing lasting memories during the festival’s brief duration.
April 2023: Quest Day 1992
Quest started in 1980 under the leadership of Dr. Helen Bohmer Daly with 77 presentations. In 2022, the university had 247 presenters and the keynote by Dr. Whittingham. This year, Quest will be held April 19 and will feature a keynote address by Allan Shaw '86, chief financial officer of Portage Biotech, Inc. For more information, visit the Quest website.
Here is one student's perspective of Quest from the 1992 Ontarian. The photos above are taken from the same page of the yearbook dedicated to Quest.
“I personally, find the writing arts and literature programs to be the most fascinating. The various works shared by the students and faculty encompass the rudiments of life in a wonderfully disturbing way. Students delve into the hearts and minds of each others’ fictional stories and poetry readings through words which intrigue and captivate. Quest Day is an opportunity to rouse emotions, open eyes, spark interests, and encourage both intellectual and personal growth within students. It embodies the purpose of college in ideal form.” ~Sara Goff (now Nilsson) ’93 on “Quest Day” in the 1992 Ontarian Goff went on to found Lift the Lid in 2010, a charitable organization that supports schools in Kenya, Tanzania and the Philippines, and Bridging Minds in 2019, a company that promotes civil political discussions by bridging different perspectives and diverse social and economic backgrounds in America.
March 2023: A View Worth Capturing
Michael Burstein ’82 was walking across campus when he looked across the very calm Glimmerglass Lagoon and saw the perfect reflection of Seneca Hall in the water. It was so striking to him that he walked back to his room in Onondaga Hall to grab his camera and take this photograph, which he shared with the university recently.
February 2023: Valentine's Day Ideas from Feb. 12, 2010, Oswegonian
January 2023: 70 Years Ago Today
December 2022: Miracle on 34th Street
In December 1991, SUNY Oswego put on the musical of Miracle on 34th Street to get into the holiday spirit. Renee Page '92 M'93 provided photos and Dorothea DePrisco wrote the following text describing the production in the 1992 Ontarian (with graduation years and boldface added): "The play opened with an array of children, colors, lights, balloons and excitement. Director, Rosemary Nesbitt, known for her perseverance and perfection, along with an outstanding cast created a performance that was unforgettable. "Doris Walker," played by Beth Harvey '92, Susan Walker, the little girl played by Noemi Perez, "Fred Gailey" portrayed by Frank Proudfoot '96 and Stan Klimecko as "Kris Kringle" all helped bring out the Christmas spirit at SUNY Oswego and helped us to reflect upon our thoughts during the holiday season."
“The Sons of the Wilted Wallet was formed here at Oswego on November 10, 1939, by ten men who believed that lasting college friendship could be formed and enjoyed in a social group of moderate means. The main purpose of the organization’s founders was to carry social activities as a group with as little expense as possible to individual members, and this idea is still the primary purpose of the club. “In keeping with the tradition and the brotherhood ideal of the club, many social events such as the birthday party are carried on throughout the year, but the main activities are the annual Spring Formal and the Traditional Steak Roast at the end of the year. “The club has enjoyed tremendous success in its past endeavors and has been steadily growing. Members feel that this success has been due to the quality of the officers elected to lead S.W.W. “To qualify for membership in S.W.W., a candidate must be a male student duly enrolled in the College of Education at Oswego. He must not be in any way affiliated with any social fraternity recognized by and on the campus of O.S.C.E. at Oswego. A candidate of any race, creed or religion must receive the unanimous vote of the qualified voting members present at the annual election before he may become a member of the organization.”
~ Excerpt from 1961 Ontarian
October 2022: The 75th Annual Fall Technology Conference in 2014
Dr. Yvonne Spicer '84 M'85 (center) delivered the keynote address during the 75th Annual Fall Technology Conference in 2014, an Oswego tradition that brings hundreds of teachers and administrators, most of them alumni, back to campus for professional development workshops and networking. She is pictured here with now retired Howard Gordon '74 M'78, executive assistant to the president, and 10th President of SUNY Oswego, Deborah F. Stanley, who is now interim Chancellor of the State University of New York. Later this month, the college will host the 83rd annual Tech Conference. For more details, visit the website.
September 2022: 5 Facts About Our Founder
August 2022: The Dedication of the Industrial Arts Building (now Park Hall) in 1932
“We, the members of the June 1932 class of the Oswego State Normal School, respectfully and sincerely dedication his, our year book, to the SPIRIT of the Industrial Arts Movement at Oswego.
"To the untiring efforts, the inspiring initiative, the SPIRIT of those who have made Industrial Arts such an integral part of our school, we pay tribute.
"It is our earnest desire to go forward in the teaching profession with this same progressive SPIRIT which has been instilled in us here at the school.
