This fall, there’s been a lot of talk and media coverage about the campus climate at the University of Nevada, Reno in light of several incidents of hate and bias on campus. Those have included graffiti of swastikas and flyers for a white nationalist group. A visit to campus by controversial conservative speaker Charlie Kirk also created an emotional stir . This week, for KUNR’s segment of Time & Place with Alicia Barber, we travel back to 1971, a period of the university’s history that was fraught with racial tension, when a group of students took a stand by sitting down. Only 33 Black students attended the University of Nevada, Reno prior to 1960. That number more than doubled in the sixties thanks to new federal support for minority and out-of-state students, and increased recruitment of Black athletes. Inspired by the founding of Black Student Unions, or BSUs, at other universities, a group of Nevada students formed their own BSU in 1968. Over the next few years, they brought

Time and Place with Alicia Barber

1971: When Racial Tension At UNR Boiled Over

With campaigning well underway for many local, state, and federal elected offices, it’s a good time to look back at how Nevada’s political landscape has changed through the years. In this episode of “Time & Place,” historian Alicia Barber takes a close look at Nevada’s seats in the United States Congress.

Time & Place: Nevada in Congress

Today, the cities of Reno and Sparks make up one large metropolitan area. But unlike Reno, Sparks wasn’t known as a destination for gambling until the 1950s. Historian Alicia Barber tells the story of the Sparks casino that changed all of that, in this episode of “Time & Place.”

Bringing the Nugget to Sparks

Our media landscape is constantly changing with the introduction of new technologies and formats, but it all began with words printed on a page. Historian Alicia Barber traces the evolution of Reno’s daily newspapers in this installment of Time & Place .

How Reno's Two Papers Became One

Classes are underway at the University of Nevada in Reno. And in this segment of “Time & Place,” historian Alicia Barber tells the story of how, why and where it all began.

The Founding of the University of Nevada, Reno

It may not feel like fall out there yet, but for students throughout our region, summer vacation is over and school is back in session. In this episode of “Time & Place,” historian Alicia Barber takes a look back at the development of Reno’s public schools and some of the neighborhoods they served.

Time & Place: Diversity In Reno's Schools

Summertime in Northern Nevada can really bring the heat. Fortunately, for most of us, cooling down is as easy as heading to the refrigerator. But it wasn’t always so easy for our region’s residents to chill out in the hot weather, as historian Alicia Barber explains in this episode of “Time & Place.”

How Northern Nevada Kept Its Cool

Today, casinos are run by corporations that operate under a set of industry-wide standards and practices, but in the early days of Nevada gaming, the way a casino operated could tell you a lot about its owners. Historian Alicia Barber describes one notable example in this episode of Time & Place .

Looking Back: The Special Refund Policy At Harolds Club

The Reno Rodeo celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding this year, and as you might imagine, the event has inspired a wide range of traditions over the course of a century. Historian Alicia Barber highlights one of them in this installment of Time & Place . 

Early Rodeo Traditions Turned Reno Into The Wild West

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad, a massive undertaking that employed thousands of Chinese immigrants. In this installment of “Time & Place,” historian Alicia Barber explains some of the challenges faced by the Chinese residents of the Sierra Nevada after the railroad was finished. As a warning, this segment contains historical accounts of physical violence fueled by racism and may not be suitable for children.

Anti-Chinese Sentiment In The Sierra Nevada

It’s well known that the landscape around Reno was once filled with working farms and ranches. And as the tourism industry developed, some ranch owners noticed a growing interest among visitors in playing cowboy—or at least in meeting one. Historian Alicia Barber explains in this installment of Time & Place .

The History Of Dude Ranches Around Reno

Today, Virginia City, Nevada attracts more than two million visitors each year. But that wasn’t always the case. In this segment of “Time & Place,” Alicia Barber explains how early promoters helped turn the historic mining town into a national tourist destination.

How Virginia City Became An Old West Tourist Draw

The fact that prostitution is legal in some parts of Nevada remains a source of controversy both inside and outside the state. Although it’s not allowed in Washoe County today, the city of Reno has been more permissive in the past.

Reno’s Red Light District: The Colorful History Of Brothels In Washoe County

This month, KUNR is featuring stories about Reno's iconic neon in a series called Sparked: Northern Nevada’s Neon . In this installment of Time & Place , historian Alicia Barber explains how the shifting popularity of neon has been reflected locally in the evolution of Reno’s most celebrated landmark.

The Evolution Of The Famous Reno Arch

As neighboring countries, the United States and Mexico have a long history of bilateral agreements. In this installment of “Time & Place,” historian Alicia Barber looks at one cooperative program introduced during World War II to benefit residents on both sides of the border.

Bracero Program Bolstered Nevada Workforce During WWII

We are shaped in large part by when and where we live, and every combination of locale and era sets the stage for a new story. In this regular segment, professional historian Alicia Barber presents an engaging array of narratives and voices from the past, focusing on the rich and diverse heritage of Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra. In the process, she brings historical perspective to our own time and place, shedding light on who we are as a community, how we got here, and where we might be headed.

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Time and Place with Alicia Barber

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