Fall 2002 - Northwestern College

N o r t h w e s t e r n C l a s s i c
A l u m n ie w s
C l a s s i re cf l e c t i o n s
A new feature of this publication, Classic Reflections recalls campus news from the past as
reported in C l a s s i c sf rom the Arc h i v e s .
Fall 1962
Among Dean J.L. De Vr i e s ’s announcements, the main lounge of Dykstra Hall, which at
the time was being used as a dormitory for men, had been redecorated with new carpet.
The Zwemer Hall basement had been completely remodeled and new offices were provided
for, among others, Phil Patton of the business department. Ground was bro k e n
for a $325,000 addition to Colenbrander Hall. This expansion would house an additional
110 men and provide dining facilities for approximately 200. On hand for the
c e remony was Dr. H. Colenbrander, for whom the building was named. Pre s i d e n t
P reston Stegenga announced detailed plans for the new $250,000 library. Gro u n d -
b reaking ceremonies were scheduled for Homecoming festivities in October.
Fall 1972
Despite continued inflation, the faculty had to forego salary incre a s e s .
Nevertheless they re t u rned more in financial gifts to the college than had been
given in the previous year by a larger faculty. The curriculum underwent changes
to allow students to develop more personalized programs. Of the 126 semester
hours of course work re q u i red for graduation then, 77 could be selected by the
students in subjects of their choice and in their chosen major. The music department
received an enthusiastic endorsement from a visiting team of consultants fro m
the National Association of Schools of Music. The music program was rated “excellent”
by a re p resentative of this national accrediting agency as compared with stand
a rds set for music departments of colleges the size of Northwestern .
Fall 1982
The Registrar’s Office issued enrollment figures showing that 891 students
attended Northwestern. The “old skating rink” was transformed into a new
headquarters for the office of buildings and grounds. Among others, Mike
Yo d e r, associate professor of sociology, and Ron Takalo, assistant pro f e s s o r
of Spanish, joined Northwestern ’s faculty. Architects recommended that
the vines covering Zwemer Hall be removed and sidewalks be re d e s i g n e d
to prevent runoff draining into the basement.
Fall 1992
Since Northwestern ’s Summer Institute for Intern a t i o n a l
Students began in 1985, the campus experienced a boom in
i n t e rnational enrollments. A re c o rd 67 international students
e n rolled at NWC in the fall of 1992. Laura Heitritter, Ed
S t a r k e n b u rg, Marc Wooldridge and Harlan Jorgensen joined
N o r t h w e s t e rn s ’ faculty/staff. Since the elementary education
p ro g r a m ’s inception in 1988, eight students had graduated with
their Master of Arts degree and another 10 were currently in the
p rogram. Dr. Richard Mouw ‘59, president-elect of Fuller
Theological Seminary, received an honorary Doctor of Laws
d e g ree from NWC at the Fall Convocation.
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