Most Central New Yorkers probably know Syracuse University opened its doors to World War II veterans under the GI Bill. But what was the impact on campus and surrounding areas? A new exhibit at SU explores how the influx of veterans transformed the area physically, academically, and socially. University Archivist Meg Mason says a letter from a veteran posed a sincere question.
“I don't think this person ever attended Syracuse University, but he's writing to the university asking what do I need to do to go to school here. The very last line is my favorite, 'what will you do for this World War II veteran?'”
Mason says Syracuse University quickly gained a reputation for welcoming veterans.
"A lot of other campuses after the war didn't want to deal with the sudden increase in numbers," Mason said. "It's a real challenge to be able to do that. Chancellor Tolley and the whole campus had this 'can-do spirit', which I've read in a couple different places. They said we should do this, it's important, the time is now to welcome them.”
Mason estimates enrollment tripled from 5,700 in the 1945-46 school year to more than 19,000 by 1948, making SU first in the state in veteran enrollment. She says that difference is obvious in a pair of images taken two years apart.
"There's a photograph of faculty and students in the college of applied science in 1944 on the steps of Hendricks Chapel," Mason said. "Same photo, but from 1946...and just the exponential increase of students and faculty is quite remarkable. It just tells it all, basically.”
Campus became crowded. Mason says temporary classrooms and housing popped up in and around the university. More faculty were hired. New academic programs were created. Satellite campuses in Utica and Binghamton were established. Mason says most veterans integrated fairly easily into college life, even if they didn’t have much in common with civilian students.
"They went to dances, they went to football games, they participated in student life," Mason said. "However, most of them lived off campus. That was kind of a problem. A lot of them didn't have a lot of money to spend. Early on, some of them came wearing their uniforms. Most of them were older. A lot of them were married. Some of them had children."
She says those differing life circumstances resulted in some challenges to tradition at the time.
"Like, maybe they didn't want to wear a freshman beanie," Mason said. "Before the war, at Archbold Stadium, seating was segregated by gender. When the veterans came after the war, they said 'I want to sit with my wife at the football game.' There was a lot of editorial protest, and eventually that rule changed. Now we can all sit together."
The exhibit called “Our Doors Opened Wide: Syracuse University and the GI Bill 1945-1950” is free and runs through April 14 on the sixth floor of SU’s Bird library. An opening reception will be held Thursday from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
