Many know Wright State University (WSU) was founded in 1967, but what led up to its official founding as an independent university is less common knowledge. Originally called only “Dayton Campus,” with no mention of the Wright brothers, WSU was a branch campus of Ohio State University (OSU) and Miami University before developing its own identity and splitting from its parent institutions.
“In 1963, founders Robert S. Oelman and Stanley Allyn broke ground on the campus’s first building, Allyn Hall,” WSU’s website reads.
The first students started classes in September 1964, and it was not long until the first issue in our archives was published on Mar. 19, 1965. At that time, the publication was titled “The Guardian: A Dayton Campus Student Publication.” By the second issue, published Mar. 26, 1965, there was already discussion of renaming the Dayton Campus. However, there was heavy debate around the new name, with a committee devoted to the effort.
The article describes that some students were in favor of the name “Wright Brothers University,” while others preferred “University of Southwestern Ohio.” At the conclusion of this March 1965 issue, the latter name was heavily favored.
“It honors those who made the university possible, it denotes location, all other Ohio state universities have regional names, it identifies the university as an institution provided for by revenue from state and federal taxes, and it’s the students’ choice,” the issue reads.
The Naming Committee and ongoing debate are not mentioned again in headlines until the edition on Nov. 5, 1965, when Managing Editor Mike Good wrote “It’s Official; WRIGHT STATE,” as the frontpage headline of that issue.
“It was decided: today we are the Wright State Campus,” Good wrote in that article. “The only real change today is the name, but it is a step toward eventual independence, a breaking of ties with Miami University and The [OSU].”
This issue rebranded the newspaper with the new name of “The Guardian: A Wright State Campus Publication.” Or, more simply, "The Wright State Guardian," which is the same name we use today.
“Possibly with this new distinction, we will feel and act more like a university,” Good wrote.
By the edition published Sept. 5, 1967, Good was the Editor-in-Chief for The Guardian, which was officially publishing itself under the term "WSU," though it had not yet gained that official status. In the opinion section of the paper, Good published a piece urging WSU to remain a place of education, rather than becoming a “diploma mill.”
“October may well see Wright State become an independent university,” Good wrote. “Both the classes of ‘68 and ‘71 have a great honor. The class of ‘68 has nursed Wright State along the path of independence; the class of ‘71 will plan a major role in shaping [WSU] during its formative years.”
Stating that students, faculty and administrators all had the opportunity to shape WSU into a great university. Good expressed his concern that the advisory board, soon to be renamed the Board of Trustees, was mostly composed of businessmen, rather than educators. On Sept. 19, 1967, the front page of The Guardian declared WSU’s official upcoming Independence Day on Oct. 1, 1967.
“Last Friday John D. Millett, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, proposed a resolution to the Board of Regents that Wright State Campus of Miami University and [OSU] be made independent. The Board voted an 8-0 majority to create [WSU],” the frontpage reads.
Now, WSU hosts two schools: the Lake Campus and the Dayton Campus, proudly reclaiming the roots of WSU's first ever title in a new and independent manner.
To read more about WSU’s history, as published by the institution, click here. To learn more about The Guardian’s archives, search our website, or request more articles like this by messaging staff on social media.
