The Rhatigan Student Center Story

The Rhatigan Student Center (RSC) was designed to be the center of the University for events and gatherings.  As the sign outside the East Entrance doors states, it is the "Symbol of Student Life and Activity."

Today, in addition to housing the Student Activities Council (SAC) and the 14-time National Champion Shocker Bowlers, the RSC houses the Center for Student Leadership, Commerce Bank, Lords and Ladys Hair Salon, the Rec Center, the RSC Gallery, the Shocker Card Center, the Student Government Association (SGA) and Student Advocate, the University Bookstore, the University Information Center and University Reservations, WSU Campus Ministries, WSU Dining Services and Copperfields.  There are plenty of activities, social spaces, study areas, meeting rooms and retail shops for WSU students, faculty and visitors.
 

 Pre-1959

 Dedication

 1959 - 1964

 1964 - 1969

 1969 - 1978

 1978 - 1997

 1997 - Today

 

CAC Rendering prior to 1958 construction

Artist's 1957 Rendering of Campus Activities Center
Pre-1959
 
The building is the result of University of Wichita (WU) students and University staff working together to create a space much needed on campus. Prior to 1959, WU students used meeting rooms, lounge space and the Alibi Room snack bar in the Commons Building for student organization meetings, informal gatherings, and leisure time. The Henrion Gynasium basketball court served as the site or many organization and University dances. By the mid-1940s, the Commons could not comfortably fit the space needs for a campus of 2,800 students.
 
During the Fall 1946 WU Student Council election, the Shocker Coalition campaigned to construct a Student Union building. This coalition was formed by student members of Alpha Gamma Gamma, the Men of Webster, Sorosis, Pi Kappa Psi, and Delta Omega [now known, respectively, as Beta Theta Pi, Delta Upsilon, Delta Delta Delta, Gamma Phi Beta, and the inactive sorority Alpha Chi Omega].
 
The Student Council was the former incarnation of today's WSU Student Government Association.
 
After the election, the Student Council passed a resolution to build the student union. They began collecting a $3 per student, per semester fee to fund the project. These students realized that it would take many years before enough fees were collected to begin construction. This selfless gift ensured generations of students following them would have a unique place to call home on campus.
 
On July 22, 1955, WU President Harry F. Corbin sent an official correspondence to Dean of Students Dr. James "Jim" K. Sours encouraging him to proceed "without delay to the preliminary planning of a Student Union Center.  A year for preliminary studies and planning, a year for detailed preparation of plans and 2 years for the Revenue Bond Financing and Building will be required. We must proceed now if we are to have such a facility by 1959."
 
In 1956, a group of WU students and administrators began meeting, researching and designing the "Campus Activities Center" - a "building to emphasize the very activities that are scheduled to be offered." This group met for nearly a year and included: Dr. Jim K. Sours, Dean of Students; Dean Josephine Fugate, Dean of Women Students; William "Bill" Glenn, CAC Director; Uel C. "Cliff" Ramey, Chief Architect; Robert Schaffer, Architect; Glen Gardner, WU staff member; Stanley Haring, student; Janet Noel, student; Kenneth Meredith, student; Kenneth Holzer, student; Lorraine Johnson, student; Bill Keltner, student; Carolyn Fletcher, student; Claudia White, student; Dr. Al Cress, faculty member; Dr. George Comstock, faculty member; and, Beulah Mullen, WU Alumni Association executive secretary.
 
This group presented the initial plans for the Campus Activities Center or "CAC" to the University of Wichita student body in February 1958. In October 1958, the WU Board of Regents formally approved the plans for the $1,850,000 building.
 

First CAC Board photo

First CAC Board photograph in Parnassus Yearbook
In December 1957 and January 1958, the Student Council formed and appointed the first three student members of a Program Board for the Campus Activities Center. They were: Ron Eeles: Education Senior, majoring in History; President of Student Council; member of the Track Team; and, native of Canada; Bill Keltner: Engineering Senior, majoring in Civil Engineering; former President of Interfraternity Council; and, member of the Men of Webster fraternity; and, Diane Copeland: Liberal Arts Junior, majoring in Journalism; member of Delta Delta Delta; and, the current Sunflower Newspaper Editor-in-Chief. They were joined by: Dr. Larry Jones, Management faculty member; Dorothy Gardner; and, Beulah Mullen.
 
Construction on the CAC began on the cold and blustery day of February 14, 1958. Student Council President Ron Eeles, WU President Harry F. Corbin, WU Regents Chairman Henry Amsden and CAC Director Bill Glenn dug gold-colored shovels into the frozen ground while the pep band played. Afterwards, WU students were invited to take turns in the ceremonial dig. The construction timeline called for completion in September 1959.
 

Groundbreaking Ceremony photograph

February 14, 1958 Groundbreaking Ceremony
(Left to right: Corbin, Amsden, Eeles & Glenn)
In September 1958, Bill Glenn and the CAC Board hired Marshall Williams as Assistant Director. Williams was to advise the CAC Program Board to "aid personal development and help students acquire training in social responsibility and leadership."
 
In the months leading up to the CAC's opening, the new student coordinators of the CAC Program Board held events around campus to get ready for their programming positions. Administrative and Executive Coordinator Leon Drouhard, Social and Recreational Coordinator, James "Jim" Hadley, and Educational and Cultural Coordinator Carole Hicks held the Chris Barber Jazz Concert in the Commons Auditorium and a "Queen-less" Dance in the Henrion Gymnasium. Jim Hadley was appointed also as the Student Chairman of the CAC grand opening committee.
 
In the coming months, the opening date changed many times. What was for certain was that the project would be completed well ahead of the original September 1959 date.
 
The WU Sunflower, the Wichita Eagle, the Wichita Beacon and many other Kansas newspapers published weekly stories about the construction progress and the building's planned offices and services.
 
Female students quizzed the new Recreation Center director Jeff Morton whether women would be allowed to play billiards in the new Recreation Center. "Absolutely," was his response and plans were even made for a "Women's billiards night."
 
WU students paced the Alibi Room in the Commons  and wondered in Sunflower newspaper editorials how student life and campus rivalries would adjust to new and bigger spaces on campus.
 
A small bungalow home at 1901 N Yale (corner of 18th and Yale) was removed just prior to May 1959. The late 1800s home was the last to be removed from what would become the modern 130 acre University campus. It was home to many Fairmount College and WU employees and students for nearly 80 years. Its final purpose was as the CAC construction headquarters for the Vollmer Construction Company.
 
The campus was readying itself with intense energies for the opening of its Student Union Building - this new Campus Activities Center - after 13 years of collecting student fees and dreaming of the possibilities.
 
 Look for our next Historical Article to be published soon.    Return to top 
This site is maintained by RHATIGAN STUDENT CENTER. This page last modified on Thursday, December 28, 2006 9:50:55 AM Central US Time. If you find errors please bring them to the attention of RSC Marketing (rsc.marketing@wichita.edu).