Thanks so much for joining us as we spent 2009 (and, let’s face it, a good chunk of 2008) looking back at our first hundred years of academic community as Keene Normal School, Keene Teachers College, and Keene State College.

We’ll leave the KSC100 blog up so you can continue to poke around through old pictures, but we won’t be updating here any more.

Want to keep keeping up with Keene State? Visit us at the College website.

We got this amazing pic from an alumna way back in June, but now we can’t find her original e-mail, and therefore can’t give her photo credit or identify who these guys who want to rock and roll all nite and party every day are. If it’s you, please let us know so we can fix that.

Happy Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Arr!

From the 2002 Kronicle:

Keene State Campus Responds

Keene State’s immediate response to the terrorist attacks was focused on ways to help students cope with their emotions. President Yarosewick sent a letter stating that in a time of such devastation, the best thing for the school community was for students to go about their days in the usual way.

“One vital contribution you can make is to continue the process of learning, even in this terrible week, because education is the commitment we all have made,” said Yarosewick.

On the night of the attacks, hundreds of students joined together in a candlelight vigil to pray for those involved in the attacks and their families. Graduating senior and folk performer, Antara, sang a song she had written called, Directions, dedicating it to the unknown numbers who had lost their lives that morning.

Many faculty members, staff and students of KSC felt that emotions should be openly discussed. The Counseling Center offered a Grief/Loss Support Group and a Disaster Support Group. In the campus newsletter, Judith Putzel Price, interim director of the Counseling Center said, “There’s no right or wrong way to react. Being strongly affected is normal and to be expected.”

A 911 Scholarship Fund was created in order to assist Keene State students who may have been affected by the terrorist attacks on New York, Pennsylvania or Washington, D.C.

The scholarship was initially funded with a $1,000 donation by Michael McCarthy, a communications lecturer, and his wife Susan. “Our goals are to preserve the memory of the events of September 11 and to help students who might have been affected by thse events,” McCarthy said. Additional contributions were made from factulty, staff, the alumni association and a grant from Pepsi.

“The fund will always be known as the 911 Scholarship Fund, but in the future, scholarships will be awarded to students who demonstrate a dire need for assistance’ who without financial aid, would be unable to continue their education,” explained Laurie Tilton, assistant director of advancement at KSC.

KSC also added a new course for the spring of 2002. Emergency Management and Community Defense will address community emergency management. Just one example would be the need for organization and leadership in the aftermath of a terrorist attack.

—Heather Skidmore

So… how’s your first week of classes going?

(And does anyone recognize that 1,000th student?)

What’s your best orientation memory?

Yes, we’ve used this image before, but we just thought we’d remind you that most of the members of the Class of 2013, who started their college experience today, were born in 1991.

Welcome, first year students!

Some alums have already shared their advice. What do the rest of you have to offer?

The actual student center may be somewhat less tasty, but the windows are straighter.

My boss, Susan Peery, will be sending out an e-mail to the whole campus community, but, well, people who read the KSC100 blog are special, and I want to be sure you get the word. Read Susan’s message and get back to her. Also, think about who else you know who’d be likely to have a GREAT idea about what makes this place great, and pass this on.

For the fall issue of Keene State Today, we need your ideas. What do you think belongs on a list of “100 Great Things about Keene State College”?

Please send suggestions, write as little or as much as you like, and suggest as many ideas as you want. Memories, events, people, buildings, courses, professors, singular encounters — whatever stands out in your mind. This issue will round out our Centennial year and we want to make it as special and inclusive as possible. We hope you will spread the word to friends of the College in Keene and beyond.

Please send your ideas to Susan Peery, speery@keene.edu, no later than Friday, May 22. If you have photos or memorabilia to share, please let us know as well. Thank you for your help.

Today, it is beautiful and in the 70s in Keene, with warmer weather ahead. You remember what that first amazingly beautiful, almost-summer day felt like, right?

Jayne Washer sure does:

In spring 1967, when this beautiful weather started, girls could not lay out in their bathing suits – only on the roof of Fiske Annex. We had to get out there by climbing through a window of the entry hall of Fiske Hall. Of course, even though it was the 60’s Grounds employees were ordered to erect canvas along the sides to block out the view of we girls in our “2-piece” suits! By 1969 we could lay out in the sun on Randall Lawn without a protective canvas fence!!!

My how things have changed!

Thanks, Jayne.

So what are your memories?

(Picture from the 1951 Kronicle — a little before Jayne’s time!)