By Gabe Denecker
Bluffton University was founded in 1899 and has been established as an institution since 1913. The campus has seen many changes in its 107 years—from its physical makeup to the students who call Bluffton their temporary home.
Carrie Phillips, a 1999 Bluffton alumna, began working in the Musselman Library Archives in the summer of 2005, and she continues that work today. Phillips said the archives provide a look into why things are the way they are at Bluffton University. For example, the archives provide evidence of how buildings on campus got their names.
According to Phillips, in the early days the campus was built around College Hall, the first building on campus. Ropp Hall was the first residential hall, and Berky Hall is also among the oldest buildings on campus. Phillips also said the university added several buildings in the 1960s and has been very deliberate in the buildings it adds.
“When alumni return to the university, they look forward to seeing Riley Creek,” said Phillips. “It’s a natural part of the land and is an important part of campus.”
Tami Forbes, who chairs the Health Fitness Sport Science Department, began at Bluffton in 1984 and has seen a lot of change. Forbes said in her early years, there were less than 500 students, and Ramseyer and Neufeld halls had not been built. There was also much less racial diversity on campus and few students had their own cars, so they had to carpool in order to do things off-campus.
“Because of the small number of students, you got to know students better,” said Forbes.
Forbes said she misses the camaraderie of knowing everyone on campus. At one time, she not only knew all the students, but she also got to know the parents and siblings of students.
One of the positive changes Forbes has seen in the university is how it has kept up with changes in society and the demands of a private liberal arts education. Another change is that students have more opportunities now than 30 years ago. However, Forbes said students still have the same basic need for encouragement.
“They still need to know that you care about them and have their back,” said Forbes.
While some things like key buildings and supportive faculty have stayed the same, Bluffton University has been able to change with the times.
“It is important to look back on the history of Bluffton University because current students and graduates need to know what they are about to be a part of,” Phillips said. “The past helps shape what we do today.”
