McDonald, Brendan and LaVerne

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:6846#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Brendan McDonald was born on May 15, 1930 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. His parents were Irish immigrants who came to Canada in 1927 following frustration from the Irish civil war. Brendan graduated from Balfour High School in Regina in 1949, then decided to attend St. Cloud State in Minnesota to become a teacher. LaVerne McDonald (Bangston) was born in 1932 Willmar, Minnesota. She graduated from Willmar High School in 1950, then began attending St. Cloud State that fall. LaVerne graduated in 1953 and taught elementary school, first in Winthrop, Minnesota, then in Paynesville, Minnesota, for a year. She also taught in Litchfield, Minnesota and Canada for a year each, and then finally in Michigan. Brendan received his Bachelor's degree with a major in physical science and physical education in 1954, then went immediately to the University of Minnesota to get a master's degree in Education. Shortly after graduation from the University of Minnesota, his student visa expired, forcing he and his wife LaVerne to return to Canada for a year. He then received an offer from then St. Cloud State president George Budd to work as Assistant Registrar, which he accepted in 1956. He became Registrar in 1961, and maintained that position until 1965. He then held positions in Mankato and later Nebraska, before becoming St. Cloud State president in August 1982.

Transcript Summary: The McDonalds described their family history and early education. Brendan chronicled an interesting history of his family, who came to Canada from Ireland very shortly before he was born, after feeling frustrated with the Irish Civil War. He also discussed his reasons for wanting to attend college in America rather than Canada, claiming that most colleges in Canada were strictly liberal arts, and did not offer the specialization that American colleges did. LaVerne also claimed that she wanted to teach because teachers were so in demand at the time.

Brendan and LaVerne described their experiences at St. Cloud State, from dorm life to the teachers that stood out to them. They claimed that George Budd was very personal with the students and very involved with student life. LaVerne mentioned English professor Helen Hill as being particularly effective. She also talked about what life was like living in Lawrence Hall, and later Shoemaker Hall, where the only upperclassmen would get to live. In addition, they described where most students came from, as well as whether or not students worked while attending school. They remembered the feeling of camaraderie among the students as well as their perceived relationship between the city of St. Cloud and the university. The

McDonalds chronicled life after graduating from St. Cloud. However, it also focused on the international events that affected campus life, according to Brendan and LaVerne, in the 1950s when they attended St. Cloud State. They mentioned the Korean War, which they claimed worried many students, as well as Joe McCarthy's hunt for Communists as somewhat shocking, especially to Brendan, who was used to a more private Canadian government. LaVerne described the idea that the Third World was just starting to open at this time, being the beginning of international students coming to America. That, they believed, helped to change the perspective many Americans possessed for people living in Africa and other parts of the world.