Yes, WND has it wrong.
WA state Calendar for School Year
for the fall quarter 1961 for which Dunham was enrolled,
indicating classes at the university began Sept. 25, 1961:
http://www.inthedays.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/090824uwcalendar.JPG.jpeg
Thank you - I remember a lot of discussion about this very point a long time ago.