The Outta Sight Sixties
The Brock University newspaper, called The Blue Badger at inception, was first released in October 1964. The issues of this first year were charged with articles surrounding the opening ceremony of the Glenridge campus on October 19, 1964. Several issues focused on the guests, volunteers and excitement of the day, both before and after the event. Included in some of the articles were requests for volunteers for the "smiling faces department" (aka guides and ushers) with recommended dress codes for women and men. One of the prominent guests was Governor General George Vanier. At the initial opening of the University, the Blue Badger issue for November 1964 contained an article with the title "Glenridge Campus Can Accomodate 500 Students", which has risen now (2020) to approximately 19,000 students.
General Vanier at Brock Opening Ceremony
Brock University Glenridge Campus, March 1964
An immense part of this decade was spent establishing the University. This included planning for development, organizing boards, hiring faculty and recruiting future students. In order to move forward, a Board of Governors was announced in early 1965. The board included the members of the Founders' Committee and an additional eight others. These members included: D.G. Willmot, E.J. Barbeau, W.B. Gunning, J. Murray Trott, C.F. Anderson, Mrs. J.J. Bench, H.C. Blenkhorn, Mrs. T.E. Briant, W.B.C. Burgoyne, M.A. Chown, F. C. Cullimore, E.R. Davey, W.J. Freeman, Dr. R.L. Hearn, C. Bruce Hill, E. S. Howard, S.J. Leishman, F.H. Leslie, W.S. Martin, C.W. Morehead, B.P.R. Newman, R. S. Misener, A. C. Rae, Paul E. Roberts, R.M. Schmon, C.B. Slemon, M.L. Swart, L.R. Williams, Dr. James A. Gibson, Edward E. Mitchelson.
Brock University Founders' Committee was reconstituted as the Board of Governors on December 8, 1964. Pictured here are those who attended the first meeting. Front row (left to right) are: E. E. Mitchelson, Mrs. J. J. Bench, W.- B. Gunning, Dr. J. A. Gibson and D. G. Willmot, J. M. Trott, Mrs. T. E. Briant, C. B. Hill, A. C. Rae. Back row (left to right) are: E. S. Howard, W. J. Freeman, M, L. Swart, C. F. Anderson, W. S. Martin, E. R. Davey, C. B. Slemon, R. L. Hearn, C.W. Morehead, S. J. Leishman, F. H. Leslie, F. C. Cullimore, W. B. C. Burgoyne, H. C. Blenkhorn, M. A. Chown, B. P. R. Newman, and R. S. Misener. Missing from the photograph are R. M. Schmon, E. J. Barbeau, P. E. Roberts, and L. R. Williams.
The announcement of the Board of Governors was followed by construction development plans at the Decew site. Articles in the Blue Badger describe campaign initiatives that started in March 1965 to raise five million dollars toward the expansion of the University. By the Summer of 1965, the fourteen storey tower sod turning at the top of the escarpment had taken place, and the plan for completion was on the horizon for 1966. At the end of this decade, the University had completed the Brock Tower and Thistle complex and many more projects were anticipated.
"More than 100 union leaders representing most unions and locals in the Niagara Peninsula gave enthusiastic support to Brock University's campaign for $5,000,000 at a dinner reception at the Glenridge Campus January 22. Here Dr. James A. Gibson (left), president and vice-chancellor, describes the model of the master plan of the university to C. Bruce Hill, general chairman of the Founding Fund Campaign; H. J. Burke, president of Local 413 United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices in the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry, both of St. Catharines; and Richard Bell of PortColborne, secretary of Local 1054, United Auto Workers." The Blue Badger February 1965
Tower construction begins, February 1965
With the University beginning to take shape and a larger facility to fill, the recruitment process was starting for both students and faculty. The University began to run open house events to put on display the opportunities for students in surrounding high schools. As the University increased in footprint and with greater interest from students to attend, the faculty compliment began to expand. By the Summer of 1969, Brock University was bolstering a 130 faculty staff.
Brock University Open House, 23 January 1965
Brock Faculty, August 1969