Southern Nazarene University has always been a place where faith, learning, and community come together. Over the years, the campus has changed — new buildings, new faces, and new technology have transformed what SNU is today. Yet the heart of the university has remained the same: the people. From generation to generation, SNU continues to shape lives through spiritual growth, connection, and character.
For alumni who attended SNU decades ago, campus life looked very different from what students experience today. Dr. Melany Kyzer, chair of the Division of Cultural and Communication Studies, attended SNU from 1980 to 1985 and reflected on how her experience helped shape who she is today.
“Attendance at events was usually big because it was the only thing to do on the weekends,” Kyzer recalled. “Oklahoma City had not yet expanded to include all of the things we have now, so we had to create our own fun. We had some of the same activities we still do today — Roller Rag, SNL, and others — but there were many more. Primarily, everyone lived on campus, which made things fun as well.”
Jim Smith, professor of mass communication who attended from 1979 to 1984, shared a similar memory of a close-knit, faith-centered campus. “Probably the biggest difference was that the campus was mostly Nazarene,” Smith noted. “Most of the students here were Nazarene, and that made a huge difference in the kind of place it was. We also had fewer commuter students, which made event attendance much higher.”
Campus life during that time was filled with activities, laughter, and late-night conversations in the dorms. Since most students lived on campus, friendships formed easily, and the community felt small, warm, and deeply connected. Alumni often describe those years as feeling like home — something many agree hasn’t changed.
Today’s SNU students experience a faster-paced, more connected world. Laptops, smartphones, and Wi-Fi are as essential to daily life as paper textbooks once were. Students can now take online courses, access digital libraries, and email their professors with a click. Campus events are promoted through social media and email reminders rather than bulletin boards in the hallway.
Even with all these changes, the heart of SNU — belonging, faith, and purpose — remains strong.
Certain traditions continue to bring people together. Chapel still plays a vital role in campus life, reminding students that faith isn’t just a part of education; it’s the foundation of it. “The spiritual focus — that’s the most important thing,” Kyzer said. “We went to chapel just like you do, but we went three days a week. If we didn’t meet the required number of attendances, we had to take an additional religion course. So, needless to say, we all went to chapel.”
Smith echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the university’s continued commitment to faith and community. “I think our commitment to Christian values has stayed the same,” he said. “That, and the small-school feeling. There’s still something about SNU that makes it personal and connected.”
Events like homecoming, dances, and newer traditions have evolved over the years, but their goal has never changed — to strengthen community. For alumni, these traditions made their time at SNU unforgettable. Whether it was participating in dorm activities, serving in local projects, or cheering on a team, these shared experiences created lifelong friendships and memories that still resonate today.
As the years have passed, SNU has grown, adapted, and transformed. But what makes SNU truly special isn’t the buildings or the technology — it’s the people. From alumni who paved the way to students carrying forward the mission, each generation remains grounded in faith, community, and a calling greater than themselves.
SNU then and now remains more than just a university — it’s a family, connected across generations and united by one heart.
Photos by: SNU Creative