The Andersen Library Blog

On the last weekend in February 1982, UW-Whitewater’s wheelchair basketball team the “Rollin’ Warhawks” won their first national championship at the sixth annual National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament. Under the leadership of coach Frank Burns, the Warhawks went to the national championship tournament hosted by the University of Illinois in Champagne. The Warhawks were the second seed team in the tournament, and they were the underdogs in the championship game against the previous year’s champs, the Southwest State (MN) Broncos.[1] The Broncos had beaten the Warhawks in every match since 1978, making this victory even sweeter of the Warhawks. It was a close and exciting game to watch. The Warhawks took an early lead, but the Broncos caught up in the second half. Ultimately, the deciding shot was a free throw made by Whitewater’s Center, Chester Underwood, after being fouled in the last seven seconds of the game, securing the Rollin’ Warhawks’ first national championship.[2] Not only was this a significant victory for the wheelchair basketball team, it was momentous for the entire school. This was “the first national championship won by any Warhawk athletic team.”[3]  The UW-Whitewater Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team has since won a total of thirteen national championships, most recently in 2016.[4] The UW-Whitewater community has always been proud of our wheelchair athletics program as they distinguish our school as a place of excellence.

[1] “Rollin’ Warhawks win national title.” Royal Purple, Whitewater WI: March 3, 1982.

[2] Ibid.

[3] “Rollin’ Warhawks conclude 1982 Season With Awards Dinner.” Whitewater Register, April 29, 1982.

[4] “News & History” Recreation Sports & Facilities: Wheelchair Athletics. Retrieved from https://www.uww.edu/rec-sports/wheelchair-athletics/news-and-history.

53 years ago, Wisconsin State University Whitewater (now UW-Whitewater) opened its first culturally relevant center for Black students on campus. In January of 1969, the Society of Afro-American Students presented a list of grievances to University President William Carter, among them was the request for a Black student union.[1] President Carter worked to meet this demand, saying that a Black cultural center would be able to support students in a new way.[2] On February 18^th  the University Board of Regents unanimously voted to allow campuses to create “Black social and cultural centers.”[3] When the time came to bring a Black student union to Whitewater the idea still faced opposition. The University Center Board, composed of all white members, voted unanimously to block the creation of a Black student union in the University Center.[4] In response to the University Center Board’s decision, president Carter vetoed the board’s resolution and many faculty members planned to boycott the University Center.[5] The Center for Black Students officially opened on March third in the Moraine lounge of the University Center.[6]

            Today the Black Student Union continues to provide a safe space for Black students on campus by coordinating activities to strengthen cultural awareness, assisting African American students, and raising awareness on issues that concern the African American community.[7] Though they focus on issues pertinent to the African American community, the Black Student Union as an organization welcomes all people to participate in their mission.

[1] “Black Students Present Grievances to Carter,” Royal Purple (Whitewater WI), January 30, 1969.

[2] “Carter Tells Students to Stay Calm, Be Rational,” Royal Purple (Whitewater WI), February 11, 1969.

[3] “Action by Board of Regent’s Allows Black Center Establishment in Unions,” Royal Purple (Whitewater WI), February 20, 1969.

[4] “University Center Board Rejects Black Lounge in UC,” Royal Purple (Whitewater WI), February 27, 1969.

[5] “Carter Establishes Center” and “Faculty Plan UC Boycott,” Royal Purple (Whitewater WI), February 27, 1969.

[6] “Moraine Lounge Chosen for Black Center Site,” Royal Purple (Whitewater WI), March 6, 1969.

[7] Black Student Union Constitution, 2021. 2.

February 7th, 1970, should have been a festive, fun filled night at Wisconsin State University-Whitewater (now UW-Whitewater). The Spring semester was young and that Saturday night was the annual Ice-O-Rama dance at the University Center However, the festivities were interrupted at around 10 o’clock when students working the WSU-W FM radio station in Old Main saw smoke in the building and pulled the fire alarm.[1] A fire had started in the west wing of Old Main and was spreading fast. Volunteer fire fighters from Whitewater and surrounding communities worked tirelessly to put out the blaze for six hours. Several firefighters were hurt during the battle, and one was sent to a Madison hospital for surgery after being thrown from a high ladder.[2] Students and community members rallied in the following week to fundraise for the injured firefighters as “an expression of gratitude.”[3] Once the fire was extinguished, the extent of the damage became clear. Three quarters of the building had been destroyed by the fire, and the remaining east wing was severely damaged by water and smoke. The total damages came to more than three million dollars.[4] These losses included most of the music, art, and business departments, which were housed in the burned wings of Old Main. Fire Marshals determined that the fire had been intentionally set; Old Main had fallen victim to arson, however, despite law enforcement’s best efforts the perpetrators were never caught.[5]

            Now all that remains of Old Main is the east wing (now Hyer Hall). Though much was lost in the fire, it also showed the resilience of the university community. Students and faculty worked together to get through this tragedy. It can be seen in their support for the injured firefighters. It can also be seen in their improvised problem solving that allowed classes to continue the following Monday despite the loss of classroom space. Improvised classrooms were created in dormitories and recreation centers across campus to make up for the lost classrooms.[6] It is clear that in this particularly trying time the campus community was able overcome even this adversity and their better side showed through.

[1] “Old Main Burns,” Royal Purple (Whitewater WI), February 9, 1970.

[2] Ibid.

[3] “Students hold drive for injured firemen,” Royal Purple (Whitewater WI), February 12, 1970. and “Initiate benefit funds for injured firemen,” Whitewater Register, February 12, 1970.

[4] Chloe Rettinger, “The True Story About Old Main,” University Center Blog. Whitewater: 2016. Retrieved from: https://blogs.uww.edu/ucinfo/2016/10/18/the-true-story-about-old-main/.

[5] Ibid.

[6] “Cultural center closed” Royal Purple (Whitewater WI), February 12, 1970.

Alpha Sigma is the oldest local sorority at UW-Whitewater and in the state of Wisconsin. Founded as the Aureola Literary Society in 1898, the name was changed in 1931 to Alpha Sigma, which it is still known as today.[1] In the 1920s the Aureola Society was known for their annual formal dances held every January. These dances often had a theme that the students would come up with and saw both current students and alumni in attendance. On January 16, 1926, the Aureola Society hosted a Japanese themed formal.[2] The women transformed the girl’s gym of Old Main into a mini Japan. They included paintings of dragons and mountains, the ceiling was decorated with flowers on a bamboo trellis, and the room was lit with many colored lanterns. The music and dance were “greatly enjoyed” by those in attendance, marking another successful annual formal.[3]

            To this day Alpha Sigma continues to value philanthropy. They have held fundraisers for the American Cancer Society, and collaborated with other Greek organizations to help fundraise and serve in the Whitewater community.[4] After more than 120 years, the core principles and goals of Alpha Sigma remain the same, that is “to promote the social, intellectual, and personal growth of young women.”[5]

[1] “Our History” About Alpha Sigma, retrieved from https://www.alphasigmauww.com/about.

[2] “Aureola Sponsors ‘Japanese’ Formal,” Royal Purple (Whitewater WI), January 18, 1926.

[3] Ibid.

[4] “Our Philanthropy” Alpha Sigma Philanthropy retrieved from: https://www.alphasigmauww.com/philanthropy.

[5] “Our History.”