By Carley Jones
NSU in the 1970s

America in the 1970s was a time of celebration, demonstrations, music, violence, decisions, sports and corruption. Marches were held in protest and in commemoration. Earth Day was celebrated for the first time. Republican agents burglarized the Democratic headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. Simon and Garfunkel announced they would be separating to pursue individual careers. Nineteen people were killed at the Munch Olympics and swimmer Mark Spitz won seven Olympic gold medals and held the record for 35 years. The Arab oil embargo causes severe shortage and energy prices to skyrocket. In response to these prices, Pres. Nixon ordered a 90-day freeze of prices and wages. Elton John had his first top ten hit with “Your Song,” and members of the National Guard fired into a crowd at Kent State University protesting the Vietnam War killing four and wounding eight. (American Cultural History)    

Northeastern State College in the 70s was the place where young adults could come and expand their minds and “take the first step to understand what makes the world tick.” Students were challenged to become as involved as possible and to remember that “the dividends of college match exactly the investments.” (Tsa La Gi 1973)

NSC in the 70s had an eclectic group of students involved in an array of activities. Greek life, gymnastics, honors programs, band, scuba diving and rodeo were just a handful of the activities on campus.

NSC was a place where students could excel, in the classroom and outside of the classroom. NSC students considered themselves “pacesetters.” Always leading the way  in the state. Student Andrea Hanson, Tahlequah senior, was crowned Miss Oklahoma in 1973 and strived to exemplify the very best of the state, because Oklahoma gave her the very best of titles. (Andrea Hanson, Miss Oklahoma, 1973) The NSC Redmen football team had an 8-2 season and first year head coach Ron Cox lead the Redmen basketball team to a winning season. (Tsa La Gi 1973)

NSC also was a “pacesetter” in the nationwide trend to present students with a diverse choice of degrees to pursue. Many programs had been developed leading to new degrees in areas of law enforcement, medical technology, tourist management and junior college teaching. (Tsa La Gi 1974)

The NSC campus also got a facelift in the 70s. Street lamps along the sidewalks and a campus directory were among the updates to the campus. Construction workers removed parking lots and no-longer-used sidewalks and replaced them with grass and trees. (Tsa La Gi 1974)

NSC changed its name in the 1974 to Northeastern Oklahoma State University (NEOSU).

In the summer of 1977, there was an uneasy feeling on the campus of NEOSU. With the dismissal of Pres. Robert Collier in July, regents named Dr. Elwin Fite as Interim President and served until April 1978, according to the NSU Archives.

As the decade ended, students fought to get a pre-enrollment period, and in 1979, the students got it.

There was always a question of what to call the school during the 1970s. Was it NEOSU, NESU, NSU, NOSU or what? Finally the new logo was adopted and NSU was the answer. Some wondered if NSU would be able to navigate the university through the unknown problems of the future. Most people were willing to take the gamble on NSU and it was a bet that paid off. NSU has had its fair share of changes since the 70s, however those three letters have stayed the same.