Massasoit Community College Archive: Timeline

• The Massachusetts Board of Regional Community Colleges (now, Massachusetts Community Colleges) is created by the legislature to develop and execute an overall plan for regional community colleges.

• In October, 1958, Massachusetts Governor Foster Furcolo signs into law his bill, Chapter 605: An Act Establishing a Massachusetts Board of Regional Community Colleges and Providing for the Establishment of Regional Community Colleges, which establishes a system of community colleges for Massachusetts.

• The proposal to bring a community college to the Brockton area is brought before the Brockton School Committee by George M. Romm, Chairman of the Education Committee of the Brockton Chamber of Commerce. 

• Announcement that a community college will be located in Brockton, Massachusetts as a result of a feasibility study conducted by the Brockton Chamber Of Commerce (now, Metro South Chamber of Commerce) with the combined efforts of area school committees and Representative Peter C. Asiaf and Senator James F. Burke. 

• 1st YEAR
• Dr. John W. Musselman is appointed the first President of Massasoit Community College (Presidential term 1966-1978)
• Phillip B. Melody is appointed the first Dean of Massasoit Community College
• In September, 1966 classes begin in the Charles M. Frolio School, North Abington, Massachusetts with 358 students and 22 faculty.

From the Students:

• A student run newspaper begins at Massasoit under the name The Quill.

• On March 21st, Gov. Volpe signs the Bill allowing Brockton to take land for Massasoit Community College.
• A proposal was voted and passed for 3 projects on the east side of Brockton; a new elementary school, housing for the elderly and Massasoit Community College
• The library is started on the North Abington Campus.

• Mayor John E. Sullivan signs over 100 acres of land to President John Musselman for the future site of Massasoit Community College scheduled for completion in September of 1970.
• On Sunday, June 9, 1968, Massasoit Community College has its first commencement with 137 students receiving their Associate Degrees.
• In September, 1968, additional campuses are established at the former Howard School for Girls in West Bridgewater and the Mirimar School in Duxbury. 

From the Students​:

• Students advertise a meeting for the Ipsedixit, a student run literary publication. Ipsedixit, or Ipse Dixit refers to a dogmatic and unproven statement in literature.
• An advertisement to join the college Chorus.
• These photos of professors ran in the 1991 student paper as "flashback" to what their current teachers looked like.

• Fall, 1969 begins the fourth year of Massasoit Community College operating on two temporary campuses—West Bridgewater and North Abington.
• On October 28, 1969, Massasoit Community College breaks ground for the first five buildings at what is to become the Brockton Campus. Pictured from left to right: John Costello, David E. Crossby, Peter Asiaf, Anna P. Buckley, Rubert Cataldo, John W. Musselman

• Massasoit Community College Foundation incorporates to secure funding to the College for student scholarships and special projects.
• On May 8, 1970, 250 faculty and students march for peace after the fatal shooting at Kent State University and the escalating tensions in Southeast Asia. 

From the Students

• Dear Mr. Fantasy is a student advice column.
• Nurses wear caps as part of their uniforms that announces where they go to school.
• Massasoit of the 1970’s is very active as this breakdown of the student activity fee shows.

• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) awards 10 year accreditation. 
• On February 8, the student council passes a 3 point war resolution and sends a copy to Senator Kennedy and Congressman Keith.
• In April, 350 students at the Massasoit Duxbury campus sign a petition supporting the People's Peace Treaty which calls for: a cease fire, the withdrawal of American forces from Southeast Asia, the return of all American prisoners of war, and the setup of a coalition government with legitimate elections.

From the Students​

• The beginning of what will become the Massasoit Police Department.
• An anti-war ad runs in the student paper during the final few years of the Vietnam War. The Student Newspaper runs many such ads and columns in opposition to the war.
• A look at what 1971 spring students are doing.
• The new tennis team at Massasoit reaches out for members.

• The Brockton Campus of Massasoit Community College opens with the completion of Phase I of the construction and Phase II of the construction begins on the Brockton Campus.
• The Latch program starts at Massasoit Community College with the name “Project Mainstream”. Dr. Marilyn Maxwell is it’s director.