"The new Industrial Arts Building is the result of long cherished plans, of the promise of former Governor Alfred E. Smith, of the approval of Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt who laid the cornerstone August 1930 and of the untiring effort of Joseph C. Park and his faculty.
"The building marks a third significant date in the history of Oswego Normal School—the first, 1866 when the State established the school on West Sixth Street, the second 1913 when it removed to its new home at the corner of Sheldon Avenue and George Washington Boulevard, and 1932, the dedication of a visible monument to leadership in Industrial Arts education.”
~ from the 1932 Ontarian yearbook
“This magnificent industrial arts building which we are dedicating is the result of collective effort,” said Joseph C. Park, director of Industrial Arts from 1908 to 1940, who spoke at the dedication. “It gives us added facilities which will make our work more effective. It brings added responsibility to faculty and students. We shall take pride in putting our best efforts into this enterprise which is sure to increase our usefulness.”
The Industrial Art Building, the second building on campus, was later renamed in honor of Joseph C. Park, a founding faculty member of the industrial arts program. It was originally a stand-alone academic building, but it was attached to Wilber Hall since that building’s construction in the early 1960s.
Who remembers Reunion Weekend 1991? Here is a group shot of Development and Alumni Engagement staff members who were working the annual clambake. Do you have photos from reunions past that we could feature here? Send them our way! Email alumni@oswego.edu, and don't forget to provide your name, class year and caption information.
Three decades after its construction, Hart Hall received a major overhaul to accommodate for changing times. In June 1996, the residence hall closed, making way for an abundance of upgrades. New furnishings, access to cable TV and the increased volume of facilities like kitchenettes, study rooms, and computer connections were among the many improvements made. With a projected reopening date of Fall 1998, the campus put much effort into what the 1997 Ontarian described as “Planning for the future.”
Good vibes and ’60s era sounds overcame dreary weather as students gathered for the Mayday ’89 musicfest on May 7, 1989.
According to the 1989 Ontarian, the free-of-charge, outdoor event was forced to move inside the Hewitt Union Ballroom on account of rain. The change in venue did not stop students from enjoying the show, which featured performances from O.P. Taylor, The Indigos and The Professor’s Blues Revue. Were you there?
According to the 1988 Ontarian, April 5 marks the 35th anniversary of the founding of SUNY Oswego’s Epsilon Xi chapter of the historic Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, which was founded nationally on March 17, 1917, at NYU Law School. The yearbook states: "Bearing the colors royal purple and pure gold, the 'Deephers' are the second national sorority at SUNYCO and have helped establish Panhellenic, the national sorority governing system."
As per Laker Life, the organization's mission is to provide members with an experience that values justice, sisterhood and love. Operating under the motto “Esse Quam Videri,” or “To be, rather than to seem to be,” sisters engage in activities that honor tradition while showing a devotion to sisterhood, innovation and growth opportunities.
Laker Life: https://lakerlife.oswego.edu/organization/dphie
March 2022: Centennial Plate
The souvenir plate pictured above belonged to my great-grandfather, Thomas R. Budd, Sr., who formerly worked as a custodian at SUNY Oswego. I never really knew Great-Grandpa Budd before he died, but I have felt a connection to him ever since his plate was passed down to me. According to the May 23, 1961, issue of The Oswegonian, the plate was designed in commemoration of the school’s centennial celebration. It was manufactured by Wedgwood China Works of England. The plate’s border features various campus landmarks as they appeared during the era, including the Edward Austin Sheldon Statue, Mary V. Lee Hall, Hewitt Union, Joseph C. Park Hall, Penfield Library, Johnson Hall and the Lakeside Dining Hall. Sheldon Hall sits proudly at its center. Campus recreation is also showcased in its design, featuring activities like horseback riding and swimming in Lake Ontario. Displaying SUNY Oswego’s evolution over its first 100 years, the plate’s initial purpose was to provide a sentimental look at “those days gone by,” as described by Joanne Clark Szalay '62 in The Oswegonian. Today, its depiction of landmarks both past and present serves as an important reminder of how the college has progressed since.
~Ethan Stinson ’22
February 2022: Oswego Love Story
It was at a 1981 Waterbury Hall clambake where alumni Daniel Jacobsen ’82 and Maryelyn Sloan Jacobsen ’84 had their first picture taken together. The future couple had only recently met.
Almost 41 years later, the Jacobsens continue to look back on and cherish their time together at SUNY Oswego. “This special place holds only great memories for us,” Maryelyn said in an email. “What a perfect place to fall in love.”
Maryelyn and Daniel raised four children, including their son Keith Jacobsen ’17 who carried on their legacy by attending SUNY Oswego.
The college sweethearts will celebrate their 37th wedding anniversary on Feb. 15. Their 41-year anniversary together falls in the same month.
