The Andersen Library Blog

In 1936 Wisconsin State College – Whitewater welcomed multiple new Greek chapters to campus, including Theta Sigma Upsilon Sorority. The Rho chapter was founded by fifteen charter members and remained on campus until 1960.[1] In spring of 1960, Theta Sigma Upsilon was officially merged with Alpha Gamma Delta Women’s Fraternity, the first international Greek organization on Whitewater’s campus. The Rho chapter officially became the Beta Theta chapter.

The Beta Theta chapter participated in many campus activities and held events of their own every year. The women of the chapter held annual mother-father-daughter banquets, formals, and pledge parties. Their main service project was the annual basketball marathon where all proceeds from the event were donated to the Wisconsin Badger Camp.[2] The chapter members were also very active in campus organizations and homecoming. In 1980, Alpha Gamma Delta won first place for their house decorations and received the Chancellor’s Spirit Award.[3] The chapter’s house was originally on Main Street but later moved to one of the four newly built Greek houses on Fraternity Lane.[4] As the Beta Theta chapter celebrated their 25^th year on Whitewater’s campus, they also celebrated their last.[5] The chapter officially left campus at the end of 1980 due to low membership numbers.

Twenty-seven years later, the Beta Theta chapter was reinstalled at UW-Whitewater. The founding members of the sorority were initiated in October of 2017. This October celebrates the fifth anniversary of their return to campus. Today, the women of the sorority continue to participate in homecoming and to support their philanthropy. The chapter won the Homecoming Spirit Cup in 2020 and placed first in the 2021 homecoming talent show. Members still host the annual BBQ Bash with Lambda Chi Alpha and Block Out Hunger to raise awareness for their philanthropy, Fighting Hunger. The chapter is now housed at 164 North Prairie Street and has grown to a membership of over 57 women. The current Beta Theta chapter members strive to remember the members before them and to uphold their motto, “Loving, Leading, Lasting.”

[1] Gertrude Zirbes, eds., Minnieska (Whitewater, WI: UW-Whitewater, 1937), 7:92.

[2] Irene Dries and Mary Liz Trewyn, eds., Minnieska (Whitewater, WI: UW-Whitewater, 1960), 51:63-65.

[3] Fran Geimer, ed., Minnieska (Whitewater, WI: UW-Whitewater, 1980), 72: 82.

[4] “Four New Greek Houses Will Be Ready by September 1,” Royal Purple (Whitewater, WI.) July 12, 1960.

[5] Fran Geimer, ed., Minnieska (Whitewater, WI: UW-Whitewater, 1980), 72: 82.

On April 22, 1868, the Whitewater Normal School (now UW-Whitewater) officially opened and classes began. The second woman to register as a student in the normal program was Mary Louise McCutchan. Mary McCutchan started classes soon after and graduated in 1870. Ms. McCutchan was not only a member of the first graduating class but also the first woman graduate. After graduating, Ms. McCutchan left Whitewater for a teaching job.[1]

After graduating Ms. McCutchan taught in multiple schools including Edgerton, Johnstown, and the Milwaukee Schools. Nineteen years after graduating, Ms. McCutchan returned to her alma mater and took over as the Principal of the Preparatory and Grammar departments. During her teaching years, she was best remembered as being direct and opinionated about campus affairs. Her slogan on campus was “Be thankful for the half loaf; it is seldom we can have the whole one.”[2] Mary McCutchan taught at the Whitewater Normal School for thirty-eight years before leaving in 1908. She had decided that it was time for a break in teaching and wanted to enjoy a rest while still in good health. Although her departure was for a break, Mary McCutchan would never return to teaching.[3]

Mary McCutchan continues to be remembered on campus because of the building that is named for her. McCutchan Hall, built in 1960, was originally constructed to be a dorm. Years later, the building was renovated into an academic building, mainly used for offices. McCutchan Hall now houses programs including the Student Diversity, Engagement, and Success office, Global Experiences, McNair Scholars, and the Honors Program.[4]

[1] M. Janette Bohi, A History of Wisconsin State University 1868-1968 (Whitewater, WI: Wisconsin State University Foundation, 1067, 202.

[2] M. Janette Bohi, A History of Wisconsin State University 1868-1968 (Whitewater, WI: Wisconsin State University Foundation, 1067, 202.

[3] “Taught Thirty-Eight Years: Miss Mary McCutchan To Take a Well Earned Rest,” The Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI.) July 18, 1908.

[4] M. Janette Bohi, A History of Wisconsin State University 1868-1968 (Whitewater, WI: Wisconsin State University Foundation, 1067, 202.

