Virginia Visser, former Emporia State first lady, came to tour the campus and speak with press on Friday, Oct. 11. Virginia spoke about the challenges the university faced during her husband’s time as President, and how far ESU has come since then.
John Visser was president of ESU from 1967-1985. During his 18-year tenure as president, the school changed from Kansas State Teachers College to Emporia Kansas State College in 1974, then to Emporia State University in 1977, as it evolved from a teacher’s college into a regional university.
Virginia said there was a very noticeable and universal “friendliness” while touring the campus, and recalled times in the early years as ESU’s first lady when the atmosphere of the campus was not so friendly.
“It was a very different time back then,” said James Meyer, former assistant to the president for development and university relations. “In 1969, I was speaking to the graduating class about staying involved, joining the alumni association and giving back to the university, and I got booed off of the stage. It was not the kind of ‘hoo-rah hoorah’ atmosphere.”
Virginia’s daughter, Mary, discussed the resolve her father showed when a riot broke out on campus during the Vietnam conflict.
“My dad had a real commitment,” Mary said. “A lot of people could have gone into their offices, locked their doors and just sat there and ignored it. But my dad would go out and talk to the students.”
Despite the turmoil the campus had experienced, Meyer said John was able to help ESU get to where it is today by expanding and organizing the academic structure and setting up democratic student and faculty-run governments.
“John (Visser) had a very democratic attitude,” Meyer said. “He involved the students and the faculty and got the senates going in both of those areas.”
During his tenure at ESU, funding was secured for an education and psychology building to be built. When construction had finished, it was named Visser Hall.
“I think my dad would have been absolutely awed by what they’re doing now (in Visser Hall) – not just with the physical part of the building, which is pretty much the same, but with what’s going on in there now,” Mary said. “Students are so excited about what they’re doing.”
