The ’50s were a time when not a lot happened, said 1958 to 1960 CM Life Editor in Chief Neal Miller.

“We didn’t have all the issues they have today,” he said. “The diversity of students on campus wasn’t at all like it is today.”

The ’50s saw a strange decade for the staff of CM Life. Many of the 4,000 students on Central Michigan University’s (then Central Michigan College’s) campus were unconcerned with issues around the world, Miller said, including the McCarthy communist cases and the beginning of the Cold War.

CM Life, with a circulation of 3,500, was printed in the Grawn Hall basement. The newsroom saw heavy water damage in the early part of the decade, causing the room to cave in several times during production.

Back then, the staff was encouraged to not report on any major issues happening around campus or the United States, for fear of scaring the general student population.

“With many of the students going home a lot, it wasn’t a major controversial time,” Miller said.

On Dec. 16, 1955, an article appeared on the front page entitled, “Three Centralites Killed, Three Hurt in Auto Crash… Death Rides Shepherd Curve, Tragedy Ruins CMC Holiday.” The story was entirely false, and ran with an editor’s note at the bottom of the story, proclaiming its falsity. The story was meant to be a more of a public service announcement and was to enter a contest involving stories about auto safety. The story was assumed to be true, and CM Life did not win the award.

First-hand experience

Miller said his appointment to editor in chief in 1957 came after the former editor in chief resigned after writing a controversial editorial that did not print.

The biggest change that occurred was the conversion of Central Michigan College to Central Michigan University in 1959. Miller said the campus was completely different than today’s.

“That was a big issue,” he said.

Another major event was the resignation of Charles T. Anspach as university president and the naming of Judson Foust as president, Miller said.

The times were much different than the current CMU, with Tate Hall, a residence hall built in 1956 and torn down in 1997, being the newest building on campus during Miller’s reign.

“(My wife) was the first person to set foot in that dorm,” he said.

After being inducted into the CMU Journalism Hall of Fame in 2004, Miller has seen CM Life grow to adapt to campus.

“I think it’s been an amazing progression to the university,” he said. “(Former Director of Student Publications and associate professor of journalism) Jim Wojcik made some remarkable changes.”

HEADLINES FROM THE 1950s

“CMC Physical Education Plant near Completion: Building to Be Second Largest Field House in State”
October 10, 1951
Finch Fieldhouse opens

“Anspach Named as ‘Man of the Year’ Monday”
January 14,1955
President Charles L. Anspach accepts award from Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce.

“Mrs. Roosevelt Speaks at CMC on World Affairs”
February 25, 1955
Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visits in 1955.

“Tuition, Fees Go Up $20 Per Semester Next Fall at State Education Colleges”
March 11,1955

news@cm-life.com

E-mail the author: David Veselenak