University of Missouri–Columbia
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University of Missouri–Columbia |
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| Motto | Salus Populi (Latin: The Welfare of the People) |
| Established | 1839 |
| Type | Flagship state university |
| Endowment | $944 million (systemwide)[1] |
| Chancellor | Dr. Brady J. Deaton |
| Faculty | 3,874 (Fall 2005) |
| Staff | 12,143 (Fall 2006) |
| Students | 28,253 (Fall 2006)[2] |
| Undergraduates | 21,551 |
| Postgraduates | 6,702 |
| Location | Columbia, Missouri, USA |
| Campus | Urban, 1,358 acres (main campus) 18,021 acres (total MU acreage) |
| Colors | Black and gold |
| Nickname |  Tigers |
| Mascot | Truman the Tiger |
| Athletics | NCAA Division I |
| Website | www.missouri.edu |
The University of Missouri–Columbia is a public land-grant university and is Missouri's largest university and public research institution. Often referred to as "Mizzou," "MU," or the "University of Missouri," it is the flagship campus of the University of Missouri System. MU is one of only 34 public universities to be an elected member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. MU was founded in 1839 as the first public university west of the Mississippi River. The world's first school of journalism was founded on the campus by Walter Williams in 1908.
The University of Missouri–Columbia has over 20 schools and colleges and is one of only six public universities in the country with medicine, veterinary medicine, law, engineering, and agriculture schools all on one campus. It is most widely known for its programs in journalism, agriculture, law, life sciences, and veterinary medicine. Current enrollment is over 28,000 with students from every county in Missouri, every state in the nation and over 100 foreign countries.
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[edit] History
[edit] Founding and early years
MU was founded in 1839 as part of the Geyer Act to establish a state land-grant university, the first west of the Mississippi River. The year of its founding the citizens of Columbia and Boone County pledged $117,921 in cash and land to beat out five other mid-Missouri counties for the location of the state university. The land on which the university was eventually constructed was just south of Columbia's downtown and owned by James S. Rollins, who is known as the "father of the university." It was the first university in Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase and was designed in part upon Thomas Jefferson's original plans for the University of Virginia. Because of this, the original tombstone of Thomas Jefferson was given to Mizzou by Jefferson's heirs in July 1883.
In 1842 the first courses in civil engineering were taught. The first department of art was taught by the famous Missouri artist George Caleb Bingham. The College of Education was opened in 1867 and admitted the first female students. The entire university was open to female enrollment by 1871.
In 1862 while in the midst of the Civil War, the Board of Curators suspended operations for the university. Academic Hall was occupied by Union troops, the president's house was used by Federal officers and the normal school, forerunner to the College of Education, became an army hospital. It was during this time that the residents of Columbia and defenders of the city became notoriously known as the "fighting tigers of Columbia" due to their insistant fighting to keep the Confederate bushwackers away from the city and university.
Later, in 1890 one alumnus suggested the university's newly-formed football team be called the "Tigers" out of respect for those who fought to defend Columbia.
[edit] Early growth
MU growth increased in the latter decades of the 19th century. In 1870 MU was awarded land-grant status because of this. The College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources was then opened. In 1888 the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station opened. This grew to encompass ten centers and research farms around Mid-Missouri. MU soon added schools of law and medicine.
On January 9, 1892, Academic Hall, the institution's main building, fell victim to a disastrous fire rumored to have been caused by the first electric light bulb west of the Mississippi River. The fire completely gutted the building, leaving little more than six stone Ionic columns standing. After the fire, there was a campaign to move the University to Sedalia, however the town of Columbia was able to rally against the move. But as a token of gratitude, Sedalia received the rights to host the Missouri State Fair in exchange. The columns, which still stand today, became a symbol of the campus and form the center of Francis Quadrangle, the oldest part of campus. Also in the quadrangle, and often referred to as its centerpiece, is Jesse Hall. Built in 1895, Jesse Hall was formerly known as New Academic Hall. Today, Jesse Hall is home to many administrative offices of the university and to Jesse Auditorium. The area of campus around the quadrangle, where the buildings are built of red brick, is known as "red campus." East of the quadrangle, many buildings were built in 1913 and 1914 of white limestone. This section is known as "white campus."
[edit] Early 20th century
In 1908 the world's first journalism school was opened at MU. It became famous world-wide for its "Missouri Method" of teaching. In 1911, MU held the first Homecoming at the football game between MU and the University of Kansas. After World War II universities around the country grew at an extraordinary pace and MU was no exception. This was due, in part, to the G.I. Bill which allowed veterans to attend college with the assistance of the federal government. It was also during this time that the nickname "Mizzou" was first used.
