1972-1977

SC, Neshoba Democrat, Philadelphia, Miss., June 1, 1

~ J\ new gymnasium-pnysi~ education complex wu also.: constructed on the north -1, with the old gym becoming a full-time student activities and recreational center. Improvements throughout were made on the old gym, which is staffed with a student activities director and assis– tant director. · A new football •di.um WJS constructed during th& past 10 years, augmenting ECJC'a other athletic facilities. The new stadium has helped to substantially upgrade East Central's sports programs. Lut year a resodding job was c:loDJ at. the stadium site. nus year's improvements on the stadium ~lude the construction of ~ dressing rooms ancl tbe·-'8rlenient of the press boQi. · .- With the new stadium came other improvemeqts in the field of athletics. A new practice field Yf&a idded west .al the stadium; of the stadium, a new field was built to complimelli .. bi1aketball and football pro– grams on campus. . Recognizing the need for more tennis courts for Ameri– ca'• fasteit growing sport, college officials doubled ECJC's tennis apace from two to four new courts. Other parts of the campus also saw progress~ d.Jange. New academic and depart– mental buildings became a part of a growing EC.JC. A new Fine Arts buildiJW. was built on the site of a maintenance building. The fine arts complex houses~ art clepartntent, band lfall, e1aaa nioma, iDd a completely modern air-conditioned audi- torium where J! and musicals have ted since the o enin of the

building. A large, new vocational– technical center was also built during the past decade. nus center houses a diverse range of 10 vocational programs, along with the business department, technical pro– grams, and a various array of vocational-technical avenues of study which are offered in night classes. 11le science building has also seen improvement in the last 10 years. Aclassroom and a modern laboratory were added to the initial structure, affording the science depart– ment needed space ·and facilities. Current students at EC.JC don't have to look far back to remember construction of the new classroom building, New– ton Hall. This ultra-modern building houses the home economics department, speech department, plus addi– tional academic departments. The two-story structure, opened in 1976 is equipped with facilities for the handi– capped and includes faculty offices arid lounge, conference rooms, communications room, public relations office, and a small auditorium. A · new library, Burton Library, was first occupied in spring 1977, adding another perspective to the growing academic atmosphere at ECJC. This modern spacious facili– ty contains space for 50,000 volumes plus housing for non-book materials, such as tape recorders, films, type– writers, adding machine, and other office and media tools. In addition, this new library offers group study room, a leisure reading area, and individual study earrels, with a total seating capacity of 250. A faculty reading room, special collections room, and a conference room are also provided. The old library is currently being remodeled into adminis– tration offices and should be complete by mid 1978. Counting all the other improvements made on cam– pus during the past 10 years, notable additions have also been made in other areas.

Dr. CharlH Wright ECJC Is Ranked Best In The State DECATUR - The Word at After 1986, the older StrUc– Eaat Central Junior College ii tw'el quickly gave way to change. Everywhere there is ultra-modern structures rival– change from one end of the ing any in Mississippi's public camp~ to the other. EC.JC, it junior college system. seems, has finally come of age Old Neshoba Hall and old' and ranks among the best Scott Hall were rep!ac~ with jQnior colleges in the state. two modern dorm1tones for Most of the substantial men located at the northwest progress at East Central has end of the campus. Complete come during the past decade, air-conditioning of Newsome, much of it attributed to Dr. Jackson, and Todd Halls has Charles V. Wright, president also recently been accomp- of the college since 1966. lished. Dr. Wright came to East The north en~ of the campus Central from Jones Junior has seen aditional develop– College in Ellisville. Since ment during the past 10 years. 1966, new buildings and other In addition to the new boys' structures have spi:-ung up on dorms, an Agriculturlfl - campus at a phenomenal rate. Technology building was ~t In 1966, the college consisted in the area. A new street was of,a spread of buildings along added to connect the northern main street and the front of addition to the rest of the the present campus, includini .--ca_m--=-pus-· _.___ _ _ _ ____.

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both girls' dormitories, Huff Auditorium, the old library, science building, four boys' dorms, the old gym-student center, and the old athletic ' structures and maintenance buildings.