At Western Michigan University in November 1965, the Herald featured a student submission about the ‘nightmare’ of mechanized registration, the “Ugliest Man” on campus was crowned, and President Miller faced traffic issues head-on.
Student Finds Registration’s Mechanization Terrifying
“I was lying on my undersprung bed that Thursday, listlessly chain smoking and watching crystalline snow batter the Bigelow window. A female voice, like that of a telephone operator came over the squack box: “Number 774445, we are waiting for you. Bring items one through thirteen, as instructed on form A-23-Q.” I grabbed my folder, threw on a coat, and sprinted to the Heart of Darkness. Composing myself and materials, I entered checkpoint Charlie. An elderly but kind woman put down her crossword puzzle and scrutinized my credentials eight through thirteen. Her sagging face had an omniscient foreboding look as she raised a blue veined hand and extended an arthritic finger. “Through entrance twelve” she directed in a callous sultry voice.
I entered. A curtain fell behind me. I was sealed in. The only sound was the metallic click and whir of an inhuman cerebrum. The room was dimly lighted by stark bulbs glaring from the ceiling. On one wall a panel of tiny lights blinked randomly at me from a grey steel case.”
Hoekje’s Craig Ham ‘Ugliest Man’ on Campus
“Being called the ugliest man on campus is the honor of Craig Ham, Hoekje Hall’s representative in Alpha Phi Omega’s Ugly Man Contest that took place last week.
Selection of the ugly man was done all last week by students voting at a penny a vote. Ham was announced winner at last Friday’s Ugly Man dance.”
President Miller Reports Headway on WMU Traffic Problem
“At 7 a.m. today (Monday, Nov. 15) I met with our chief administrators to discuss immediate action relative to traffic safety. Such discussions were given top priority after my arrival in Kalamazoo last midnight following a U.S. government-sponsored tour of Africa.
Kalamazoo officials today posted the speed limit at 25 miles an hour, a reduction from the former 30 miles an hour. City officials are not permitted by law to set a lower limit. There was unanimous agreement on the part of my colleagues and me that a formal request be made to have the Michigan laws amended to permit lowering of the speed limit on West Michigan Avenue, in the university area, to 15 miles an hour.
It was suggested that pedestrian crosswalks in the university area be broadened and clearly delineated with broad stripes of heavy white paint. In addition, there should be an adequate number of signs to advise motorists there is a heavy volume of pedestrian traffic in the area.
Negotiations, in progress for several months, are now at the stage where it seems feasible to institute a mass transit system on the campus. It is expected that a mass transportation system will be in operation by the opening of the winter semester, Jan. 3, 1966 on a trial basis.”
This images above were scanned from the 1966 Brown & Gold Yearbook.