--Ethan Stinson ’22
January 2022: Football a Century Ago
As NFL teams battle it out to determine who will be in Super Bowl LVI next month, we found this 100-year old photo of the Oswego Normal School’s football team in the 1922 Ontarian. According to the yearbook, this was the second season for the school’s team, which faired pretty well with only two losses in the season. “The team, in its games under the tutelage of Mr. Ziel, used a combination or aerial attack and straight line plunging which was highly successful.”
December 2021: Autumn Sing-Along on the Quad
In the fall of 1974, I am playing guitar (Larry Wasserman ’75) along with Jeff Wicks '75, playing harmonica, and a guy named Charlie, playing dobro. We are surrounded by a group of other students, singing, clapping and having a good time on the lawn, in front of the Student Union.
~Larry Wasserman, Class of ‘75
November 2021: Magazine Prompts Alumna to Share Memories
Daisy Duffy Rushforth, who attended Oswego from 1945-1947, has been reading the OSWEGO Alumni Magazine for many decades. Recently, she took the time to reach out to the college to share her memories and comments about items that have appeared in the magazine over the years:
“Those early years in Oswego on campus remain very nostalgic with many memorable occasions and an eager expectation of the future,” she shared.
Daisy was prompted to write about her time living in Splinter Village after reading the memories of Rosemary Ryan Truesdell ’52 about the post-WWII Oswego campus, which appeared in the Summer 2021 issue of OSWEGO. Daisy articulates in her response letter that Splinter Village housed married veterans in units. Daisy and her now late husband, Robert Rushforth ’48, moved into their Splinter Village apartment (14c) after they were married on Aug. 23, 1947. Daisy recalled that they were one of three couples in their building, which had a total of four apartments, including the office for all units.
In her recent correspondence with the Alumni Office, Daisy also answered a question that was posed in a “From The Archives” piece in the Fall 2002 issue of the OSWEGO magazine, pictured above. (Editor’s Note: Daisy included the original clipping from 20 years ago in her correspondence. Now, that’s a loyal magazine reader!) The article asked alumni if the photo provided depicted The Lodge, a small building that was home to activities like dances, club meetings and other events in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Daisy confirmed that the picture is in fact The Lodge. She went on to explain when she was a freshman in 1946 she met the man who became her husband. Bob was a brother of Delta Kappa Kappa Fraternity and invited Daisy to the fraternity’s functions that took place at The Lodge.
“It was a rustic but cozy meeting place for groups to socialize and share a special occasion,” she recalled. “Later, when I heard it was removed, I felt something special was lost!”
~ Kayla Elfers '22
October 2021: College Scrapbook from Barbara-Jo Lucchine “Luke” Kruczek ’67
“Because of the incredible education and campus experiences I received at Oswego, I have been more successful and blessed way beyond what I ever could have imagined.” ~ Barbara-Jo Lucchine “Luke” Kruczek ’67
On display in King Alumni Hall is a substantial binder full of nostalgic photos and memorabilia from Barbara-Jo Lucchine “Luke” Kruczek ’67. As a child, Barbara-Jo followed in the footsteps of her mother by preserving items she thought were significant to her. Barbara-Jo started scrapbooking her achievements in grade school. Each era of Barbara-Jo’s life is in separate scrapbooks. With no family members to pass down these scrapbooks to, Barbara-Jo contemplated what to do with her binders. Barbara-Jo finally decided it was fitting to give her college years scrapbook to SUNY Oswego.
During her time at Oswego, Barbara-Jo majored in Adolescence Education with a concentration in Earth Science. Dr. George Pitluga, an Earth Science professor, became a mentor to Barbara-Jo, and helped her achieve the academic goals she sought out to accomplish at Oswego. Barbara-Jo became more involved in the campus community once she joined Alpha Kappa Phi. Though the sorority is no longer around, its existence is forever documented in this binder. Barbara-Jo not only was a sister of Alpha Kappa Phi, but she was also their “pledge mistress” (now known as New Member Educator), a competitive position selected by the active Chapter members. Barbara-Jo documents many pictures, news articles and composites of her sorority throughout her dense binder, including Alpha Kappa Phi’s “Rendezvous in Blue” formals, and the Phi Sigma Phi Beauty Contest and Parade.
As said by Barbara-Jo in her closing letter, “Thanks for the memories.” To view the scrapbook, stop by King Alumni Hall or watch a slideshow of some highlights.
