Sundip Nijjar
Highline
Community College: History For
The Past 40 Years
Highline has had a glorious forty-year history. This all began in the early 1960’s. Through Highline’s forty-year history this college has seen many history, making events, both good as well as tragic. In my paper I will try to tell the history that Highline has seen as well as made itself.
In the early 1960’s man made his first attempts to travel into space and orbit the earth, but as with all new endeavors there is always a chance of tragedy. In the case for man’s first space capsule mission there was a fire caused right as the Apollo space capsule tried to lift off. As time passed NASA scientists were able fix their mistakes and help America in the race to the moon.
Also in the 60’s we had our first taste of ant-war feeling. Many students across America as well as here at Highline felt it that America should not be involved with the war in Vietnam. During this time at Highline students would protest and march in demonstrations to say that the war was wrong a peace should be for all (Thayer). Also during the 60’s many students at Highline were engaged in the civil rights movement down in the South. Most students were watching the events that unfolded in the south as well as the rise and the tragic death of Martin Luther King (Cummings). One of the most tragic events in American history was the shooting death of President John F. Kennedy. During this time Americans across the continent as well as here at Highline mourned the death of the president. Many students here at Highline left flowers around the quad as a memorial (Heath).
In the 1970’s most students around Highline were facing the chance of being drafted for the war effort in Vietnam. After the war many students returned to Highline feeling out of place and having day mares and nightmares of the war. Many students who had just come back from the war had social gathering as well as guidance workers helping these students cope with the war.
Also during the 1970’s students having a new way of dressing the students were changing bright colorful clothing to more traditional clothing as we see today. Another change that was happening here at Highline as well as in America was the Watergate Scandal that had President Nixon was involved in. During this time if Nixon decided to stay in office he would one of the president’s in United States history to become impeached, instead Nixon reigned.
During the 80’s many students followed the crisis that was going on in the Middle East. Where a group of American were being captive. During this time President Carter tried to find a way to have the American hostages released. The American hostages were not released until Ronald Reagan came to be President. Many history majors here at Highline were intrigued by how President Ronald Reagan was able to free the hostages and Carter was not able to (Remi).
One of the tragedies of the 80’s happened almost at the end of the decade when the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded seven seconds after lift off. Many students mourned the death of all the astronauts who lost their lives during this mission. (Laughlin) Just as students left a memorial when John F. Kennedy was shot. The students at Highline once again left a flower memorial around the quad (Thunderword).
During the 1990’s many things happened one of these things was the start of the Gulf war. During this time many students were worried that they would be drafted. Also during the 90’s many students at Highline as well as across America watched the murder trial of O.J Simpson. Many students, adults who thought he was guilty were surprised by the jury’s not guilty verdict. (Seattle Times) Also during the late 90’s America had its first taste of terrorist activity at grand scale. During this time many U.S. embassies were targeted. Also the World Trade Center was targeted by a car bomb that was left in the garage and lastly the bombing of the Oklahoma Federal building. During the late 90’s many technological breakthroughs such as DVD’s and computers that broke the 1 Gig mark.
Now that we are in the new Millennium we have already seen tragedy and breakthroughs. One of the breakthroughs we are waiting for is Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows XP that critics have compared to Windows 95 of our time. One of the tragedies that have happened in the new Millennium is the terrorist attack and the fall of both of the World Trade Center buildings. Though this tragedy happened, Americans across the continent have been united as one country. As I look to the future I know that there will be breakthroughs and other tragedies, but in the bigger picture together we will press on to make the future a better place to live.
Works Cited
Cummings, James. “Martin Luther King” Seattle Times, 5 April 1968: #1-2,4
Heath, Pat. “The President Is Dead” Seattle Times, 22 November 1963: #1-3
Laughlin, Jesse “Tragedy In The Sky” Seattle Times, 28 January 1986: #1-2,5
Thayer, Robert. “Vietnam At War.” Highline Thunderword, 16 May 1967: # 8-10
Remi, Sam. “Hostages Free At Last” Highline Thunderword, 21 January, 1981: 3-5
