Looking Back

40th Anniversary—1964-2004

By Tara Laskowski

In August 1964, George Mason College moved into its new campus in Fairfax, opening the doors to more than 350 eager students thrilled with the opportunity to be in higher education. The campus was a small, tightly knit community with a positive outlook on the future. Few knew how much the college would grow in such a short time—from a college to a university, from being connected to the University of Virginia to being an independent institution, from a two-year school to a four-year school, from awarding only undergraduate degrees to offering doctoral programs and law degrees, from 17 students to an annual enrollment of more than 28,000 students. This year we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University, looking back to reflect on just how far we've come.

Look How Far We've Come

“A college campus had long been known as an ideal hunting ground for a girl to find a husband. In addition to picking up a BA or BS degree, most girls would like to acquire a partner during their four-year stay or at least have a 'serious relationship' or two.”
—from the first issue of Broadside, October 28, 1969

“The model to be imitated in Northern Virginia is not the University of Virginia. The State of Virginia has in the University at Charlottesville an institution of high prestige, with national and international recognition, with long traditions of excellence, with a faculty noted for its scholarly productivity in research, and with students carefully selected for their high academic promise. Instead of following this kind of model, the institution to be created in Northern Virginia should be a service university. Its admissions policy should be relatively democratic rather than highly selective.”
—from the Report of the Higher Education Study Commission, 1965

“One eyesore that exists in the sports program of George Mason College is that of a girls' intramural program. The only involvement, or should we say opportunity, for the girls last year was volleyball. If there are any suggestions for a girls program to complement that of the boys, [we] will gladly support it and give the program full coverage.”
—from the Gunston Ledger, October 15, 1963

“Students who use the university parking area must register their car(s) with the University Security Office... Each vehicle must display on the left rear bumper the decal obtained for $1.00 from the Security Office at time of registration.”
—from the Student Handbook, 1973–74

Early Graduates

Donald Allen Green
BA History '68

What He's Doing Now: Deputy chief of security at Pier 39 (near Fisherman's Wharf) in San Francisco, California

Why He Chose Mason: “I had graduated from Washington-Lee High School in '61 and served a hitch in the Army. My brother was graduating from Wakefield and had applied to George Mason. He sent me an application.”

Favorite Mason Memory: “Watching the college grow in just the four years I was there—it went from a two-year to a four-year school. My degree reads, 'George Mason College of the University of Virginia.'”

Michele Kershes Hanson
BS Biology '69

What She's Doing Now: Program coordinator for the Bioscience Management Program in the School of Management at George Mason

Why She Chose Mason: “I was from a large family, and I was thrilled that I was able to go to college. Mason was affordable and near home. I didn't even apply anywhere else!”

Favorite Mason Memory: “The biology students were all one big family. We studied together, took labs together, hung out together. It was a fun place to be. I loved the small-school atmosphere.”

William Flandermeyer
BA English '68

What He's Doing Now: Real estate in Amarillo, Texas (Writing and photography are still his first loves, though, and he also volunteers his time to compile a monthly newsletter for Faith City Mission.)

Why He Chose Mason: “The low cost and the ability to commute my first two years.”

Favorite Mason Memory: Editing the first Mason yearbook. “Another memory is that of having my future wife, Cathy (Fick), enroll at Mason so she could keep an eye on me.” Cathy says she loved to sit in the Ordinary between classes and listen to her future husband and his friends argue over the rights and wrongs of Vietnam. “They were all so passionate!” she says.

Carolyn Boyer Kramer
BS Elementary Education '70,
MEd Early Childhood Education '94

What She's Doing Now: Preschool teacher

Why She Chose Mason: “I grew up in Alexandria, and George Mason was close by and affordable.”

Favorite Mason Memory: “I loved the size of George Mason. There were so many clubs to get involved in, and I made great friends. We would have bonfires and picnics as part of the Newman Club. People played bridge downstairs in the Ordinary in the South Building. There were lots of social activities, and everyone knew each other.”

In 1965, George Mason basketball team's nickname was the Chargers, later replaced by the Mason Marauders. By 1968, the team had become the Patriots.

Originally, only four buildings made up the Fairfax Campus—North, South, East, and West.

The Sports Car Club (top), the Whig Society (top bottom), the Business Women's Club, and the Weight Lifting Club were very popular student organizations in the 60s.

A winning bid of $27.50 volunteered a Delta sorority sister's time to the TKE fraternity during a fund-raiser in 1969.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Fairfax Campus took place on August 1, 1963.

The first class of the Fairfax Campus graduated on June 9, 1968, and had 52 members.