September 2021: 9/11 Remembrance on Campus
On Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, the SUNY Oswego community will join the rest of the nation in remembering the 20-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. Pictured above is the on-campus memorial convened on Sept. 11, 2001, by college President Deborah F. Stanley and the campus community. In honoring the more than 3,000 lives we lost that day, including 12 SUNY Oswego alumni (listed below), our campus will ring the carillon bells 20 times at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m., 9:37 a.m. and 10:03 a.m., marking the exact times of the plane crashes that occurred at the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Campus and community members can visit the 9/11 Memorial Garden (next to Glimmerglass Lagoon) to see the memorial dedicated to those alumni lost 20 years ago: James Potorti ’72; Wendy Morris Faulkner ’74; Leo Roberts ’79; Michael O'Brien ’81; Michael Collins ’84; Richard Caproni ’89; Michael Hannan ’89; Michael Cawley ’91; Melissa Renee Vincent ’94; Scott Bart ’95; James Woods ’97; and Michelle Bratton ’00. We also remember the many heroic first responders, including a number of alumni, we’ve lost since 9/11 to diseases sustained in carrying out their rescue and recovery attempts. We remember all those impacted by that tragic day, and the resiliency that arose from it. We will never forget. Remember our 12 alumni by reading short tributes.
August 2021: 50s Flashback
My name is Josephine Finlay Sopis '52 B.S. Oswego, M.A., Ph.D. N.Y.U. I was married to Kenneth Sopis '51 B.S. Oswego, M.A. N.Y.U. When I saw the photograph of the Oswego campus I was carried back to very happy memories. Ken and I met in Oswego. He died in 2017 after a fabulous life together for 67 years. It occurred to me that there may not be many 90-year-olds left to share my memories, and I had better write to you. The end of the war was so perfectly timed. I was enrolled in Hunter College in 1947 when it opened to males - veterans - and we were swamped. I transferred to Oswego where the student body had all the room we needed. We were all one school vets and high schoolers, and the staff was superior. We later learned that many were enticed by the higher salaries. What was great was that the army was gracious. We had ample everything. Splinter Village was indeed housing for G.I.s and their families. I recall a fighting pilot (and his dog) who flew out of Syracuse every weekend. The middle tier of prefabs were mostly classrooms. However, the long building closest to the lake was the women's dormitory. It was originally a WAVE barracks. We lived eight to a room; four bunk beds, half a bureau but I can’t recall the closets. The bathroom and laundry were concrete. We had a house mother and a deputy. We had to be in by 10 p.m. I remember that our classes were comfortable in the prefabs. I can recall two history professors, Goodwin and Kermit Koont, (he was wonderful). We had American Literature with Carolyn Zainer. We had science class with an instructor who always came late from Splinter Village. I see the pond behind the main building complex. To the best of my recollection, the cafeteria was one of the long buildings at the top of the classroom pre-fab tier behind the pines. We had some classes in the main building. Malvina Svec taught geography and we had an IA class and instructor in the lower level. We also spent class time in the campus elementary school, housed in one of the wings of the main building. Most of us joined sororities at the end of freshman year. Clio/ASA had a huge rented house just off Bridge Street downtown where we were housed. I am horrified to recognize that I have no idea where Ken’s classes in IA were held, but we met only through the Fall of 1950. We met through another instructor Barney Dietz who liked Ken. We met him later in LA when Ken worked in movies in Hollywood. I also recall a very nice art teacher whose name was Shoenfeldt who shared art with Mr. Dietz. I am surprised at how much I was able to dredge up. Were there really only 700 students enrolled at that time? We did know everybody. I hope I added to the Oswego lore. It was a fabulous school. Best, Jo Sopis P.S. We did teach. We both retired from the Scottsdale Public Schools by 1986.
July 2021: Hurdling into the Future
Russell Jacquet-Acea ’77 set the record for the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 53:17 in 1976. He submitted this photo of himself clearing a hurdle that was used to promote the SUNYAC meet Oswego hosted in May 1977, on a digital message board celebrating Virtual Reunion 2021. In his post, he encouraged today's student-athletes to break his record, posting: "My name is still there as the school record holder ... but come on - it's now 44 years, so will someone BREAK THAT RECORD! You have my blessings."
June 2021: The Beginnings of President Stanley's Tenure at SUNY Oswego
In honor of President Deborah F. Stanley's announcement that she will retire, effective Dec. 31, 2021, we share this message from the 1996 Ontarian -- the year that she was named interim president of the college after President Stephen Weber accepted a position at San Diego University. Following a national search, President Stanley would officially become the 10th president of the college on Aug. 1, 1997.
May 2021: Post-WWII Life at SUNY Oswego
Incredible! How could this be the Oswego campus that my husband and I both loved in the years 1949-1952? What a contrast to only stone/mortar buildings were two: the impressive building with the circular colonnade and the Industrial Arts Building.
All other buildings were temporary in construction, probably obtained from Army Surplus. These included a large Quonset-Hut Cafeteria, Splinter Village, a series of attached small apartments for married veterans and families returning to Oswego on the GI Bill. The third temporary two story building augmented the classroom in the permanent 2nd story of the primary entry building.
