Campus Connection

Although their old residence hall is gone, memories of campus life are still strong

[caption id="attachment_5791" align="alignnone" width="685"] Friends from the class of 1966 are, from left, Sharon (Hamilton) Theobald, Diann (Libersky) Huset, Judy Tetzner, Barbara (Brekken) Langfeld, Carol Lamp, Linda Duncan, Carlynn Hulbert, Katherine Effertz and Helen Emery. They all went on to start careers teaching in physical education. Together they have about 280 combined years of teaching. Not pictured, but part of the group: Ann (Ditscheit) Brunell.[/caption]

A group of alumni came back to UW-La Crosse in September to celebrate 50 years of friendship at the place where that life-long bond began.

Back in the early 1960s, the group of 10 women arrived on a campus with their typewriters. They settled down into residence hall rooms without the modern staples of campus life today. They had no TVs in their rooms, and only one phone at the end of the hall. But they didn’t need those modern amenities, says Alumna Carol Lamp. They kept each other entertained long into the night talking in each other’s rooms. “We learned a lot about each other. I came in thinking everyone had the same background I did,” says Lamp. “Those meetings were important because you learned how different women came from different lifestyles. It helped me formulate thoughts on religion and the family makeup. Living in the dorm was a very growing experience for me.” Most of the women were first-generation college students from blue-collar families without a lot of money. Some felt resistance from their parents to even consider a college education. But all the women went on to earn degrees in physical education and all started their careers teaching physical education after graduation in 1966. “I don’t think I would have left home if I didn’t have a place that felt safe and secure while learning about other people,” explains Barbara (Brekken) Langfeld. “That was probably more important than the classes.” The group says the relationship that started in campus residence halls blossomed sophomore year as they played on opposing intramural athletic teams — the “spastics” and the “woofers.” Those teams merged into one combined, close-knit intramural team that same year, the “spoofers.” “We were not the best in terms of skill, but we had more darn fun…,” explains Alumna Katherine Effertz. Today that fun continues. They meet a few times a year, typically in Wisconsin Dells — a central point as most of the women still live in Wisconsin. They’ve been back to UWL to celebrate two other anniversaries while walking around campus to see the changes and reminisce. “I’m impressed with how modern it is now,” says Alumna Carlynn Hulbert. “I like how it looks.” The most notable change on this anniversary was that the residence hall where most first met — Trowbridge — is now gone, along with nearby Wilder and Baird. The halls went down when construction began on UWL’s new academic building, Centennial Hall, in 2009. Although it’s sad to see their old homes gone, they say the most important thing is they are all still here. Also, the university hasn’t forgotten the faces from their era, says Lamp. The names of Trowbridge, Wilder and Baird are being honored with historic plaques in community rooms in Eagle Hall, UWL’s newest residence hall. In addition to being hall names, Wilder, Baird and Trowbridge also are names of women important in UWL’s history. Beatrice Baird and Betty Baird both taught physical education starting in the 1940s. Myrtle Trowbridge was a history professor on campus from 1918-1954. Emma Lou Wilder taught physical education on campus from 1921-1956. Other names of former faculty and staff are recognized throughout campus. “The faculty that we knew and respected are still remembered today on this campus,” says Lamp. “That says a lot about the campus. They haven’t forgotten those who made a difference for this university.”