Gammage years History of Arizona State University

in 1930s, arizona state needed national accreditation recognized educational institution of quality, eligibility requirements of accrediting organizations specified large percentage of faculty must hold advanced degrees, particularly doctorates. result, under leadership of president ralph swetman many faculty contracts terminated , new faculty hired. in 1933 grady gammage became president of arizona state teacher’s college, , later year north central association (nca) granted arizona state teacher’s college @ tempe first permanent , unconditional accreditation. in 1937 arizona state offered first graduate degree, masters in education. although courses offered in other academic , professional disciplines, school remained teachers college until 1945.

arizona state college @ tempe dropped teacher’s college appellation in 1945, , governed newly established arizona board of regents. college offered more diverse curriculum, advanced degree available there still master of arts in education. military personnel trained world war ii service in valley remembered abundant sunshine , relaxed civilian lifestyle witnessed before deployment. returned settle in valley of sun , advance education gi bill dollars. result, asc enrollment tripled between 1940 , 1949 4,094 students, , valley manufacturing , industry exploded in period well.

in 1953 arizona board of regents (dominated university of arizona alumni), authorized establishment of college of arts , sciences , called united states department of education evaluate asc program. dr. ernest v. hollis’ 1954 report declared asc rapidly becoming university , proposed establishment of 4 colleges: liberal arts, education, applied arts , sciences, , business , public administration. hollis report precipitated howls of displeasure southern arizona echoed through board of regents , arizona legislature, in november 1954 regents meeting governor howard pyle cast deciding vote accept recommendations, implemented following year.

meanwhile, war of words erupted in legislative chambers, major city newspapers , alumni magazines on hollis’ declaration second arizona university emerging in desert. arizona state college student leaders collected petition signatures, legislation crafted , buried in committees, , eugene pulliam’s arizona republic justified references arizona state university matter of accuracy in journalism. powerful state senator harold giss of yuma unwittingly poured gas on fire when in march 1958 introduced legislation name institution tempe university. hundreds of angry students laid siege @ state capitol in phoenix until giss appeared @ balcony , promised withdraw bill. embarrassed president grady gammage admonished student behavior, , quietly appointed alumni association executive director james creasman coordinate statewide initiative drive give arizonans second public university.

five hundred , ninety-nine students formed committee collect petition signatures in spring of 1958, assisted alumni association , citizens arizona state university led walter craig , john b. mills. needed 28,859 valid signatures, july 1 had collected 63,956 signatures , delivered them capitol armored car. meanwhile, citizens college , university education returned fire editorials, radio ads , pamphlets declaring name change movement wasteful duplication , poor educational policy. mrs. kathryn gammage, first year football coach frank kush , college administrators , faculty toured state promote arizona state university, while c.w. laing , tom lillico barnstormed state in yes 200 piper aircraft. opening day @ new sun devil stadium featured letters painted in end zone, room u added, while opposition burned no 200 turf @ midfield.

election day dawned on november 4, 1958 , army of 1,500 student volunteers deployed assist voter information , transportation polls. communications center established in memorial union, , students gathered outside polls closed @ 7:00. teleprinter chattered election results in favor of asu 2 one, , @ 10:00 citizens college , university education conceded election. celebrations began, thirty minutes later wire service reported returns 2 1 against asu , tension renewed. @ 11:00 teleprinter declared previous reports inaccurate , proposition 200 approved 2 1 margin. celebration renewed sun devil marching band, cheerleaders , pom-pom girls leading 5,000 jubilant students sun devil stadium. remained gubernatorial proclamation enacting initiative results, , on december 5, 1958, governor signed executive order created arizona state university.

asu established university in name, , had public support , regential authorization offer advanced degrees, talented faculty, graduate students , laboratory facilities needed establish university research programs in sciences not available @ asu in 1958. university administrators , faculty realized fulfilling promise of university required more name change, , 1955 worked overtime create research university scratch.