With the end of World War II and an increase in campus enrollment, College President Robert C. Williams started a building program to expand the Wisconsin State College – Whitewater campus (now UW-Whitewater). At the time, Whitewater’s campus was the smallest of the Wisconsin State Colleges and had not had a building addition since 1925 when the East Wing of Old Main (now Hyer Hall) was built.[1] The first two buildings President Williams decided to put funding towards were a campus library and the first dormitory on campus. Previously students either commuted from home or boarded with local Whitewater community members or family members in the area.

On February 18, 1952, the official ground-breaking ceremony for the women’s dormitory took place.[2] At the ceremony, women students formed the outline of where the residence hall would stand. Several representatives from women’s organizations on campus spoke regarding the plans for the new residence hall. These speakers included a representative from each Panhellenic Sorority and the Women’s Self Government Association.[3] Construction of the building occurred over the next year and the dormitory was officially in use the following September of 1953.[4] One hundred thirty female students moved into Baker Hall early that September to attend WSC-Whitewater.

In early June of 1952, President Williams announced the name of the women’s dormitory, Lucy Baker Hall. Lucy Baker was a professor of vocal music. She came to Whitewater in 1894 and stayed until her retirement in 1937. After working at the college for forty-two years, Ms. Baker retired but remained a Whitewater community member until her death in 1949.[5]

On June 26, 1952, ceremonies commemorating the laying of the cornerstone and dedicating the hall to Lucy Baker were held. Dr. Williams officiated the ceremonies and placed the sealed copper box with historical mementos from the college in the cornerstone. This included an edition of the Royal Purple, a school directory, a student handbook, a report of the ground-breaking ceremony, and a 1951 edition of the Minnieska.[6]

Baker Hall is no longer standing today but had served the campus for over 50 years. In 2007, Baker, Sayles, and Salisbury Hall were demolished and Hyland Hall stands in their place.[7]

[1]  “Cornerstone Laid for Lucy Baker Hall,” Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI) July 3, 1952.

[2]  “Students will return to revamped, changed UW-W campus,” The Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI) August 2007.

[3]  “Girls Dorm to Be Named After Beloved Teacher,” Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI) June 26, 1952.

[4] Elaine Cates and Geraldine Broeren, eds., Minnieska (Whitewater, WI: UW-Whitewater, 1952), 43:38.

[5]  “Co-eds Break Ground for Dorm,” Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI) February 21, 1952.

[6] Mary Liz Trewyn, ed., Minnieska (Whitewater, WI: UW-Whitewater, 1959), 52:164.

[7] M. Janette Bohi, A History of Wisconsin State University 1868-1968 (Whitewater,WI: Wisconsin State University Foundation, 1967), 196.

On January 20, 2000, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater held the ground-breaking ceremony for the new fieldhouse to be built on campus. In addition, there were also plans for renovating the Williams Center. The fieldhouse was to be built connected to the existing fitness center near lot 7. It was originally planned to be completed in Spring of 2001 but the fieldhouse was not completed until August of that year.[1] Following the completion of the fieldhouse in August, the first week in September was dedicated to the grand opening.

The grand opening week consisted of different events to celebrate the fieldhouse’s opening. For the entire week, Whitewater community members had free admission to the Williams Center Weight Room and University Fitness.[2] The grand opening consisted of different free fitness classes, a health fair, sport tournaments, and a hypnotist. The week ended with a UW-W football game and the Grand Opening Ceremony.[3]

 The official Grand Opening ceremony was on September 7, 2001. David and Lolita Kachel were the primary donors for the project. Both attended and graduated from Whitewater State Teachers College. A portrait of the Kachels was unveiled during the ceremony and is displayed in the fieldhouse where it still hangs today. The fieldhouse was named the David L. Kachel (DLK) Fieldhouse.[4]

[1] “Fieldhouse of the Future,” Royal Purple, (Whitewater, WI.) Feb. 16, 2000.

[2] “Grand Opening Set for DLK Fieldhouse,” Whitewater Register, (Whitewater, WI.) Sept. 6, 2001.

[3] Jaime Me. Terrien, News editor,. “Kachel Field house celebrates grand opening,” Royal Purple, (Whitewater, WI.) Sept. 12, 2011.

[4] “Kachel fieldhouse opening kicks off this year’s Fall fest,” Royal Purple, (Whitewater, WI.) Sept. 5, 2001.

In the beginning of 2005 the 13^th chancellor of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, Jack Miller, stepped down from the position. The search for the next Chancellor began that spring. On May 21^st, UW President Kevin P,. Reilly and the Board of Regents Special Committee for the UW-Whitewater Chancellor Search recommended Dr. Martha Dunagin Saunders for Chancellor. At the board meeting in June of 2005, the UW-Whitewater Chancellor Search committee unanimously voted Dr. Martha Dunagin Saunders as the 14^th Chancellor. Dr. Saunders was also the first female chancellor at UW- Whitewater and her term officially began August 1, 2007.

