What's changed in 70 years?

Let’s start from the very first building constructed on campus: Trubowicz, today the home of the Buchmann Faculty of Law. It seems that in the 1960s students could come to class in style: driving their moped or motorcycle right up to the building doors. Today students need a special permit to park on campus.

Another veteran building on campus is Shenkar. Today the complex is home to the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty for Exact Sciences. It was officially inaugurated in 1965, and the grand opening was attended by men and women in black suits and formal evening wear, even though the ceremony took place in July, one of the hottest months in Israel.

The students, on the other hand, were less formal even back then, arriving in short sleeved shirts and short dresses. 

Another building built around the same time is Gilman, today the home of the Lester and Sally Entin Faculty of the Humanities. During the 60s TAU expanded rapidly, adding more and more faculties and schools, enriching landscape of higher education in Israel.

This is what the lobby of the Gilman building looked like in the 1960s. It’s unclear whether the method of putting up a notice board as soon as exam season started was common back then.

The second floor of the Gilman building has also remained largely unchanged. Aside from students wearing 1960s fashion, which is now less popular (although, who knows, it might be making a comeback).

Have you ever spent time around the back entrance of the Gilman building? It’s a great spot to drink your coffee, relax with your friends and get your notes in order before the next class, while breathing some fresh air.

It turns out, in the 60s the same spot served much the same purpose.

What about the Mexico building, home of the Yolanda and David Katz Faculty of the Arts? Ever since it was constructed it’s been competing with Gilman for the title of Located In Front of the Best Lawn On Campus.

Mexico has been through quite a few changes since the 60s. First, the famous lawn was a lot less impressive back then. Not that it stopped students from lounging on it.

But perhaps the greatest change is the fact that once upon a time you could apparently drive your car right up to the building doors, something that is no longer possible partially because of the buildings that have sprung up nearby. At least we know the palm trees at the entrance were always impressive.

And what about the classrooms? It doesn’t seem much has changed there. We’ve replaced chairs made out of wood with ones made of plastic. According to our research, it seems even in the 60s some students didn’t come to class every day.

Finally, we’ve left the most important question for last.

Have you ever had lunch at the cafeteria at the Shenkar building? Today the outside is full of colorful chairs and inside you can buy an avocado sandwich or some hot soup. But did you know the cafeteria and the plastic chairs were also there in the 1990s? And now for the question on all of our minds: did they offer quinoa at the salad bar back then?

Do you have a favorite corner of the campus? This week we invite you to think about the generations of students who’ve enjoyed it before you, and what they might have worn, talked and laughed about in between classes.

Happy Independence Day!