The college had no dormitory housing. Students rented rooms throughout the community or housing in fraternity and sorority houses were available to members.
When living in the AD Sorority house on 6th or 7th street, Barbara Holmes '52 and I volunteered to paint the interior rooms for our fellow sorority sister, Priscilla Hawkins Rathbun '51, who soon was to move into Splinter Village with her husband (Robert Rathbun '51). With only one color of light green paint and a small apartment, people were surprised to see his return quickly. What kind of job we did, I don’t know. May I suggest that you find some pictures of these old temporary buildings and show what Oswego old days were like. (Editor's Note: Happy to oblige! Thanks for sharing your memories with us!)
When my husband, Richard (Dick) Truesdell '52, and I were about to graduate, we saw the beginning of the construction of the first dorms.
I taught on Long Island for 13 years. I’m now an old lady - happy and living in heaven (Florida). Best Wishes, Rosemary Ryan Truesdell '52 P.S. There were no parking lots for cars. Walking was our mode of transportation in all sorts of weather.
April 2021: Oswego Winters in Skirts and No Hats
"I attended Oswego between 1955 and 1959. They were the best four years of my life.
"They were also the coldest.
"Had we had the down jackets and stylish boots and hats of today, we may have felt a bit warmer. There was an unwritten dress code for girls - long camel hair coats, long woolen scarves, and absolutely no hats or boots. The written dress code was no long slacks. Girls had to wear skirts, which we usually paired with knee socks and white bucks or loafers. This is how we trudged through the snow to class in our temporary classrooms.
"Very few students owned a car. If we didn’t live on campus we would walk, unless we were able to hitch a ride.
"Our 'uniforms' for parties were Bermuda shorts and knee socks. How we survived, I’ll never know, but we happily did.
"Often during the weekends, famous musical artists were invited to perform in the auditorium. Girls were required to wear nylon stockings and nice shoes. Van Clyburn, a young pianist, was scheduled to perform one evening. There was a raging snow storm and my friends and I decided we were not going to go. This young pianist became world famous years later, and I regretted not having heard him.
"I did, however, attend many other performances, dressed appropriately. A memorable one was when jazz pianist, George Shearing, who was blind, came. He was wonderful. At the end of his performance, he spoke to the audience. He said that our college had the best looking females. One of his band leaders asked him, 'George, how do you know that? You’re blind.' His answer was so amusing. 'Braille, man, Braille!'
"Things began to change after we graduated, but not just what the students wore. Female students were not allowed to have men on their dorm floor, not even fathers helping to bring up luggage. The year after I graduated, the dorms became co-ed.
"Change is inevitable, but my love for this school has remained constant and true."
Helen Nachmias Davidson '59
March 2021: Dirt Day
Mark Kall '77 (above) shared the photo above along with the following account of how the tradition of Dirt Day started. The Senior Week celebration appears to have begun in 1975 off campus at Regan's Silver Lake out on Johnson Rd./County Route 7, and moved to a few locations before the final Dirt Day celebration was held May 13, 2001, at Bay Shore Grove, according to college archives. According to a May 3, 2001, Oswegonian article, the Senate voted to end "Dirt Day, due to the liabilities an off-campus event brings to the Student Association."
What follows is Mark's account of Dirt Day's beginnings:
"It was just before the second semester of their sophomore year in 1974-75 when four Oswego sophomores, Bob Gershberg, Tim Roche '77, Marty Kelsohn '76 and Jeff Salaway decided to move off-campus and approached Jim and Carol Regan at Silver Lake on County Rt 7 about renting a house from them. Jim Regan ushered them into a 10-bedroom house adjacent to Regan’s Silver Lake on County Rt 7. Not satisfied with what they saw, one of the boys inquired about the “Green House” up by the road. Jim was hesitant to rent out what had been his parent's homestead, but finally relented and took a security deposit from the four students, along with a handshake agreement that there would be “no jamborees and no dollies.” The “Green House” was a large 7-bedroom farm house set on 50 acres, which included Regan’s Silver Lake. Over winter break, Jeff Salaway contacted a fifth roommate, Mark Kall '77 who was asked to join them. "The five amigos moved in January 1975, surveyed the out buildings in the yard, and quickly agreed that this would be a good location for a big party at the end of the school year. In early March, deciding on a pig roast, the boys attended their first livestock auction and bought a small pig to raise and fatten up. They paid their fee of $35 and traveled home. Not wanted to get too attached to their new 'pet,' the boys decided to name him 'Dirt.' "Over the ensuing months, Tim took charge of the task of feeding Dirt and cleaning out the pig shed. Since Tim was also an industrial art major, he created a T-shirt iron-on announcing the first Dirt Day in May 1975, which ended up being the day after graduation. "The end of the school year quickly approached and the lads began their planning and selling T-shirts. Unfamiliar with roasting a pig and not having access to the internet in 1975, the boys went to the library (NOT!) for research. The