Category: Throwback Thursdays

In 1973, UWGB faculty member, Dr. E. Nelson Swinerton, launched a game called “The Dead River.” The game was intended to “present a real-life water pollution problem and give each participant a role to play in problem solving.”

The simulation game had students serving as members of teams representing various interest groups. Assuming the role of the interest groups, the teams had to develop water quality standards and policy options for cleaning up an interstate river system.

Swinerton believed students should be “actively involved in the learning process” and used the simulation game in his Introduction to Political Science courses. Swinerton was a professor at UWGB from 1968 until 1996. He taught courses in political science, urban and public affairs as well as the extended degree program.

Marketed to social studies and science teachers, the game was produced and sold nationwide by the Educational Games Company of Ohio.

We are curious if any UWGB Alums remember playing this game in the 1970s and 1980s

This content was originally posted by the UW-Green Bay Archives and Area Research Center to their facebook page on Thursday, June 4, 2015. View the original Facebook post.

In celebration of the 45th anniversary of Earth Week….

In 1973, the first gardening efforts occurred on the UWGB campus. Barbara Rosenbaum, a student from Missouri, contacted the Office of Student Life wondering if there was a section of campus land that could be made available for a garden. Other students, faculty, and staff soon joined the efforts. Dick Christie, director of student life, made sure the gardening group received funding. Although the allocation was only $100, the group accomplished a great deal the first year.

The garden consisted of a half-acre lot and was divided into a communal section and individual areas. The small organic campus garden grew cabbage, beans, corn, radishes, lettuce, and other vegetables.

One of the organizers was Schellie Hensely, a senior from Illinois. He indicated the limited gardening funds were extended by using the leaf mold from a campus recycling project. Hensley stated the campus gardeners learned from organic gardening publications and members of the group who “grew up on a farm” as well as intuition.

The 1973 garden quickly became bigger in purpose with the campus fruit trees benefitting from the garden mulching and pruning; planned renovation of the greenhouse; and the creation of a library on organic gardening.

Fast forward to 2010 when the current SLO Food Alliance was established and a new campus garden began on the plaza of the University Union. As part of UWGB’s Earth Week celebration, this year’s garden will be planted on Thursday and Friday.

Pictured in the 1973 photo are Schellie Hensley (right) and Marcia Karras (left).