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FEATURES
The Clarion
Taking a 50 year trip through time
The Pertelote Archives
In their final existing season, the Tornadoes entered the conference
tournament. According to records, finances disbanded the team.
BY MICHELLE CRABTREE
The 1950s were the years of
pop culture and technical wonders:
sock hops and television. Drive-in
The Pertelote Archives
Brevard College building, 1953.
movies overflowed with girls in
poodle skirts and guys with shiny
red Chevy’s. The diner was the
place to go, where football players
shared their shakes with the cheer
leaders next to them.
In 1950, scarcely 100 students
attended this college with the
average tuition cost at $500.00,
compared to the average of $1,119
for private institutions. Then five
years later, enrollment tripled to
320. Brevard College tuition and
fees for 2001 will reach $18,000.
Things Change.
In 1950, not only did we have
a football team, but we had a good
football team. In 1950 Brevard
College tornadoes entered the
conference tournament. Brevard
College ended the regular season
with a 59-46 victory over the North
Greenville team. The football
players were a main focus of the
traditional homecoming parade. In
1950 homecoming was a very big
deal. It was traditional for all the
girls to wear long beautiful dresses.
The homecoming queen received a
beautiful homecoming crown and
roses. It was very formal and
elegant, but the eloquence of
homecoming has somewhat disap
peared since then. It is less formal
and less organized in this day and
age.
Things change.
The “happy family” 1950s
generation took a hit off the 1960s
along with the hippies. Gas only
cost nineteen cents per gallon and
Marilyn Monroe and Elvis took
over. Kennedy was assassinated.
The first walk on the moon oc
curred. “I love Lucy” and “the
twilight zone” ruled the tube.
In 1961, the first phase of the
building program was completed
with the construction of the Bryan
Moore Science Building, then
followed by the Boshamer Gymna
sium in 1962. Then the Beam
Administrative Building was built in
1965, the Lena Sue Beam residence
hall in 1966, the Addison Jones
Library in 1967, and now Village
Phase II takes foundation in 2000.
In 1967, 645 students attended
Brevard College.
While construction was
helping the campus look more
attractive on the outside there were
problems going on with people on
the inside. Brevard students of 1968
belonged to an idealistic generation
and one of protests. They hoped
change things on campus as well as
off campus. Many protests occurred
during this time. One example was
in the spring of 1968 by Brevard
College students. There was a
protest demonstration where stu
dents rebelled against the rules of
Brevard College.
Things Change.
The 70s discoed in and Elvis
died. Nixon was president, and by
his request, the maximum speed
limit was reduced from 70 to 55
miles per hour. Eventually, the
Water Gate scandal grabbed the
attention of everyone. After years of
public dissent, the Vietnam War
finally ended.
In 1975, the Tornadoes finally
won the 17-year battle against
North Greenville at Tigerville.
Brevard College cross-country team
finished fourth in the nation in the
NJCAA national championship
meet in Champaign, 111. Students
loved to hang out at the old theatre
called the Co-Ed, now known as
The Falls.
Things change.
The 1980s rolled
around and nobody saw
anything because of all
the big hair, teased and
feathered. Regan went
from Hollywood to the
White House. “Celebra
tion” and “Betty Davis
eyes” were playing on the
radio, as music and video
found each other and the
San Francisco 49’ers
danced around. The
Challenger tragedy
brought tears of grief to
America and the fall of
the Berlin wall brought
tears of joy to the world.
“Visitation was at 8
p.m. There were no
phones or computer jacks
in our rooms. There was
one payphone per hall
and everyone had to
share,” said Rachel Harris
graduate of Brevard in
1989. “This was a good thing in a
way because we had a strong sense
of community. I mean we were
taking each others messages so we
were involved whether we wanted
to be or not.”
As the years go on people
loose touch with traditions.
“Not only did we have cheer
leaders, but we had a dance team as
well” says Rachel Harris, regarding
1989.
Things change.
The 90’s came and nothing but
OJ Simpson splattered the TV. Who
killed Jon Bennett Ramsey? And, is
the President having an affair with
Monica Lewinsky? Brevard Com
munity College became a four year
institution.
This led up to this past New
Year’s, when fears of Y2K put
everyone in a frenzy. We enter into
the new millennium with $6.25 to
go to a movie and $1.25 to order a
nice cold soda. Hillary left Bill for
New York, Michael J. Fox left “Spin
City” and the hunt for Rudolf
continues.
Things' keep- changing. ‘ '
The Pertelote Archives
Students gathered in the “Rec” for sodas and something hot off the grill.
The Pertelote Archives
Students voted “Most Athletic” in 1953.