By By Emma Allen
1980s

The 1980s were a decade of firsts. It brought Madonna, MTV, Cats and the Rubik’s cube. At NSU, it was no different.  They went through mascot or “spirit leader” changes, new buildings, the first Optometry graduates and many other events and activities that would be memorable in NSU’s History.

In the fall of the 1979-1980 school year the first Illinois River Canoe race took place according to the 1980 yearbook. High school, college and news media teams competed in different categories against other schools.  The canoe race proved to be a success and continued for several more years. Spirit leaders at NSU did not have the same success though. The Northeastern Banana debuted at the first NSU football game of the 1980 season. It then was a source of much criticism and controversy. Due to the strong dislike of the banana, it did not appear at the second home game. Instead a NSU gorilla with, “I go ape over Redmen” t-shirt was at the game. Finally, a panel made up of student and faculty representatives chose spirit leaders who were authentic Native Americans. Frank Redcorn and Suzanne Turnbull dressed up in their traditional tribal regalia for the 1980 Homecoming game where they were honored as the new spirit leaders said the Oct. 21, 1980 Northeastern newspaper.

The University Bookstore was under scrutiny the fall of 1981 for selling pornographic materials. The Concerned Christian Citizens of Tahlequah began to picket the bookstore in hopes to educate college students of social evils. A city ordinance that prohibited the sale of obscene literature was deemed unconstitutional because of the ruling in the Supreme Court case Miller v. California, which left the defining of obscene materials for individual communities to decide. Mike Patterson, president of the Citizens for Constitutional Government presented City Council members with a petition signed by more than 1,000 people wishing to see the city ordinance rewritten. The ordinance was then written in compliance with the Miller v. California decision according to the 1981 yearbook.

The Biology Club brought a new type of race to NSU in 1982. Cucaracha Down’s cockroach race brought nation wide attention to NSU because it was the nation’s first known cockroach race. The race was held at Northeastern’s Gazebo and over 700 spectators came to see this event said the 1982 yearbook. The race was so popular that even national television came to NSU.

The first 17 students to graduate from the College of Optometry was in May of 1983.  The college first started on a trial basis in 1979 according to the 1983 yearbook. These 17 students paved the way for others to follow in their footsteps and helped make the college a lasting branch of NSU. In 1984, a new building became a part of the NSU community. The maintenance department transformed the Success Motor Co building in to the NSU playhouse said the 1984 yearbook. The playhouse was used to put on plays and other types of shows.

Also in the 1984-1985 school year Northeastern’s men’s basketball team was voted the nations No.1 at the NAIA level. Just three weeks after seizing the honor they fell out of the top spot to No.3. Ending the season with a 19-2 record the Redmen were named No.2 team in the nation according to the 1985 yearbook.

NSU’s winningest coach, George Elliot resigned as Northeastern State football coach in 1986. His record of 85-35-3 had him among the top five NAIA active coaches.  Elliot led the Redmen to three NAIA post-season appearances and four Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference titles. The Rosamond House was a new addition to the 1987 school year. It was remodeled and contained offices for the Living Literature Center and the Sequoyah Institute according to           the 1987 yearbook.

Overcrowding the dorms was a major problem in the 1988 school year. The enrollment had reached its highest number with 8,128 in the fall and 8,041 students in the spring. Northeastern’s average college growth of 27.9 percent overall, made NSU the fastest growing four-year college in the state said the 1988 yearbook.

NSU held a Pride Day to support the Redmen football team on August 30, 1988 for their first game. It started in front of the UC with a noise parade competition to see who could show the most spirit. The parade then proceeded to the town square where the captains of the football spoke, the Majestics preformed and a drawing for a $25 shopping spree was given out said the 1989 yearbook.

Northeastern State University had many great events take place in the 1980s. It changed NSU in numerous ways. They expanded their campus with new buildings, new activities and innovative ideas. This era was important to the history of our university because it helped set the bar for years to come.