From the Students

• The student paper is renamed the Furthur.
• Advertising for “College Night,” an event where students planning to attend four year colleges could ask questions.
• Erotic Enlightenment was a series of articles published in the student newspaper. The author provided quirky facts and references to literary works that dealt with sexuality.
• When Nixon is elected for his second term in office, members of the Further were less than thrilled.

• The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) opens.
• Massasoit celebrates “Massa Day."

From the Students

• An aerial shot of the new Massasoit Brockton Campus. This picture is featured as a full page spread in the college newspaper.
• The new “Mini Gym” opens to students.
• A dedicated column to the Veterans on campus. To the column’s left, a student poem.
• A dual article for the Chess Club and congratulating the Women’s Intramural Tennis player that references Billy Jean King. 

• House Representative Margaret Heckler gives the commencement address to the graduating class on May 31, 1974.

From the Students​

• A Soccer team forms at Massasoit and looks for members via the Further.
• Students are very vocal on their thoughts of the new campus. Future articles will detail expansions, additions, and landscaping changes made to the college.
• Some of the articles in the student newspaper are of a more humors sway.
• An article that details the problems the student run yearbooks are having. The next edition of the Further sees the restarting of the yearbook committee.

• The Massasoit Campus in 1975.

From the Students

• Student government becomes a big focus in the school paper around this time. As opposed to the rebellious behavior the paper had once condoned, voting, participating, and student involvement were heavily encouraged.
• While the early 1970’s Further heavily runs articles on the topics of the war and marijuana, 1975’s stories transition more to the issues dealing with Alcoholism. Self-polls on drinking and information on Alcoholics Anonymous are common. Pictured here is an image in the Further on the grave seriousness of Alcoholism.
• This article ran on April 1^st but it was no joke when someone calls the Massasoit switch board with a bomb threat.
• A re-occurring student coffee house night opens under the name, The Friends of Rivendell.

From the Students

• 10 YEARS
• The student paper is renamed the Massanger.
• WRSH was the college radio station run by students. Pictured is a look at their weekly lineup.
• The Massasoit Little Company Theatre preformed the Sorcerer’s Apprentice to great success.
• A local bar hosts the yearly Massasoit Talent Show.
• The poet, artist, and liberal activist, Lawrence Ferlinghetti speaks at Massasoit.

From the Students

• A story covering a car theft at Massasoit.
• March continued to be a rough month in 1977 when a mob vandalizes a door on campus.
• Students ponder the new sculpture on campus.
• In November of 1977, the student paper is briefly renamed  The Barely Adequate or just simply, The Adequate before becoming The Voice.

• In the Fall, 1978, Phase II construction was completed and occupancy took place.
• On November 22, 1978, Dr. George E. Ayers was appointed the second President of Massasoit Community College. (Presidential term 1978-1982)
• The Massasoit Senior Center (now the Center for Lifelong Learning) opens.

From the Students

• Students closely follow the developments of the Brockton College’s development.
• John Musselman gives a farewell interview to a member of the Voice.
• Editors of The Voice strongly encourage students to write into the paper. As a result, many hot topics of the time are discussed such as feminism and the role of women in society and sports.

• New Theater Arts Program begins in September at Massasoit Community College. 

From the Students

• The long awaited pool opens.
• Enrollment reaches new highs at Massasoit.
• Massasoit is gifted a telescope.

• MCC Self-Development Laboratory at Massasoit (SLAM) opens education to those without high school diplomas. 
• On September 8, 1980, Massasoit Community College opens the Continuing Education Program for Nurses. At the time, this was a first of its kind.

From the Students

• In 1980 it looked to many Americans that President Jimmy Carter would reinstate the draft. The student newspaper talked about the possibility in many of the issues. Additionally, it seemed like women too would be required to serve as this article highlights.
• Also, an advertisement for a poet coming to Massasoit.
• Photos of registration lines in September of 1980.
• What did the election of Ronald Reagan mean to students of Massasoit?

• After the State’s reorganization, the Massasoit Community College Board of Trustees assumed local control of the College. 
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) awards five year accreditation.

From the Students

• In February, the student newspaper is renamed Cornucopia before switching back to The Voice the following September.
• A student writes an article on the recently assassinated John Lennon.
• 1981 was an active year for sports.

