A couple of weeks ago, we took a look at how WNE was cutting edge with its adoption of early IBM models in the 1960s and 1970s. These machines changed the landscape of the University, but they were only the first of the many technological advancements on campus. Another huge development was happening across the country at other large universities, and finally made its way to Western New England in the 1990s – the internet!

It’s hard for students today to imagine a world without the internet, but before 1995, students at Western New England needed to use encyclopedias, reference books, and typewriters to complete a class assignment. By the early 1990s, they could head over to local internet cafes and pay by the hour to access information on the new fangled world wide web. But there was still no access anywhere on campus.

In 1995, The Westerner reported that the internet was finally available to all Western New England students.

From The Westerner, November 1995

 

We are all glad that WNEC has finally gotten the internet for all of the students here on campus. Now the internet is the biggest craze, and everyone is jumping on the Super Information Highway to see what it’s all about.

But it was still nowhere near what we are used to today! There were a total of 45 computers on campus – 30 in Churchill, and 15 modems for off campus users. Time was surely limited, and the line to get onto one of the machines must have been long!

So what were students doing on the internet in the 1990s? Chat rooms were a huge draw, and were even cited by some students as being addictive, and destructive to their studies. Students were of course doing research for their class assignments, and were dabbling in website creation, making personal or class based websites (any readers out there remember GeoCities?) Students even formed a new club, The Internet Association, in 1997, to help students best exploit all aspects of the new technological tool.

From The Westerner, October 1997

From The Westerner, March 1995

From The Westerner, April 1997

Some were fearful of its addictive nature, others were excited about the possibilities. But whether one’s opinion of the internet was positive or negative, there was no arguing the incredible impact the internet was going to have on campus. It needed to be embraced and managed wisely. As was stated in The Westerner in 1996 – …it [the internet] is not quite like alcohol, where you can say ‘I will never drink again.’ The Internet is something students will need for the rest of their lives because the technology is here.”

Next time we’ll take a look at how these new technologies changed the landscape of the library, and impacted student research. Check back soon!

Back in the 1980s, it wasn’t as easy to meet new people as it is today, even on college campuses. Social media didn’t connect you to friends of friends, and dating sites had to be replaced by face to face chance encounters.

In 1985, a dating game was all the rage on campus. Students took part in the annual Dating Game event, which in 1985 had “one of the largest turnout on campus.”

Two males and two females took part in the event, risque questions were of course tossed around, but in the end, no one went on a date with each other! Hopefully other years were more successful.

On this most flower, chocolate, and love filled day of the year, anyone out there vote for a resurrection of this tradition? Maybe too late for this year, but there’s always next year!