Every school has a story. Ours started September 11, 1899 when Northern Arizona Normal School (now NAU), opened its doors to 23 students, one professor and two copies of Webster's International Dictionary bound in sheepskin.
Take a walk down Lumberjack lane with us and hear how NAU came to be and experience NAU through the eyes of these Lumberjacks: Michael & Susan Golightly, Francis Hollis and Beverly Burger.
Michael & Susan Golightly
Michael Golightly received a BS in Secondary Education in 1968 fro from NAU. He taught PE for one year in the Flagstaff School District before going into business for himself. Susan Golightly received her BS in Secondary Education and Home Economics as well as a Master's in the same area's. She served as a Home Economist with Arizona Public Service Company. Both described the campus as small with around 3,000 students. Michael played football and lived in Bury Hall, but for the most part in the newer Tinsley Hall. He mentioned Cowden as being newer as well. Other campus building and facilities noted Old Main, the Beaver Den, Cottage City, North Dining Hall, Student Union and Prochnow Auditorium. The one dining hall accommodated all students living on campus and the faculty ate in an area at the back. Both described the student population as not heavily diverse. There were Hispanic students, a larger number of African American students, but a very small percentage of Native Americans. Big events on campus included most sporting events; Homecoming and the parade, the Snow Carnival.
Francis Hollis
Francis Hollis received her BA in Ed in 1968 and MA in Ed in 1971. She taught in Flagstaff and Tempe and retired after 29 years teaching at the 1st through 4th grade levels. She recalled a smaller campus with boys dorms and girls dorms and no mixing. There were fewer cars; moves on Saturday night in Prochnow Auditorium and then over to Axer's Alley till curfew. Her dorm mother was Mrs. White and said you got "campused" for pretty much minor infractions of dorm rules, meaning, restricted to the dorm.
Beverly Burger
Beverly Burger received her Bachelor degree in Education in 1969 with a P.E. emphasis and minors in business and math. Early in her career she did a lot of substitute teaching in math and P. E., but made more money by officiating sports, something she continued for almost 3 decades. She was a member of Lama Delta Sigma Sorority. Her memories of the campus were "Beautiful, Green and Clean", with lots of fresh air.
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