Envision a sea of maroon gold and grey. These are the colors of Brooklyn College. Founded in 1930 Brooklyn College emerged as New York City’s first public coeducational liberal arts college. It offered a stepping stone for immigrants’ children. It provided working-class individuals access to higher education.
Initially Brooklyn College lacked a formal campus. Its first location was in downtown Brooklyn near Borough Hall. A student described the early campus with these words. “Oh Brooklyn College thou art loveliest seen in gentle springtime when traffic lights are green.”
Within two years Brooklyn College expanded. The idea of constructing a dedicated campus gained momentum. President William A. Boylan favored a large site in Midwood proposed by Randolph Evans. Evans envisioned a Georgian-style campus. It would feature a central quadrangle and a library with a tall tower. Conveniently Evans’ employers owned the land. It was then a golf course a football field and a circus staging area.
Despite the Great Depression progress moved quickly. In 1934 the city approved the purchase of the Midwood lot. The federal government allocated funds for construction. In 1935 Mayor Fiorello La Guardia broke ground for Brooklyn College’s new campus. Workers from the Works Progress Administration completed the buildings and landscaping in two years.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt laid the gymnasium’s cornerstone. He wished Brooklyn College a fine and successful future. He hoped it would build better American citizenship. Brooklyn College became part of the City University of New York in 1961.
The college experienced protests during the Vietnam War era. Students and faculty debated social issues. Brooklyn College hosted controversial figures. These included Abbie Hoffman Bob Dylan and Malcolm X.
In 1970 CUNY adopted an open-admissions policy. Enrollment at Brooklyn College increased significantly. Overcrowding and budget concerns led to a fiscal crisis. The downtown campus closed.
Brooklyn College began to recover in the 1980s. A core curriculum in the liberal arts was established. The college hired new faculty. Facilities were improved and buildings were renovated.
A library renovation and expansion occurred in the late 1990s. The West Quad Center was added to the campus. It housed student services and athletic facilities. The Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts followed.
In 2011 Brooklyn College created four new schools. These included the School of Business and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences was also founded. The School of Visual Media and Performing Arts was established too. In 2015 the School of Business became the Murray Koppelman School of Business.
Brooklyn College’s motto is “Nil sine magno labore.” This translates to “Nothing without great effort.” The college has a 35-acre urban campus. Brooklyn College’s athletic teams are called the Bulldogs.
Prominent Brooklyn College alumni include US senators federal judges and CEOs. Recipients of prestigious awards also attended. These include Academy Awards Emmy Awards Pulitzer Prizes and Nobel Prizes. Brooklyn College continues to provide quality education. It adapts to meet the needs of its diverse student body. Brooklyn College remains a vital institution.