Because of vandalism committee shortly after Abel was completed, students were sorted by floor in an attempt to counteract their impersonality. Helen Snyder, associate dean of students at the time of Abel’s completion, had warned that the high-rise dorms (Abel and Sandoz) would breed destructiveness.

As baby boomers began to attend college in the 60s, more and more housing was needed to support the massive number of students. By 1968, enrollment was at an all time high of 19,000. The University was continually behind in its housing, even having to rent 4 floors of the Capital Hotel in 1963 in downtown for male students needing housing. Thus, with the building of the high-rise dormitories Abel and Sandoz, Hardin was attempting to get ahead of the curve. This is a painting of Sandoz Hall during its completion in 1966. Sandoz Hall was the women’s dormitory.

Fearful of overbuilding, Hardin and the rest of the University housing was ill prepared for the growth of enrollment in the 1960s. By 1963, the student population rose above 10,000 as baby boomers turned college aged, and new residence halls were necessary. Abel hall was nearly finished by 1965 when it was first vandalized from a trash shoot and elevator fire.