Code,500004
Subject,Cathy Thomas
Date,7/3/14
Interviewer,Joe Wickens
Abstract,"This interview was conducted as part of the CSU 50th Anniversary Commemmoration. Dr. Cathy Thomas has been associated with CSU in a number of capacities for over 40 years. Originally hailing from Parma, Thomas commuted to campus via bus beginging in the fall of 1968. She following graduation she worked for a number of years in various departments at the university before deciding to pursue her M.A in art history at CSU and later her PhD in the same subject from CWRU. From the time she was working on her PhD at CWRU until 2010, Thomas was a member of the JCU, CSU, KSU, and CWRU faculties at various times and lends unique insight to CSU in particular as a result. In the interview Thomas discusses the atmosphere on CSU's campus during the late 60s/early 70s, working at CSU during its rapid growth in the 1980s, her experiences working with St. Stanislaus Church and with the CM, and seeing personally the trajectory of CSU for 40 of its 50 years of existence. "
Special Notes,
Minutes,
0,"Introduction. Grew up in Parma, OH. Graduated form Parma Senior HS graduated in 1967. Always interested in art. Waited a year to enroll in college. Father had gone to Fenn College."
1,"Applied to a number of schools, wanted to stay home and commuted downtown for classes on the bus. Much smaller and intimate. Spent much of their time in Fenn and Stilwell Hall. Major construction of campus. Got student jobs. First hourly wage was $1.70. "
2,"""DidnÕt have a lot of unrest on campus."" Discussion of Vietnam. Had a lot of friends get drafted. Exciting campus with a lot of energy. Registered at the Masonic Auditorium."
3,"Used computer punch cards. Everything on paper. Music clubs, jazz clubs. One floor of books in the library. Bishop Tutu visits. "
4,"Faculty were like close personal friends with students. ""Fresco Club"" with John Hunter. Focused on art history. Fundraising for the club."
5,"Student Bill of Rights. Gave students a comfort. ""What were the students rights on campus?"" "
6,No rememberance of violence on campus. Faculty and students walking arm in arm down Euclid. Gatherings were more common other campuses like CRWU.
7,Most people commuted and had jobs elsewhere. Became a staff member after gradution. Saw both sides of being both staff and student.
8,First degree in 1973. Worked in computer science office and this area was booming. Supervisor was a former employee for IBM.
9,Wasn't ready for grad school immediately. Took classes while working at CSU. Took classes with John Hunter. Hunter worked with Runyan.
10,"Met husband on campus. Worked in small office in Business College. Talked everyday around lunchtime, Cathy asked him out to lunch."
11,Married 40 years. Management and Labor Relation when she decided to enter M.A program in art history at CSU. Spent a lot of time at the CMA. Had an assistanship and was able to travel.
12,Had opportunity to do some adjunct teaching. Cuts to the arts. Never any full-time positions available.
13,"Teaching loads at CSU, JCU. Teaching more than full-time professors. DidnÕt have the same demands as full-time profs, loved teaching. Widened scope of teaching."
14,"Taught in private and public schools of higher learning. Right move ot get PhD at CWRU. ""I was never not busy."" very fulfilling. "
15,Religious Studies/Philosophy combination.
16,"""  ""; ""Philosophers kind of kept to their thing, religious studies to thiers."" Lots of lively discussion. Became very interested in eastern religions."
17,Advised to check in on profs dissertations. Gives you insight into them. Being exposed to both was beneficial.
18,"Age of the ""Hippies."" Parma and a working class background. "
19,"Friends had jobs along with going to school. No access to student loans. No extreme counter culture cliques. The fashion was certainly present on campus with beads, tie-dye. Most students had jobs they had to be presentable at later. Music as well, lots of concerts on campus."
20,"""Always a feeling like your voice could be heard."" ""Always felt safe on campus."" Course offerings reflected a lot of those things at the time. Religion courses offered."
21,Physical education required of all students. Classes she took. Everyone wasnÕt thrilled with it. People thought about health in a different way.
22,Contrast between taking serious courses and gym classes.
23,Not much of an idea of parking situation. Description of her commute using public transportation to access campus. Cleveland Arcades. CPL.
24,"Actually walked from downtown and wouldn't even take 2nd bus often. Description of downtown. ""Simple, efficient, and not expensive. It was a good system."" "
25,World Trade Education Center. Dr. John Brock. Description of duties while working in that office. 
26,8-5 job. Building was new with open office workspace. Got to meet a tremendous amount of people. 
27,Working capacity when she started M.A program. Decription of Art History Dept. faculty.
28,"""   ""; Culture different at a private university like CWRU. DidnÕt immediately know she was going to CWRU. Only CSU person in PhD, most came from the east coast."
29,Had wonderful opportunities. Got to travel. 
30,Working at CMA during PhD studies. Description of access/interation with CMA. 
31,Fellow students had come from universities that had museums themselves. Experience was an inspiration. Took classes to CMA while teaching at JCU.
32,Used museum as much as possible when teaching at CSU. Impact of CMA expansion. 
33,Class sizes in intro classes to grad level courses. Shrinking of depts. Circumstances of her situation in pursuing her PhD.
34,Description of advisor. 
35,"""  ""; ""Brought something different to the classroom."" "
36,"Advisor was extremely demanding. ""Stories behind the stories behind the stories."""
37,Free Stamp. Advisor was very political. BP did not want to install the work and Advisor started movement to save it. 
38,Rededication of St. Stanislaus Church. How she became involved with project.
39,Had done research as part of a course on St. Stan's. Wrote an article for the Gamut. First publication.
40,As a result was invited to give a talk at the event itself. Wonderful experience all around. 
41,Never assisted at CWRU as a teaching assistant. Taught at KSU during this time.
42,Taught at CIT. Did teach at CWRU after completion of PhD. When people left postitions depts were not filling them. 
43,"Investigated at one point starting a union for part-time faculty, not legally a viable option. Universities need part-time faculty to survive. Advocacy for taking care of part-time faculty."
44,Reflections of teaching part-time. 
45,Desription of CIT students/faculty.
46,"JCU was small, students went on for further education. If you did an exemplorary job they thought you were great. Rivalry between public/private."
47,"Diversity of CSU as a positive, providing more opportunities in different ways. Demographics of students, Project 60."
48,"Honors classes in art history. Description of full-time art history faculty, how this impacted her as a part-time faculty. "
49,"""I had my own group of groupies."" Relationships that were built between students and faculty. CSU unique in welcoming the elderly back (Project 60.)"
50,Trajectory of CSU over the 40 years of affiliation.
51,Addresses this topic in terms of architecture. Brutal Architecture. Looks strong and is servicable but ever welcoming to the surrounding community. That has changed.
52,"Residential component that is important now. Small and intimate->continuing growth. Mather Mansion, evolution of that space. "
53,"Trinity Cathedral adding to the ambiance of the area. ""Bring a Bag lunch and listen to a concert."" Midday concerts for students while they were on campus. Beauty of the neo-gothic trinity. "
54,"Euclid has totally changed, the bus corridor. Prince Charles and the dedication of the law school. ""One of the most important parts of my life."""
55,"Still have many friends from CSU. ""The best investment I have ever made."" *END OF INTERVIEW*"