Dr. Martha Saunders earned her bachelor’s degree in French from the University of Southern Mississippi, Master’s degree from the Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and finally her doctorate in Communication Theory and Research from Florida State University. She has held multiple different positions in higher education in her career. Before coming to UW-Whitewater, Dr. Saunders was the vice president for Academic Affairs at Columbus State University of the University System of Georgia.[1]

Dr. Saunders served the Whitewater community for two years before departing campus. Her main accomplishments during her time as chancellor were updating the mission and goals statements of the university. She also finalized funding for building projects on campus. During her short time on campus, Dr. Saunders connected both with students and faculty as well as the Whitewater community as a whole. Dr. Saunders visited the Children’s Center on campus multiple time throughout the school year. She also had a passion for supporting Whitewater’s downtown economy and showing the business owners UW-Whitewater’s support. On June 6, 2006, Dr. Saunders started a blog for this purpose, named “Around Campus with Chancellor Saunders.” Here she not only wrote about happenings around the campus but also the Whitewater community.[2]

On April 5, 2007, Dr. Saunders was named the next president of the University of Southern Mississippi.[3] Dr. Martha Dunagin Saunders is now the current president at the University of West Florida.

[1] “Saunders named UW-Whitewater chancellor,” The Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI) August 25, 2005.

[2] “Chancellor Martha Saunders Launches Blog,” The Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI) August 17, 2006.

[3] Doug Dalsing, “Saunders leaving UW-Whitewater for alma mater, USM,” The Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI) April 12, 2007.

In the late 1950s and the early 1960s Wisconsin State College – Whitewater, (UW-Whitewater), saw an increase in student enrollment and graduation rates. With the influx of students, the college saw a need not only for extra dormitories and staff but also for another graduation ceremony. WSC-W held its first formal summer graduation ceremony on Thursday, August 1, 1963, to accommodate the number of students earning their degrees.

One hundred thirty-three students received their degrees at the ceremony. Wisconsin State College held its summer commencement at 2:30pm in the college auditorium. Students received a variety of degrees including Bachelor of Education (Kindergarten-Primary, Elementary Education, Academic, Business Education), Bachelor of Science (Business Administration), and, Bachelor of Arts (Liberal Arts). After the ceremony, a reception for the graduates and their guests was held at the student union.[1]

Wisconsin State College – Whitewater hosted guest speaker Dr. John A. Kinneman to speak at the summer commencement ceremony on the “Values in a Changing Society”.[2] The Whitewater Register reported on Dr. Kinneman’s speech and quoted “Good teaching is derived from selecting and analyzing those materials which provide functional insight to many facets of our culture. We must stimulate learners to an understanding of the society in which we have. If we can’t grow in grave, let’s increase, at least, our wisdom.”[3] Dr. Kinneman had retired two months prior from the Illinois State Normal University, now Illinois State University. Dr. Kinneman was the department chair of social sciences for ten years and worked at ISNU for thirty-six years.[4]   

[1] “Largest Summer Class To Get Degrees,” Royal Purple (Whitewater, WI.) July 30, 1963.

[2] “Dr. Kinneman To Speak at Graduation,” Royal Purple (Whitewater, WI.) July 30, 1963.

[3] “’Know Why You Came’ Speaker Tells College Summer Grads,” The Whitewater Register,(Whitewater, WI.) July 30, 1963.

[4] “College Graduation Services Are Slated This Afternoon,” Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI.) August 1, 1963.

On July 18, 2021, it was officially announced that Starin Hall would be renamed Pulliam Hall in honor of Dr. Roger Pulliam. The proposal was taken to the Whitewater Student Government by the Black Student Union and was passed unanimously in November of 2020.[1]

Dr. Pulliam was the first in his family to graduate from both high school and college. He earned his undergraduate and master’s degree from Western Michigan University and a doctorate degree from the University of Michigan. Pulliam worked at UW-Whitewater from 1989 to 2018 in a variety of different roles including Assistant Chancellor of Academic Support Services, Director of Advisement, and Interim Chief Diversity Officer.[2] He started the King/Chavez Scholars Program in 1997. The program targets low-income, first-generation multicultural students and gives them a chance to be successful in college. The program is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary started this August and has grown to a cohort of thirty students.[3] Dr. Pulliam was also a founding member of the Office of the National Black Student Union and was the founding chapter advisor of the Pi Omega Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi National Fraternity Incorporated at UW-Whitewater. Dr. Pulliam was awarded the Lifetime of Service award by the State Council on Affirmative Action in October of 2019.

