Until 1969, Theatre and Speech Communication was an area in the Department of Languages and Literature. Courses in speech and theatre, however, existed at the university long before the dpeartment did. The theatre program's first permanent facility (1951) was a converted section of Deputy Hall. The first Speech/Drama major entered the curriculum in 1958. In the summer of 1971, the Dpeartment of Speech and Theatre moved into its new facilities: the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex, where we are still quartered today. The department, with the support of our college, has committed a good deal of resources renovating and updating the technological capabilities of this facility.