1962-1971
Students in history class, c. 1962-1963
Tau Theta Nu sorority participating in the bathtub race, 1970
Students attending American economics television course, 1962
This period started off with a bang for Weber. In 1963, Weber changed its name from Weber College to Weber State College. Students were now able to complete both an associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree from the school. This change offered many new opportunities to student life at Weber.
A variety of new programs started during this time: Medical Technology (1967), Accounting (1962), Department of Elementary and Department of Secondary Education (1967), Library Science (1962), Social Services (1968), Military Science (1965), and many more. In 1962, students were also able to take television courses in American economics, starting a new era in technology forward learning. In 1964 Weber joined the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) which allowed students to take select courses at other participating institutions and pay in-state tuition.
The 1960s breathed new life into the relatively new campus. Starting in 1964 students were also able to stay on campus for the first time with the completion of the new student dorm buildings: Wasatch, La Sal, and Stansbury halls. Starting in 1968, students under 21 who lived away from home and did not reside with a relative were required to house in the dorms.
Starting in 1963, the “Game Train” started. During the first year, students could pay $5 for a round-trip train ticket that would transport the Wildcats to Pocatello for the football game against Idaho State. In 1964, the live bobcat mascot was introduced at a football game on September 26, a tradition that continued until 1968. In 1964 the Homecoming Bell Trophy was introduced. The bell was an old locomotive bell that Weber secured that was used as a trophy in the games between Weber State and Idaho State.
Tom Rose and Sandie with live bobcat mascot, c. 1964-1965
Homecoming queen and attendants, c. 1970-1971
The 1969 school year was marked with controversy. On October 15, 1969, 300 students participated in a demonstration about the United States involvement in Viet Nam. Most of the participants were protesting the Nixon’s administration’s continued involvement in Viet Nam and a “handful of students” (Signpost, October 17, 1969, p. 1) were protesting the protest.
