As the Class of 2023 prepares to move to campus Friday, we are taking a look back at what Move-In Day was like for Elon students and their families in 1986.
In the first of a new project for the 2019-20 academic year, the Elon University News Bureau, along with Archives & Special Collections, will flash back to the past to take a look at Elon over the years. In the series, #ElonTBT, you will find videos, newspaper clippings, photos and more to celebrate Elon's past, while looking ahead to the future. Follow along on E-Net and the university's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages every Thursday to see what we dig up.
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In 1986, Ronald Reagan was midway through his second term as president of the United States, a gallon of gas cost 89 cents, and Dionne Warwick, Elton John and Gladys Knight topped the Billboard charts with "That's What Friends Are For."
Meanwhile, Elon was making history.
Under the guidance of James Fred Young, Elon's seventh president, Elon exceeded an enrollment of 3,000 students for the first time in history – a far cry from the more than 7,000 students enrolled for the 2019-20 academic year.
According to the front page of the Sept. 4, 1986, Pendulum newspaper, Elon welcomed around 1,000 new students, including 870 first-years, in 1986.
During his annual faculty address, Young said, "It's been my philosophy that some growth each year is desirable." Needless to say, Elon has continued growing decades later. Of this year's 7,000 students, nearly 1,700 make up the Class of 2023.
As first-year and new transfer students prepare to move to campus Friday, Elon is taking a look back to 1986 with footage of Move-In Day from 33 years ago.
In the Elon Magazine feature, then-Director of College Planning Bob Anderson introduces the video touting "one of the best prepared freshman classes and the largest freshman class" in university history.
Now, the Class of 2023 will look to carve out its own exciting journey Under the Oaks as new students begin their four years at Elon this week.
Do you have any special pieces of Elon history? Share your photos and videos with us via email or using the hashtag #ElonTBT on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.