The evolution of Youngstown State University – the 1960s

The evolution of Youngstown State University – the 1960s | University Relations provided the following images during YSU’s centennial celebration in 2008.

Before Youngstown University became a state institution in 1967, its leadership was already planning for the future. New construction heralded the beginning of a modern-day campus, but change was also evident in student life.

Nearly obsolete campus activities gave way to new interests. Dress became more casual, reflecting changes in society. And the 1960s were the last complete decade for a live penguin mascot. After the passing of Pete III in 1972, the university opted for a costumed (human) Pete the Penguin.

A decade of change

In 1965, Youngstown University constructed Kilcawley Center. The new student center, with an attached residence hall, created a centralized space for students to relax, study and socialize. The mostly unadorned mid-century buildings anticipated the future look of the campus.

Nearby, neighborhood clearance projects were also underway. Excavation for the Madison Avenue Expressway cut a swath through the residential streets just north of campus. Although the new expressway provided direct access to the university, it also created a crude visual endpoint to the north.

As the university continued to expand, its leadership apparently realized the need for a coherent layout. As William Brenner noted in “Downtown and the University,” planners had to consider campus entry points, pedestrian flow and grade differences. The end result was an inviting public space with nearly seamless transitions. The newly designed commons also provided guidance for future campus development.

About: University Relations provided the following images for Youngstown State University’s centennial celebration in 2008. Used with permission.

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