Celebration marks ULM's 75th birthday

Originally published in The News-Star newspaper, September 24, 2006

I love birthdays. In fact, some people who know me would say that I think one's birthday is the most important day of the year. My closest friend taught me that a proper birthday celebration should go on for a whole week.

This week we will all have the opportunity to celebrate the biggest birthday ever. The University of Louisiana at Monroe will be 75 years old. And, seemingly in fulfillment of my friend's wishes, the celebration will go on for a whole week. Wonderful!

This celebration of ULM's birthday not only has meaning in itself, but holds a double meaning this is also the week of our homecoming. Homecoming is a time, as said by President Fred Hovde of Purdue University, "... when its sons and daughters return to pay homage and respect to alma mater and to renew their youth. The act of returning somehow enables us to demonstrate to the university and to ourselves, that education and learning are good things, that we appreciate her giving intellectual life to us, that we propose to protect and aid her against evil days."

So not only do alumni get to return and renew their youth but they, and the faculty, staff, student body and whole surrounding community get to celebrate our 75th birthday.

During this upcoming week, in addition to homecoming activities, there are some special birthday activities: Thursday there will be the 75th anniversary birthday celebration in Brown Gymnasium beginning at 4:30 p.m.; on Saturday the ULM alumni awards brunch and homecoming presentation will feature a very special recognition of several members of the original 1933 graduating class.

Just think ... these are students who walked on this campus when the doors opened. What an exciting time to meet and honor them as they represent a path all the way back to our beginning.

So as we get caught up in homecoming and birthday fever, let's pause a moment to think back to Sept. 28, 1931. In January of that year, a site had been selected, in February, ground was broken in the southeast corner of what is now Brown Hall, and on that Monday in 1931, students began arriving. Expectations were for 50 or so. More than 400 showed up. All of the schedules had to be re-done, many more chairs had to be ordered and our college began. It continues to exceed our expectations today.

Since it is our 75th birthday, some of us had a thought. We have more than 53,000 graduates and there are countless others who attended but for all kinds of reasons were not able to graduate. What if all of us who think so fondly of ULM were to send her a birthday card? I am very sure that she would smile all during this, the week of her birthday.

If you would like to send a card, please address it to: ULM Birthday, 700 University Ave., Monroe, LA 71209.

Have a great day at ULM.

Dr. John Knesel, ULM Professor