first mistake they made was not realizing how long it took to roast a pig, typically 10-12 hours. "They started at 6 a.m. but it took a while to finally dispatch Dirt and truss him up on their man-made spit. It was now nearly noon. Through T-shirt sales they had raised enough to purchase 6 kegs of beer (drinking age at the time was 18). Without the benefit of social media and through word-of-mouth only, over 500 people showed up for the 1st Annual Dirt Day. The beer didn’t last long, so by mid-afternoon they passed around a hat and in 10 minutes collected enough money to purchase another 6 kegs. Some friends with a band showed up and played out of their van. At about 10 p.m., Dirt was finally done cooking while hundreds of rabid, famished fans polished him off in less than 20 minutes. "Building on the success of the 1st Dirt Day, the boys again returned to the livestock auction in their junior year, bought two pigs, named them 'Grease' and 'Grime,' and began planning for the second annual Dirt Day 1976. Based on the popularity of the event, almost 1,000 people arrived that year and celebrated with 27 kegs of beer being consumed. At this point, Jim Regan was the student’s best friend and helped them prep the pigs for the pit. "For year three (1976-77), two additional pigs were purchased and were named 'Sleaze' and 'Slime.' Over 1,200 people showed up. The celebration was no longer at the Green House as Jim Regan offered Regan’s Bar on Silver Lake and eventually 35 kegs of beer were polished off. "The boys graduated in 1977 but returned for the 4th annual dirt Day in 1977-78 to meet and eat 'Muck' and 'Mire.' Dirt Day was now an annual event, sponsored by the Student Association."
February 2021: Snowball Fight
In 2004 student-athletes were recruited to help create winter images for the division of development and alumni engagement while a cheerful Oswego snowman watched. Sports teams represented were basketball, softball, baseball, wrestling and golf. Can you identify any others? Please email us at alumni@oswego.edu. Photo by Robert Clark ’78.
January 2021: DKK House
This watercolor by the late Oswego County painter Eugenijs Kaskin depicts the Delta Kappa Kappa house, 15 Bronson Street. That house was destroyed by a fire on Jan. 9, 1983, and the fraternity moved into its current home at 86 Sheldon Avenue. DKK brother Steve Rose '70 shared the image. Do you have more information about this image? Please email us at alumni@oswego.edu.
December 2020: Welland Hall
During the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918, the Red Cross pressed the college’s women’s dormitory, known as the Welland, into service as an emergency hospital, and, according to the official history of SUNY Oswego, “faculty volunteers cooked and tended the ill.” Read more on page 3 of this newsletter from 2006.
November 2020: Female Vice Presidential Candidate Visit
In 1984, the Democratic Candidate for President, Walter Mondale, was accompanied by Geraldine Ferraro—the first woman vice presidential candidate. This was the first time a woman had run for the vice presidency in the United States. Geraldine Ferraro spoke to SUNY Oswego students about her campaign and her future plans. Read more in the 1991 Ontarian.
October 2020: Halloween 1988
Boo! It’s students from the Class of 1988 celebrating Halloween! Recognize these classmates? Let us know at alumni@oswego.edu.
September 2020: Kiss Me Kate, Spring 1962
The following memory was shared by theatre major Peter Fland '64 on the Facebook Group page, You know you attended Oswego State University if ...:
"In the Spring of 1962, Blackfriars produced Kiss Me Kate in the Sheldon Auditorium. Kiss Me Kate was a multiple Tony Award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It is the telling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew in a play within a play format. The play was difficult to produce because of the size of the stage, the theatrical requirements including dance, and musical requirements.
"Typically, the process began with preplanning and then auditions. The auditions lasted a long time as a great deal of care was taken. But the auditions also represented an incredible life lesson. George Hainey '62 ... was chosen for the part, and we all would watch him grow into the part day after day after day. By the time we opened - he owned the part. Pat O'Riordan '62, who had the female lead had one song called "I Hate Men." Included in this was the banging of a mug on a table. Her force was such we had to replace the mug several times.
"Rehearsals and production activities went on until we finally combined everything when the faculty student/orchestra joined the rehearsals. That is really when a lot of the magic began.
"During the show there was a scene where two gangsters were on stage. The script called for them to shoot a large bird flying over them. I do not know where they found the huge stuffed bird, but it obviously had been in a barn for a long time. The first time the gangsters shot the bird it was dropped from the gallery and a billowing cloud of dust erupted on stage and that would happen every night.
"When opening night happened the show went almost flawlessly. The audience loved it, but none of us were prepared for the fact that the audience rose as a group in standing ovation and applauded for a long period of time. After all of that work that emotional release for the cast and crew was incredible. Word of the excellence of the show spread all over the area and the request for tickets was overwhelming. It became necessary to arrange for additional performances to satisfy the demand.
