Viking_Yearbook_47

HISTORY OF VANPORT COLLEGE Jumble a housing shortage, over-<:towded universities, the G. I. benefits derived ftom Public Laws 346 and 16, confused veterans, a perplexed nation, and the country-wide educational calamity takes full form. World War II ended August, 1945, the Armed Forces demobilized rapidly, and during the fall and winter school seasons, a million soldiers, sailots, marines, turned citizens, sought a university educarion. Oregon, with its share of veterans applying for higher education, had problems, too. MARCH 24, 1946, the General Extension Division of the Oregon State System of Higher Edu­ cation announced acceptance of registrations for (he summer session at Vanpoct Extension Center. Mainly a Veterans College, the new Center was to be located at Vanport, a war-built Federal Housing Project. This unique "junior college' represemed the idea of Dr. Stephen E. Epler and Dr. Henry E. Stevens, the approval of Dr. John F. Cramer, and the authorization of the Oregon State Board of Education. Most of all, it represented a well thought out practical plan to provide college training to overflow students from Oregon's universities. APRU 8, 1946, advertising circulars emphasized that Vanport College is the only school in the Northwest able to offer registrants on-the-scene housing. "Hot and cold runoing water, nursery schools, bedroom, and shower" were more pertinent data [han curricular information. MAY I, 1946, saw Vanpon as a "feeder" for mher state schools. Only freshman courses were offered, Faralleling closely the curricula of the University of Oregon, Oregon State College, and the Oregon Colleges of Education. All work was to be fully accredited. Prospective students expressed preference for courses in the fields of Engineering, Business Adminisrration, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Dentisrry, Pre-Law, and Liberal Arts. JUNE 3, 1946, established the adminimative offices of Vanport Center College at the Vanport Junior High School wjth Dr. Stephen E. Epler as Director. Applications for admission to the summer term were accepted and preparations continued for the summer opening. JUNE 17, 1946, official registration day for the summer session at Vanport College provided ad­ ditional transition of Vanport City from a community of war workers to a veterans' city. Phil Putnam, Assistam Director, announced twO hundred studems registered and of these 95 0/0 were veterans. There were twenty instructors. Gasses started smoothly, school social activities were arranged, and an intra­ mural athletic program was planned. JULY 16, 1946, tmal registration was 220 students. Of these 94% were veterans with an average length of sen,;ce of 34 months. Thirty-one were disabled veterans, eight were women, and ninety­ nine were married. Of them 44 '1< had served in the army, 371< in the navy, 8% in the marine corps, and 5 % in the coast guard. The average age was 24 years with many 18-year-olds and three students past forty attending. 737< were Oregon born with 26 states represented in the student body. AUGUST 26, 1946, 1200 students had applied for admission in the fall. The summer session was coming tb a successful close with students preparing for term examinations. The State Board of Edu­ cation considered Vanport College the solution to Oregon's overcrowded colleges. Dean Cramer ex­ plained, "Vanport is a safety valve. It can expand now to take the overflow from Our permanent insti­ turions and when there isn't any overflow-shrink back our of existence again." AUGUST 31, 1946, crisis threatened to limit classroom space at Vanport for the fall session to ac­ commodations for one-third of the registered 1400 students. Prompt action by Portland civic organi­ zations, newspapers, Senator Morse, Congressman Angell, the State School officials, and Dr. Epler avetted the embarrassment of a failure at VanPOrt Center College. The agreement reached with Fderal Public Housing ~uthority, Pottland Housing Authority, and the Vanport School District gave the col­ lege possession of nurseries No.3 and 4, three rooms in Recreation Building No. I, Recreation Building No. 2, and Shopping Center No.2. SEPTEMBER 21, 1946, saw postponement of the opening of Vanpon College for several weeks. Opening was assured, however. School officials made plans to operate the many different classes on a three-hour, one-session basis six days a week_By starring in the morning at 7:30 and eoding the e>e­ ning classes ar 9:30 more than 1500 students could be accommodated. The Housing Authority set aside 690 apartments at VanPOrt for students who needed housing. OCTOBER 7, 1946, Freshman and sophomore classes in twelve courses of study received initial assignments as the fall session started for 1374 Vanport students. The faculty increased to sixty in­ structors, including Dr. Jean Black, Librarian; Ftank RobertS, Head of the English Department; Joe Holland, men's advisor and atbletic ditector; James Price, head of Mathematics Department; and Gene Guldeman, head of Engineering Department. Phil Putnam, Assistam Director, administered the school's internal operation and Dr. Eplet, Director, set up the school's policies. NOVEMBER IS, 1946, for moSt students scholastic routine jelled into a regular pattern. Wednes­ day morning assemblies were held in the Vanport Theatre, where Oregon's Governor Snell was a prominent guest speaker. Three social events had taken place. A student government nominated thirty­ nine candidates for fifteen offices and the first issue of the school's newspaper "Vets Extended" under Don Carlo, a blind editor-veteran, admonished the student body to exercise their democratic privileges. DECEMBER 6, 1946, represenled a deadline for many term papers and a time LO redouble studying of the various textbooks. Bob Taylor and fourteen councilmen were eleeced student body representatives_ The council at their first meeting December 2 said a platform would be formed (rom the many pIank. available. As new ideas presented themselves, new pbnks would be added, To procure staple food prod­ UCts at reduced prices was the roam purpose for organizing the COllege Cooperative Association. The basketball team coached by John F. Jenkins won one game and lost tbree_ A roily squad interjected into the Wednesday, November 27, assembly an audible school spirit. The Psycholngy Department on­ dueted I.Q. tests determining th.t Vanpon students rank htgh in intelligence among collc:JIe fneshmon or tbe n:,uiun.