Dr. Roger Pulliam touched the lives of many students and spent his entire career advocating for the education of low-income, first-generation, multicultural students, much like himself. Dr. Roger Pulliam passed away on February 12, 2020. His memorial service was postponed due to the pandemic but was able to be held on April 2, 2022. At the service, past students, family, and friends shared stories of Dr. Pulliam and his work in higher education. Following his memorial service was the official renaming of Starin Hall. Now, Pulliam Hall, this dormitory is the first and only building on Whitewater’s campus named after a person of color. The renaming of the residence hall not only remembers Dr. Pulliam’s impact on campus but also helps make every UW-Whitewater student feel at home.[4]

 Anderson Library Archives and Area Research, Anderson Library, University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, Whitewater, WI. 

[1] Carina Lopez, “Student Government Proposes Renaming Halls.” Royal Purple (Whitewater, WI.) Dec. 6, 2020.

[2] Mason Thompson, “Hall Renamed to Honor Former Administrator,” Royal Purple (Whitewater, WI.) April 3, 2022.

[3] “Whitewater resident creates minority scholarship at UW-W,” Whitewater Register, (Whitewater, WI) Nov. 5, 1998.

[4] Carina Lopez, “Student Government Proposes Renaming Halls.” Royal Purple (Whitewater, WI.) Dec. 6, 2020

Although we now know the University as the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, it has not always been called so. The University has been through three different name changes since its establishment. The second name change passed in early 1964. The change from Wisconsin State College – Whitewater to Wisconsin State University – Whitewater became effective July 1, 1964.[1] The University would hold this name until 1971 when the University of Wisconsin System was created.[2]

Developing graduate programs sparked the change from college to university. The first graduate session offered at Whitewater was in the summer of 1960. Thirty-two students enrolled that summer and by 1962 the number had doubled. Whitewater partnered with the University of Wisconsin in the beginning to get the graduate program up and running. Students would earn their first 12 credits at Whitewater and the last 12 credits at Madison. By 1962, the summer graduate sessions had enough students for Whitewater to be able to start their own independent graduate program.[3]

A Change of Name Observance to mark the new school name change took place on July 1, 1964 at Roseman Auditorium.[4] Over 150 faculty, staff, and students attended the ceremonies to hear Dr. Leslie Holmes speak. Dr. Holmes was president of Northern Illinois University and spoke on the opportunities the change from college to university would bring including the chance to grow the graduate programs.[5] President Walker D. Wyman and Vice President Richard Brown also spoke on behalf of the University among many other speakers.

On what was referred to as “the hill” stood the formal sign for the school. The week prior to the Change of Name Observance ceremony, acting student council president Arlan Anderson and Ilene Larson covered the word “college” with “university” to test out the new name. The sign with the updated name was put up during the ceremony on July 1^st.[6]

[1] “Ceremonies Mark Name Change,” The Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI) July 9, 1964.

[2] “Make Campus Name Change,” The Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI) November 4, 1971.

[3] M. Janette Bohi, A History of Wisconsin State University 1868-1968 (Whitewater, WI: Wisconsin State University Foundation, 1067, 206.

[4] “Ceremonies Mark Change of Name,” Royal Purple (Whitewater, WI) July 7, 1964.

[5] “Ceremonies Mark Name Change,” The Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI) July 9, 1964.

[6]  “Ceremonies Mark Change of Name,” Royal Purple (Whitewater, WI) July 7, 1964.

Late June of 1925 saw the completion of an addition to Whitewater Normal School’s (now UW-Whitewater) Old Main building. The east wing was the last wing added to Old Main, and it opened for classes for the summer term of 1925.[1] Once the construction was completed the school enlisted the help of its students in moving equipment into the new wing. Students “gladly carried books and equipment into the new part [wing] for a chance to see what the interior… was like.”[2] The new wing featured an auditorium, new classrooms, and staff offices. The dedication ceremony for the east wing was held later that year on November 7^th. The ceremony featured several speakers, including Governor John J. Blaine. The ceremony was well attended and many who went stayed for the homecoming football game that followed.[3]

When Old Main Burned down in 1970, the East wing was the only wing that was not destroyed. The wing suffered water and smoke damage but was salvaged and renamed Hyer Hall, after President Frank S. Hyer who was president in 1925 when the wing was built. In 1997, University personnel decided to renovate Hyer Hall. This renovation lasted two years and cost $6.5 million.[4] In 1999, Hyer Hall reopened and now houses the Chancellor’s office, classrooms, and more.  

[1] “Use of New East Wing Features Summer School Session of 1925,” Royal Purple (Whitewater WI), June 24, 1925.

[2] “Locals,” Whitewater Register, June 11, 1925.

[3] “Dedicate New East Wing Saturday,” Whitewater Press, November 5, 1925.

[4] Kayla Edgar, “History Recalled,” Royal Purple (Whitewater WI), October 15, 2013.