Talk:History of San Diego State University

Abbreviations and word usage

So far, so good. My commendations to Nehrams2020 for his monumental efforts to create the article. I am being a good wikignome with it, I hope! I note that the article currently uses different words and phrases as an abbreviation and/or reference to describe the institution in its various incarnations over the years, such as SDSC, State, the college, the school, San Diego State, etc. Here is my suggestion: that we settle on one version, for instance "the university" and use that unless the context calls for identification of the specifical actual title of the university at that point in time. Thoughts? If we have a consensus, then I would be happy to make such changes. Streltzer (talk) 02:33, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for taking a look and fixing a few of my errors. I was using the different phrases in attempt to vary up the text a bit and to also stay with the era as the school progressed from school, to college, and then university. That definitely sounds fine what you plan to do, so feel free to go ahead and make the change. I just found a database with several SDSU related articles and so I fleshed out the SDSU Transit Center article as well as added some more sources to this one. The largest problem I can tell with this article right now is the lack of coverage of some of the other buildings/dorms and the lack of updates for the sports/Greek (both are only up-to-date to the ~1970s). Those well definitely need to be updated before we even consider GA status. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 02:40, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Splitting and sections

If I were reviewing it, I'd recommend splitting the various buildings, athletics and frat sections into separate articles unto themselves. What's currently there on the university should easily qualify as GA, in my opinion, with only minor tweaking. One thing it's missing though, is some mention of its Women's Studies department, which was the first such department in the county, according to their website. Amerique^dialectics 16:05, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

I agree; that makes it easier to read. Streltzer (talk) 17:35, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

I thought it should be done as well, I just wanted to accumulate it all together initially as I compiled the information on the school into the article. I definitely did want people to take a look, and I'm glad to see some feedback on how to improve the article further. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 08:17, 14 November 2008 (UTC)

I split off the sections onto the main SDSU article. That definitely needs to be tinkered with since there may already be some overlap with information already on that page. I'm going to be working on this page over the next day or two to prepare for nominating it at GAN. If you think anything needs to be readded from what I moved to the main SDSU article, feel free to readd it. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 01:36, 23 December 2008 (UTC)

GA nomination

I have nominated this article at WP:GAN. If you haven't already, take a look at the article and make sure there aren't any major issues so we can take care of them before somebody reviews it. Good job to everybody that contributed to the article, and hopefully we don't have too much trouble getting it passed. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 08:41, 24 December 2008 (UTC)

GA Review

This review is transcluded from Talk:History of San Diego State University/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.

The first part of the review (lead and the first two sections):

1. (The lead) The history of San Diego State University initially began in the late 19th century with Initially is a weasel word and should be removed.

   Removed. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 19:58, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

2. Due to the increased student enrollment, the college was relocated to its current location You should say where it is located currently.

   Specified the location. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 23:14, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

3. The Great Depression resulted in government works programs assisting in construction of numerous buildings on the new campus. Clumsy sentence. Try something like The government works programs during The Great Depression assisted ...

   Reworded as suggested. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 19:58, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

4. and overcome adversities including a school shooting and a large drug bust I do not think it is possible to overcome a shooting or a drug bust! It is only possible to overcome their consequences. This is another clumsy sentence.
5. (The first section) At the time, San Diegans were paying large costs related to tuition and travel expenses for out-of-town normal schools, and desired to have a closer school. This sentence is two complicated. Try something like The tuition and travel for out-of-town normal schools were large ...

   Reworded as suggested. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 19:58, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

6. and was led by its architect Irving Gill who developed the building in a Beaux-Arts style. An awkward sentence. Say simply that The architect Irving Gill, who developed the building in a Beaux-Arts style, was responsible for the design.

   Reworded as suggested. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 19:58, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

7. Later that year, the east wing of the initial building was finished, adding 18 rooms. As I understand this was the first part of the school's building to be completed? And before it was completed the classes were held at the Hill Block? Please, clarify.

   It appears a portion of the building was dedicated in May 1899, and classes moved there in that month. Classes were held in the portion of the building that was completed even though they were still adding the wings. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 23:14, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

8. The salaries mentioned in the last paragraph of the section are yearly salaries or monthly? Can they be compared to the salaries other people received at that time in California.

   The salaries were annual, and I clarified that. I found some sources saying that the national average salary was ~$1,000, would your recommend I include that? --Nehrams2020 (talk) 23:14, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

   I think it should be included. Ruslik (talk) 14:32, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

   I found a more reliable source and added information on the national average. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

9. (World war two) The war also had an effect on enrollment: Why? Taking into account that majority of students were women, the war should not have had much impact on enrollment?

   The majority was female, but male enrollment was still considerable at this time. During the war, enrollment saw every single male student leave the school. I reworded a bit to clarify. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 00:00, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

10. For other faculty, the decreased student enrollment allowed them to further their training Clumsy sentence. It is not clear whose training was furthered—students' or that of faculty members?

    Reworded. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 00:00, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

    Still it is not clear whose training was furthered. Ruslik (talk) 14:32, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

    Added "own". --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

11. the California legislature appointed the school to become the school a four-year teacher's school Why not say simply that 'the California legislature made the school a four-year teacher's school'?

    That flows much better, changed as suggested. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 19:58, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

12. educated many of the San Diego children at the training school What is 'the training school'?