• Dr. Gerard F. Burke is appointed Dean of the College.  
• Boston State College faculty and staff join Massasoit Community College.

From the Students

• A small article on the growing popularity of video games and on one cherry-chasing dot muncher in particular.
• A cartoon showing what at least one student thought of the parking situation in 1982.

• Dr. Gerard F. Burke is appointed the third President of Massasoit Community College. (Presidential term 1983-1996)
• In 1983, Marguerite Donovan, Dean of Students, and Gerald Reese, Dean of Admissions, founded Massasoit's Phi Theta Kappa chapter, Alpha Kappa Upsilon.
• Academic Resource Center (ARC) opened in the Fall.
• The Children’s Center at Massasoit opens.
• The Choices program began at Massasoit Community College.

From the Students

• A nice recap of the Warriors 1983 year with a fantastic action shot.
• The Massasoit Little Theatre advertises for the The Wizard of Oz.
• A student writes a nice outlook of what was to come for Massasoit.

• First Telecourses are offered:  Heritage: Jews and Civilization and The Brain.
• The International Touch Club began, meeting every Friday at noon during the school year.

From the Students

• A full page article of the bumper-stickers of Massasoit.
• A small column that brings awareness to the underground popularity of role playing games.

• Blue Hills Technical Institute (founded in 1966) merges with Massasoit and becomes the Canton Campus.
• The Massasoit Community College Board of Trustees signed a contract with the Division of Capital Planning and Operations (changed to Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance or DCAM in 1999) and Hospital Efficiency Corporation for a ten year pilot project in energy conservation designed to pay for capital improvements at the College and save 1.4 million dollars in energy costs during the ten years.
• President Dr. Gerard Burke announced that Massasoit Community College will have its own cable television station. Massasoit is the first educational institution in the state to have control over a local cable television channel.
• Massasoit is one of 63 colleges in the nation awarded a grant of $182,932.00 meant to improve the quality of education.

From the Students

• The Valentine’s Day edition of the paper contained several pages worth of personal ads. At the heart of them was Phoofla, a re-occurring sarcastic rabbit.
• Massasoit’s Fall Fair.

• 20 YEARS
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) awards 10 year accreditation.

From the Students

• The Challenger explosion which rocked America unsurprisingly also effected the students at Massasoit Community College heavily. No less than 5 stories ran in the February edition of The Voice.
• A workshop on AIDS and how it would affect dental professionals. By the Early 90's, the issue of AIDS was being frequently discussed in the Massasoit college life.
• A small article on smoking in the student lounge.
• A full page spread showing off the Blue Hills Campus.

• Massasoit becomes the first public two year college to adopt a core curriculum. A pilot program is held in the spring semester with full implementation expected the following September.
• Massasoit Community College, Cape Cod Community College, Bridgewater State College and the Plymouth school system are offering vocational training and college courses to the unemployed through the Plymouth College Center.

*Archivist's note: The Archives does not currently possess any student newspapers from 1987. If you have any information on obtaining copies of this year or any others, please contact the Archivist at the Massasoit Community College Library.

• Dr. Ernest L Boyer, President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Learning spoke at Massasoit Community College. In his speech he congratulated Massasoit for its initiative in academics, especially the adoption of a core curriculum for the times.

*Archivist's note: The Archives does not currently possess any student newspapers from 1988. If you have any information on obtaining copies of this year or any others, please contact the Archivist at the Massasoit Community College Library.

• Dedication of the Senator Anna P. Buckley Fine Arts Center at Massasoit Community College, Brockton on October 18, 1989.

*Archivist's note: The Archives does not currently possess any student newspapers from 1988. If you have any information on obtaining copies of this year or any others, please contact the Archivist at the Massasoit Community College Library.

• The Senior Summer Institute begins.
• Massasoit establishes new records with a 9% gain in applications and a 6% increase in enrollment.
• Board of Trustees approved contract with Unisys Corporation of Wellesley for financing for an upgrade of the computer system to state-of-the-art technology.

From the Students

• A member of Massasoit plays an important role in the founding of the “Boys and Girls Club” of Brockton.
• The International Touch Club hosts an event to celebrate Mexican culture.
• The paper advertises the existence of the radio and television stations.