"Everyone sees their history in a different way. But I believe this musical and the subsequent ones laid the foundation for the Waterman Theatre and the strong theatre department that was to follow. Kiss Me Kate was the game changer from which generations of students have benefitted. Theatre on the campus has always been a standout at the college.
"I can only say, that what was produced in the 60s, given all the limitations, tells a wonderful story that is typical of the strength of the college and the visions of college leadership over the years."
August 2020: Move-In Day 2010
Remembering a "typical" Move-In Day. Resident student staff in front of Riggs Hall welcome new students and their families while offering some extra muscle to assist during Move-In Day 2010.
July 2020: Harborfest GOLD Gather 2017
Because of COVID-19 there will unfortunately not be a Harborfest Celebration in Oswego this year, so we thought it would be nice to include this photo from the GOLD (Graduates Of the Last Decade) gathering event at Old City Hall during Harborfest 2017.
June 2020: Throwback to Reunion Weekend 2010
The hairstyles and clothes may change but the fun had during a Reunion Weekend remains the same. This photo was taken during the Friday night BBQ at Fallbrook in 2010. The largest event during Reunion Weekend, the "Come As You Were" BBQ at Fallbrook brings together several hundred alumni from all decades to eat, drink, chat and dance together.
May 2020: Throwback to 1957 Torchlight Ceremony
Thank you to Penfield Library Archives for this photo of the 1957 Torchlight Ceremony. The ceremony used to be held outside, gathered around the Edward Austin Sheldon Statue. This photo and other photos "from the archive" can be found online at https://www.oswego.edu/library/archives-special-collections
April 2020: Throwback to Spring 1970
This photo was taken by Jim Gemza '70 depicts a rally held during Spring 1970 that was organized by the Oswego Strike Committee to protest the war in Vietnam. Here's a description of the campus that ran May 15, 1970, in an Oswegonian article:
"A majority of the students present at a rally held in the academic plaza voted to go on strike to protest the war in Southeast Asia, university complicity with the war machine, and the repression and holding of political prisoners.
"Letter-writing campaigns, peaceful boycotting of classes by means of picket lines was set up. The right of those students who wished to attend classes was not interfered with, as the purpose of the pickets was to encourage students to give careful thought to the issues at hand and to take a stand of active support if they were so inclined.
"Faculty passed a motion that a telegram be sent to Nixon protesting the war. The faculty also took a stand to support the student strike and made provisions to set up a policy in regard to academic evaluation. This policy was presented to the college community by President James Perdue in an address on Thursday afternoon. "Professors turned their classrooms into workshops—provisions were made for students who wished to be instructed in the regular course material, and students who did not wish to attend classes were given the option of taking a pass-fail grade, their present grade for the course, or dropping the course without penalty."
March 2020: Throwback to 1963-64
This photo was submitted by Wayne Leithner '67, depicting he (back left) and his classmates in Room 265 in Scales Hall during the 1963-64 academic year. He said three of them lived in the room, which was only intended to hold two. "The photos are not the best, but they certainly contain great memories for me and others who were around that time, I hope," he said.
The lakeside residence hall underwent a $13.4 million renovation in 2016 and reopened in August 2017. It now offers pod-style bathrooms providing privacy for toilets and showers, as well as new furniture, a kitchen on every floor, new lounges on the second and third floors and a new computer lab.
February 2020: Throwback to 1972!
This submission from Ken Stone '74 shows industrial arts professors (the late) William Todd, Moroz and Wesley Boydston in September 1972 in an elevator cage getting ready to be hoisted to the top of the newly installed 700-foot-tall smokestack at the energy plant next to campus. Stone said that at the time Niagara Mohawk and Stone & Webster Engineering were converting the steam station from coal to oil. He and his IA classmates took a class field trip to the power station to learn about the plant's operation and "how the smokestack was constructed using a continuously poured concrete form process." Stone also rode the elevator to the top. He said: "I was next and found the cage cramped with three aboard. The swaying ride up inside this huge concrete tube was eerily quiet but exhilarating. It was a crisp, clear, sunny fall day. On top you stood on wooden planks battling a stiff breeze. The view was breathtaking. You could see 35 miles to the horizon."
January 2020: Throwback to 1951!
The photo above was submitted by Harold '51 and Doreen Henley Manning '51 of Rush, N.Y. Hal was a veteran of World War II in USN-SEABEEs. They met as students at Oswego and were married in 1950. They lived together in Splinter Village after purchasing furnishings from a fellow Delta Kappa Kappa brother who was moving out of the temporary trailer-park style housing used by many WWII veterans and their families. The Mannings also submitted the photo below from their time on campus.
