Walt Busalacchi

Walt Busalacchi, a Milwaukee, WI native, majored in social science secondary education with a minor in geography from 1969-1972. Busalacchi was raised in a working-class family where there was no expectation to pursue higher education, but he decided to seek a degree after failing his army physical and realizing that he hated factory work. He attended the Milwaukee Area Technical College to finish his general education credits before coming to the Wisconsin State University Oshkosh. His memories of WSUO are of a vibrant and overflowing campus community energized by social unrest and post-WWII prosperity. Busalacchi refrained from becoming directly involved because he was committed to finishing his education, but he shares his thoughts on the political climate of campus at the time, the relationship between WSUO and UW Madison, and campus protests, including the destruction of Algoma Boulevard. He also discusses the excitement of changes to the university like the construction of new residence halls and the change of name from “Wisconsin State University Oshkosh” to “University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.” Busalacchi’s favorite college memories include listening to records in Reeve Union and celebrating the first Earth Day. The interview finishes with a poignant reflection on the passing of time and an expression of Busalacchi’s wish that he could have experienced the unique events of the 1960s more completely.