• Higher Education Coordinating Council (HECC) replaces the Board of Regents of Higher Education.
• Massasoit President Gerard F. Burke announces that Massasoit has become the first community college to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Soviet Union. The agreement will set the stage for discussions with the Supreme Soviet officials for a community college system in that country.

​From the Students

• Rape became a widely discussed topic at Massasoit as this paper from 1991 shows.
• Two photos: The Women’s Softball team and the Men’s Baseball team.

• Special Jubilee Performance Series marks Massasoit’s 25th year.
• Gala - 25th Anniversary Dinner Dance, May 8, 1992 at Christos II (now The Conference Center)
• Members of the Massasoit faculty and staff formed the Massasoit Silver Savoyards to perform The Mikado for the 25th anniversary celebration.
• Massasoit takes part in hands-across-the sea program and teams with Ireland in the Wider Horizons/ International Vocational Training Program.
• Pictured below: A map of the campus as it appeared in the student newspaper.

From the Students

• This Valentine’s Day edition of the paper becomes a heavily sought after issue with its erotic and provocative images of the time.
• What were the students of 1992 getting up too?
• 1992 was a big year for students who smoke because all buildings became smoke free zones.

• The first early childhood conference brought hundreds of day care specialists and educators from across New England to Massasoit.
• Dr. Gerard F. Burke was honored by Temple Israel as “Brockton’s Best of ‘93” for his contributions to the city.
• Massasoit opens The Job Placement Center; this program is the first of its kind. It is designed to help students find work while attending college and upon graduation in their chosen fields.

From the Students

• Two articles: The left informs the paper’s readers of a new publication journal, The Vortext. The right is a column warning students about AIDS spreading through colleges.
• The students on the Canton Campus build a storage garage for school credit.
• An article on how to use those new 1993 computers in the new lab.

• Massasoit moves to a “one-college concept” merging with the Continuing Education division to form one hierarchy of leadership.
• Marguerite Donovan, Dean of Students retires after 14 years.
• The Dental Assistant Program in Canton received full approval on its accreditation status.

From the Students

• Massasoit continues its long history of the theater with Guys and Dolls.
• Once upon a time, dialing out of the campus was a dream to Massasoit until this upgrade of the phone systems. Funny to think that in a few years, with the growth of the internet the lines would need to change again.

• Jack Williams, co-anchor of WBZ Channel 4 News spoke at Massasoit’s commencement ceremony.

From the Students

• The Top of the Rainbow club hosts a video conference for Black History Month.
• Massasoit updates its mission statement. Also, an ad for a pager service.
• The Gay-straight Alliance, having formed two years prior, creates a safe zone badge.

• 30 YEARS
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) awards 10 year accreditation.
• Board of Higher Education replaces HECC.
• Awarding of Choices Scholarship approved by Board of Trustees.

From the Students

• An adult student shares her experiences.
• By 1996 computers were common place enough to warrant a mandatory class.
• Public awareness about a recycling program at Massasoit.

• Dr. Robert Rose is appointed fourth President of Massasoit Community College.
• The Proactive Learning Assistance Network (PLAN), a part of the U.S. Department of Education’s “TRiO Student Support Services” (SSS) Federal Program, started at Massasoit Community College.
• The Conference Center opens, offering 7200 square feet of meeting space for local businesses and other community organizations. 

From the Students

• The International Touch Club departs for a trip to Washington D.C. and the student paper covers the “Choices” program.
• The new president is welcomed to Massasoit and interviewed.
• Police bicycle patrols begin on Massasoit.
• The “AGLAS” advertises their club meetings.

• The SeniorNet program began at the Massasoit Senior Center.  
• On October 17, 1998, the 1st Annual Massasoit Community College Gala is held, a fund raising activity run by the Massasoit Gala Committee and the Massasoit Foundation, Inc.  
• Weekend class offerings start.

From the Students

• A student covers the fascinating history of what came before Massasoit.
• A vampire themed short story runs in the student newspaper.
• Parking issues and cramped spaces continue to be a problem for the growing campus.
• A new student representative is appointed to Massasoit.
• The radio club battles ongoing problems.