Missouri Western State University opened 36 year old time capsule
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Missouri Western State University celebrated Founder's Day with opening a time capsule Monday afternoon.
The time capsule was buried in 1990 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first class of students to graduate from Missouri Western after it became a four-year college.
The capsule was originally scheduled to be opened in 2020 but was canceled due to the pandemic.
During the ceremony, MoWest reflected on its past, present and future. St. Joseph Mayor Larry Miller issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 21 Missouri Western State University Founders Day.
The ceremony ended with a recording being played of the day the time capsule was buried.
The time capsule has newspapers, greek information, pictures, MoWest merch and more.
Suzanne Kissock, MoWest dean of the college of business and professional studies, said one of the most surprising items in the time capsule was a condom from an AIDS awareness conference hosted by the university in 1990.
"Letting me know that they we're really concerned of the safety and well being of their students even at that time," she said.
Kathy Kelly, MoWest administrative coordinator of the college of business and professional studies said the most exciting part of the time capsule was the recording.
"Knowing that 30 years ago standing outside they were talking about burying it, and I thought that was fun to see what they we're thinking back then," she said.
Kissock explains the capsule validated the legacy of the university.
"Of open access and open enrollment it motivated us to make sure we spread the message and persevere this legacy by burying another time capsule," she said.
The items in the time capsule gave an insight of what the university was like 36 years ago.
"Some of the fun things we're the major, minors forms, and looking to see what they we're offering back then," Kelly said. I think there was meal plans in there, prices. Just a lot of things that we wuld never think that would change that big."
The amount of paper inside the time capsule highlighted how much has changed over the years, as many things that were once printed are now digital.
"Very different, and it looked incredibly difficult to mange all that paper but it was the legacy we knew, and loved," Kissock said. "That they were really committed to providing the best education experience for their students."
Opening the time capsule was a way for the university to preserve their legacy.
"There are very few colleges that allow open access. This is the commitment that in 1915 the founders of Missouri Western made that w're going allow everyone the opportunity to transform their lives," Kissock said. As I said there's talent everywhere, there isn't opportunity everywhere. Sometimes you have to build it yourself and that's what the people of St. Joseph did."
MoWest is planning to build a new time capsule and buried this year. They would like the new time capsule to be open in 2050.
The items from the time capsule will be displayed at the reception in the Hearnes Center library.
