Salem State College 150th Anniversary: The 1990s

What Was it Like in the 1990s?

Music

"Gonna Make You Sweat", C & C Music Factory
"I'll Make Love to You", Boyz II Men
"Genie in a Bottle", Christina Aguilera
"Baby One More Time", Britney Spears

Literature

The Giver, Lois Lowry
The Midwife's Apprentice, Karen Cushman
Bag of Bones, Stephen King
Hannibal, Thomas Harris

Entertainment

Janet Jackson signs $40M three-album deal with Virgin Records. Michael Jackson signs $65M six-album deal with Sony Records.

Best Pictures: Forrest Gump, The Silence of the Lambs, Titanic and American Beauty

Best Actors: Tom Hanks for Forrest Gump, Anthony Hopkins for The Silence of the Lambs, Jack Nicholson for As Good As It Gets and Kevin Spacey for American Beauty

Best Actresses: Jessica Lange for Blue Sky, Jodie Foster for The Silence of the Lambs, Helen Hunt for As Good As It Gets, and Hilary Swank for Boys Don't Cry

And on television: 20/20, 3rd Rock From the Sun, 48 Hours, 60 Minutes, Ally McBeal, Baby Talk, Becker, Caroline in the City, Chicago Hope, Coach, Cosby, Cybill, Daddio, Dateline NBC, Davis Rules, Dharma & Greg, Diagnosis Murder, Ellen, ER, Evening Shade, Everybody Loves Raymond, Family Law, Family Matters, Fired Up, Frasier, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Friends, Hiller and Diller, Home Improvement, J.A.G., Jesse, Judging Amy, Just Shoot Me, King of the Hill, L.A. Law, Law and Order, Mad About You, Major Dad, Malcolm in the Middle, Matlock, N.Y.P.D. Blue, Northern Exposure, Primetime Live, Providence, Room For Two, Spin City, Stark Raving Mad, The Drew Carey Show, The Naked Truth, The Practice, The Single Guy, The West Wing, The X-Files, Touched by an Angel, Union Square, Veronica's Closet, Walker, Texas Ranger, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and Wings

Average Salary: $53,028.00

Cost of Living

Loaf of Bread:	.81¢
Gallon of Milk:	$2.50
Dozen Eggs:	$1.29
Average House:	$168,425.00
Average Car:	$18,498.00
Gallon of Gas:	$1.22
First Class Stamp:	.32¢

World Events

The USSR holds a referendum to determine if they should stay together; 9 of 15 Soviet representatives officially approve new union treaty. Albania holds the first multi-party election in 50 years. President Jean-Baptiste Aristide returns to Haiti. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres. Carlos the Jackal, "professional revolutionary," goes on trial in Paris. A Chanukah candle is officially lit for the first time in Vatican City. Russia signs an agreement to build a $3-billion nuclear power plant in China.

U.S. History

Exxon pays $1 billion in fines and clean-up costs as a result of the Valdez oil spill in Alaska. Four Los Angeles police officers are charged with beating Rodney King. The Supreme Court unanimously rules that employers can't exclude women from jobs where exposure to toxic chemicals could potentially damage the fetus. NASA accidentally loses $125-million spacecraft as it orbits Mars.

At Salem State College

Nancy Harrington becomes president of Salem State College in 1990. Later in 1990, the administrative structure of the College changes as it is redesigned into the current three-school structure: the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, and the Schools of Human Services. The first McNair Scholars program begins during the summer in 1993. In 1997, the former Sylvania plant is acquired; it is now Central Campus. The new Dining Commons is dedicated in 1998. A $4.8-million grant is received to renovate Central Campus, and the Northeastern Massachusetts Aquaculture Center is dedicated in 1999. The Theater and Speech Department also receives national accreditation in 1999.

Toys and Games

3-D Jigsaw Puzzles, Baby Furby, Bouncing Tigger, Bug's Life Toys, The Teletubbies

Electronic Elmo, Electronic Pikachu, Game Boy Color, Giga Pets, Jumanji Game, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Moon Walk Shoes, Nintendo 64, Pokemon Trading Cards, Pokemon Yellow Gameboy Game, Sega Dreamcast, Small Soldier figures, Teletubbies, Beanie Babies, Tickle Me Elmo, Water Talkies and Yomega STROBE

1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s
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