    It was like an elementary/middle school held on campus. I added more details about it in the last paragraph prior to the WWI section. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 00:00, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

13. Another institution is mentioned in this section—junior college. However there is no information about it in the article. Please, explain what it is. What was a relationship between the junior college and the normal school. When it was founded?

    I clarified a bit more on the school. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 00:00, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Ruslik (talk) 08:54, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

The second part of the review ('Move to current location' and 'World War II'):

1. A 21-member committee in 1926 initially recommended. Please, provide more information about committee: who created it (city council?) and when.

   Specified a little more about the committee. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 00:00, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

2. Can a short description of the new site be added. In what part of San-Diego is it situated? Is it far from the old location? etc

   Clarified the location and distance. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 00:00, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

3. Can you include years when $500,000 stadium and a $200,000 open air theater were built?

   Added the years and sources. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 00:00, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

4. The bell tower on campus was named after Hardy in 1976. This sentence lacks necessary context. I suppose Hardy died and then the tower was name in his honor.

   Reworded. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 00:00, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

5. This also resulted in a decrease in faculty with 112 before the war began until reaching a low of 60 I suggest 'Faculty decreased to as low as 60 from 112 before the war had began'

   Much better. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 00:00, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

6. they received a monthly stipend to How large was this stipend?

   I can't determine the amount since the link is dead to the article. When I am able to resurrect the link at some point I'll find out and clarify later. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 00:00, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Ruslik (talk) 21 January 2009 (UTC)

The last part of the review:

1. Due to the large number of students, and the associated tasks of updating records, grades, and other tasks, in 1957 the enrolled students became the first to use an identification number related to each student Too complicated sentence. I suggest 'In 1957 the college became the first to use an identification number for each student, which was necessary to simplify handling of records, grades and other tasks of the large number of students'.

   Reworded as suggested. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

2. The following year the school became the first California state college It is not clear what 'next year' means here: 1960 or some year after mid-1970.

   Specified. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

3. San Diego State became the first California State University to award a honorary doctorate degree But it was a college, not university at the time.

   When SDS joined CSU, this event occurred in its past history, and no other universities in the CSU system had awarded one. Can you think of a way that I can describe that? --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

   Say simply San Diego State became the first in California to award. Ruslik (talk) 20:14, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

   Reworded. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 22:47, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

4. In 1965, State began offering a doctorate in chemistry I noticed that here and in other places 'State' refers to the college. However this is confusing, because can also mean the state (California). Such jargon words should be avoided.

   I believe I fixed all occurrences. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

5. President Love changed the structure of the different divisions of fields offered at State, and developed them into professional schools It is simpler to say that 'President Love changed the structure of the college, developing its divisions into professional schools'.

   Reworded as suggested. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

6. At this point they were then developed into colleges. Please, remove 'At this point' or 'then'—too many weasel words.

   Reworded. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

7. Students protested the war in Vietnam, racism, and in March 1970 held a week-long sit-in of 600 students in protest of campus leaders decided not to rehire four radical instructors. I advise to split it into two sentences: 'Students protested the war in Vietnam, racism. In March 1970 600 students held a week-long sit-in in protest of the decision of the campus leaders not to rehire four radical instructors.'

   Reworded as suggested. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

8. I think the paragraph beginning with President Love had fought hard throughout his tenure should be moved to the end of the section.

   I had initially thought of doing that, but had left it at this spot because of the transition of different presidents. However, I think it does flow better, so I moved it. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

9. In January 1987, Playboy ranked SDSU as the 3rd best party school in the nation, which appalled some administrators this is really amusing. Please, clarify what this ranking is about.

   Since I don't have the Playboy with me (or ever!), I'm not sure what the exact criteria were at the time. However, I found an article about SDSU placing in 5th place in 2006 listing what the criteria are. I've mentioned what the ranking requires. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Ruslik (talk) 13:57, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

General comments:

1. I think additional photos would be beneficial to this article. For instance, a photo of the old building (if available), of the first president. A photo of the modern campus is also desirable.

   I actually looked into that last night. I found two great candidates (it actually was the normal school and first president) but I need to determine if there are any copyright issues. As for the modern campus I've been trying to get an overhead shot but have not found a non-free image so far. I'm continuing to keep my eye out for one. In the meantime, I added a picture of the pedestrian bridge that is mentioned in the construction projects. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

   I left a message with the university archivist and should find out something next week. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 22:47, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

2. $600-2,500 here (and in other such examples) ndash should be used.

   I believe I've fixed all occurrences for the ranges. Do you know if they should be used for words like "46-year-old" or "off-campus"? MOS doesn't mention anything about these. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

3. the article needs for wikilinks, in my opinion. I added some, but advise to link various places, schools, colleges and people (if articles exist).

   I added a few more throughout the article, including linking to several San Diego locations. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

4. ref 39 does not link to the necessary content.

   I removed the link for now since the article can't be found on their website. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

5. ref 51 is dead.

   Fixed the link using the Internet Archive. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

6. ref 73 lacks author.

   Added the author. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

That is all I have so far. Ruslik (talk) 14:14, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

I think you can find some images here commons:Category:San_Diego_State_University. Ruslik (talk) 18:09, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

I actually uploaded the majority of those, but since a large part of the history is mentioned prior to the modern campus, I'm trying to get images for the earlier sections. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 21:35, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

Two new photos that you uploaded are really great! The article has become much better as a result and I will pass it. Ruslik (talk) 17:07, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

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