From Cold War politics and “Reaganomics” to pop culture icons like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Mr. T, and Hulk Hogan, the 1980s were a time of revolution and radical change. “I want my MTV”; “Where’s the beef?”; “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up”; and “Time to make the donuts” were popular catch phases thanks to the power of commercials. Cable television was born in the 1980s along with the world of music television. Kids and adults went crazy for Cabbage Patch Kids, Rubik’s Cubes, and CD players. Celebrities gathered for a cause and belted out “We are the World.”

Our nation transformed in the 1980s and so did Moraine Valley. From additional buildings spouting up to rapid enrollment expansion to the addition of sports teams, Moraine Valley ruled the 1980s.

Moraine Valley continued to grow its campus, celebrated its 20th anniversary and hosted many notable politicians during the 1980s. Visitors included former Vice President Walter Mondale (1980), Ralph Nader (1983), then-Illinois Gov. James Thompson (1986) and then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan (1988).

Student clubs, activities and athletics continued to expand as enrollment surpassed 17,000 students.

Click on the image to see a gallery of photos from the 1980s.