1902 to 2012: 110 years of change

by Lexi Oldenburger ’14

Nobody knows exactly what Northwestern students were up to in 1902 when the school opened, but after some digging, we’ve uncovered some clues. Hold onto your iPhones—we’re going back to see how much things have changed in the last 110 years!

Name

Then: Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School
Now: Northwestern College

Location

Then: First Baptist Church, downtown Minneapolis
Now: Roseville/Arden Hills on Lake Johanna

Enrollment

Then: 7 [in 1902]
Now: 3,246

Chapel

Then: Men and women gather separately every evening for fellowship, often with an outside speaker, and then together in Jackson Hall (seats 700)

Now: Required Monday–Friday mornings in Maranatha Hall (seats 1,400)

Tuition

Then: Registration fees cost $12.50 per term or $25.00 per year
Now: $26,740 tuition per year (before financial aid)

Study Time

Then: Scheduled twice daily from 3–5 p.m. and 7:30–9:30 p.m.
Now: Squeezed between classes, intramural games, worship team practices, jobs and athletics

Off-Campus Hang-Out Spots

Then: Crescent Bakery and Delicatessen, The Colonial Sandwich Shop, Brown’s Velvet Ice Cream
Now: Caribou, Starbucks, Applebee’s after 9 p.m. for half-price appetizers

Free Time

Then: After supper and study time from 9:30–10 p.m.
Now: Whenever and for however long students wish to put off their homework

Car Rules

Then: No freshmen or sophomores may “operate a motor vehicle” while attending Northwestern
Now: Freshmen, unless they appeal for work or other reasons, are not allowed to have cars on campus due to limited parking

Technology

Then: Typewriter rentals were available on a semester basis
Now: Most, if not all, students carry their own laptops and mobile devices

Jobs

Then: No students allowed to work over 33 hours a week and still carry a full school schedule
Now: Students juggle internships or off- and on-campus jobs— some working 50+ hours per week

Just for Fun

Then: Swimming, skating, tobogganing, hiking, kittenball, volleyball and tennis
Now: Basketball, volleyball, golf, football, track and field, broomball, softball, baseball, cross-country, cheer squad/dance team, canoeing and tennis