December 2019: Throwback to 1983!
This photo from the 1984 yearbook captures students in the December holidays' spirit. Do you recognize any of these classmates? Let us know at alumni@oswego.edu.
November 2019: Throwback to 1909 Oswego Normal School Days
In October 2019, SUNY Oswego received a vintage postcard from 1909. “Re-distributing happiness” was the phrase chosen by Lowell Joerg, a California resident who just happened to stumble upon the old postcard of the State Normal School in Oswego and decided to send it back home to us. Read about history of the building and the early normal school days here: https://www.oswego-history.com/history-of-the-oswego-state-normal-school/
Curious what was on the back? We were, too:
October 2019: Throwback to the 2014 Green and Gold Day
Every year, the college celebrates Laker pride by wearing green and gold, our school colors. Here is the campus photo taken in 2014. Were you there?
September 2019: Throwback to the 2013 ALANA Fashion Show
Each September, the SUNY Oswego African, Latino, Asian and Native American (ALANA) Student Leadership Conference is held, featuring a week of events promoting cross-cultural understanding, education, networking, entertainment and storytelling. A highlight of the week is the ALANA Fashion Show, a showcase of cultural music and fashion. This year, the conference will be held from Sept. 18 through Sept. 23. The ALANA Fashion Show and the ALANA Banquet are ticketed events. To purchase tickets please visit tickets.oswego.edu.
August 2019: Welcoming Torchlight Ceremony in the Marano Campus Center Convocation Arena, 2008
The Annual Welcoming Torchlight Ceremony is an important tradition marking the first day on campus for incoming first year students and transfers. Much like the students shown here in 2008, the next wave of incoming students - most of them members of the Class of 2023 - will be celebrating the 30th year of this tradition when they join the SUNY Oswego campus on Aug. 23, 2019. During the ceremony, alumni, faculty and staff pass on the Torch of Learning to the incoming students to welcome them as the newest members of the SUNY Oswego family. Immediately following, the students enjoy games, food and fun.
July 2019: Instructor and students at the Sheldon Institute for Barbara Shineman Scholars, 2010
This summer program is a two-week educational enrichment program for approximately 130 students entering grades 2 - 10 that runs each summer on the SUNY Oswego campus. Institute founder and professor emerita Dr. Barbara Shineman is an honored alumna of SUNY Oswego, having graduated as a non-traditional student with an undergraduate degree in childhood education in 1965 and a master's degree in reading education in 1971. Her teaching career at SUNY Oswego began in the Campus She later directed the Sheldon Institute for Gifted and Talented Students and the Potential Teacher Program. Additionally, she coordinated Swetman Learning Center advisement while continuing her work as a professor of elementary education. To learn more about the programs and see if spots are still available for the 2019 institute, check here.
June 2019: Oswego student on the air, 1993
In this 1993 photo, an unnamed student (do you know who this is? Please let us know at alumni@oswego.edu) broadcasts from the WNYO college radio station. Check out the equipment! From 9 a.m. to noon on June 8, 2019, WNYO alumni from decades past are taking over our airwaves during Reunion Weekend on 88.9 FM, online on wnyo889.org, or on the RadioFX app. Be sure to listen in!
May 2019: Oswego State Crew, 2013
In this 2013 photo, the Oswego crew team takes on the challenges of Lake Ontario during a practice session. Oswego Crew, which has been around for roughly 30 years, participates in major and local collegiate races year round.
April 2019: An image from SUNY Oswego's annual daylong celebration of scholarly and creative activity among students, faculty and staff: Quest.
Quest debuted in 1980. A brochure from the first year shows a handful of activities concentrated on the second floor of Hewitt Union. This image from Quest 1987 shows the Oswego chapter of the Society of Physics Students preparing a display of solar-powered devices. "Solar energy is being considered as a viable alternative to our use of coal and oil, and we wanted to show what it could do," then-chapter President Francis Thesier said.
In 2019, Quest was held April 3. Classes were canceled and hundreds of presentations were held to share the scholarly and creative pursuits of students, faculty, and staff. It is sponsored by the Division of Graduate Studies, Office of the Provost, the Scholarly and Creative Activities Committee, and the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. Presentations take the form of scholarly papers, panels, debates, plays, readings, recitals, and demonstrations throughout campus.
(Photo by Jim Carroll/Perspective).
March 2019: Cover from the 1967 SUNY Oswego Yearbook, The Ontarian
Until 2006, an annual yearbook was produced by students at SUNY Oswego - and King Alumni Hall has yearbooks on hand back to 1919! You may stop by your alumni home on campus to take a look at the collection or check it out online. BONUS: Your alumni office has old yearbooks for sale for $20, which includes shipping. Contact alumni@oswego.edu to see if your class year is available!