1980s
SVSU/WORLD HISTORY THE THIRD OF FIVE WORLD AND SVSU COMPARATIVE TIMELINES LEADING UP TO THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY 1987
The Michigan Legislature approves renaming Saginaw Valley State College as Saginaw Valley State University.
1985 1982
The Council of Academic Vice Presidents of State Universities of Michigan approves the master of arts in criminal justice and political science program.
July 27th, AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is identified.
In the early morning hours on April 24, fire destroys Wickes Annex, causing $380,000 in damage.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated on November 13th.
Mikhail Gorbachev is elected president, the last leader of the Soviet Union.
Michael Jackson releases Thriller on November 30th.
On September 1st, the Titanic is discovered.
SVSC’s men’s track & field team captures a GLIAC and an NAIA national championship.
1980
Head football coach and athletic director Muddy Waters resigns from SVSC to coach at Michigan State University.
1983
Saginaw Valley State College celebrates its 20th anniversary.
The first international students enroll during the spring semester, marking the beginning of a commitment to increase the school’s global enrollment.
SVSC receives funding for the Instructional Building Facility No. 2 project, which includes three facilities: Maurice E. Brown Hall, the Science Building and the Melvin J. Zahnow Library.
The nation elects Ronald Reagan its president. On May 18th, Mt. St. Helens, a volcano in Washington, erupts resulting in one of the most disastrous geological events in American history.
Solidarity, an independent labor union, forms and eventually becomes the catalyst for the Soviet Union’s demise.
SVSC breaks ground on the Arbury Fine Arts Center, which will include the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum.
SVSC hires assistant professor Ghulam H. Raz as the first faculty member for its engineering program. Eugene Hamilton is promoted to dean of continuing education and international programs.
August 12th, the IBM computer is released.
The Detroit Tigers defeat the San Diego Padres to win the World Series on October 14th.
The world’s population reaches 5 billion.
On January 28th, 73 seconds into its flight, Space Shuttle Challenger explodes. On April 26th, The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant malfunctions, resulting in the world’s worst nuclear disaster.
1989
Jack Ryder resigns as president of SVSU, ending a 15-year career. In November, Eric Gilbertson becomes SVSU’s third president. The softball team wins an NAIA national championship.
1988 1984
On October 19th, the Stock Market crashes; it is the largest single-day point drop since 1914.
The Earl L. Warrick Excellence in Research Award, an annual award given to a deserving faculty member, is announced.
On June 18th, the Challenger space shuttle launches into space with Sally K. Ride, the first American woman to travel in Space.
Lady Diana Spencer (Princess Diana) and Prince Charles wed on July 29th.
14 SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
1986
The final episode of M*A*S*H airs on February 28th.
1981
The Council of State College Presidents votes in favor of establishing SVSC’s engineering program.
An 8.1 magnitude Earthquake rattles Mexico City on September 19th.
The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Gallery officially opens June 13.
The Arbury Fine Arts Center is dedicated. Well-known English professor Raymond Tyner passes away; SVSU eventually creates the Tyner Writing Awards in his honor.
With the aid of West Germans, East German citizens climb over the Berlin Wall as it begins to fall, symbolizing the ending of the Cold War. Nintendo introduces the first portable gaming system, the Game Boy, in Japan.
The Soviet Union begins to withdraw from Afghanistan.
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