The usage of the term "Mizzou" was first recorded in a campus yell that used the phrase "Mizzou, Rah, Rah." The commonly accepted origin is that the word is a shortened version of the University's (then-known as the Missouri State University) initials, MSU. When said quickly the initials can be morphed into the affectionate nickname: Mizzou. The name stuck and now is commonly used interchangeably among students and alumni with the newer initials, MU.
[edit] Struggle for Integration
Events at the University of Missouri were instrumental in the desegregation of universities and schools nation-wide. In the winter of 1935, four graduates of Lincoln University—a traditionally black school about 30 miles (50 km) away in Jefferson City, Missouri—were denied admission to MU's graduate school. One of the students, Lloyd L. Gaines, brought his case to the United States Supreme Court. On December 12, 1938, in a landmark 6–2 decision, the court ordered the state of Missouri to admit Gaines to MU's law school or provide a facility of equal stature. Gaines, however, disappeared in Chicago on March 19, 1939 under suspicious circumstances. The University granted Gaines a posthumous honorary law degree in May 2006. [3]Undergraduate divisions were integrated by court order in 1950, when the university was compelled to admit African Americans to courses that were not offered at Lincoln University.
[edit] Modern Mizzou
In 1962 the University of Missouri became "The University of Missouri—Columbia" and the flagship campus of the four-campus University of Missouri System. Today the University ranks #1 for growth in federally funded grants over the last year. Mizzou is a member of the Big 12 Conference and is the only school in the state with all of its sports in the NCAA Division I-A, the nations highest level of college sports. MU has over a quarter million living alumni worldwide.
In 1970 students upset with the killing of six students at Kent State University stormed Chancellor Schwada's office and, for a short time, took over campus. Classes were dismissed and staff were sent home. It was around this same time that Peace Park was dedicated near the journalism school as a permanent monument for the promotion of peace and remembrance.
In 1978 Barbara Uehling became MU's third chancellor and the first woman to lead a major state university in the country.
[edit] Campus
MU is located in Columbia, Missouri just south of downtown. The campus is designated a botanical garden by the state of Missouri. The campus can be split into several divisions of which the most notable are
- Red Campus
- White Campus
- MU Sports Park
- Discovery Ridge Research Park
- MU Research Park
- East Campus
- University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics
- Columbia Regional Hospital
- Ellis Fischel Cancer Center
- University of Missouri Hospital
- Truman Memorial Vet Hospital
- Lemone Industrial Area
[edit] Academics
The University's academic divisions include:
- College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
- School of Natural Resources
- College of Arts and Science
- College of Business
- School of Accountancy
- College of Education
- School of Information Science and Learning Technologies
- College of Engineering
- College of Human Environmental Sciences
- School of Social Work
- College of Veterinary Medicine
- School of Health Professions
- School of Medicine
- Sinclair School of Nursing
- School of Journalism
- School of Law
- Graduate School
- Truman School of Public Affairs
MU is one of only six public universities that houses a law school, medical school, and a veterinary medicine school all on the same campus. In Missouri, MU is the designated land-grant university (along with Lincoln University), the largest public research institution, and the only university that is both a member of the Association of American Universities and designated as a "Doctoral/Research Extensive" university by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Only 34 universities in the nation have both such designations. The University of Missouri Research Reactor Center is located in the MU Research Park and is the largest university research reactor in the U.S.
In 1908, the Missouri School of Journalism (known colloquially as the "J-school"), the world's first school of journalism, was founded in Columbia. The University of Missouri System also owns and operates KOMU-TV, the NBC/CW affiliate for Columbia and nearby Jefferson City. It is a full-fledged commercial station, but is also a working lab for journalism students. The MU School of Journalism also operates the Columbia Missourian which trains students in reporting, editing and design in a real newsroom managed by professional editors.
[edit] Athletics
The Missouri Tigers are members of the Big 12 Conference and their colors are black and old gold. Athletic divisions include men's and women's basketball, baseball, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, swimming and diving, softball, swimming, track, tennis, volleyball, women's soccer, and wrestling. The Mizzou football coach with the most wins is Dan Devine and the men's basketball coach with the most wins is Norm Stewart, an MU alum. The head coach of the men's basketball team is Mike Anderson. Gary Pinkel is the head football coach. Coaches of other sports included women's golf coach Stephanie Priesmeyer, men's golf coach Mark Leroux, baseball coach Tim Jamieson, softball coach Ehren Earleywine, cross country coach Jared Wilmes, men's swimming and diving coach Brian Hoffer, track and field coach Rick McGuire, wrestling coach Brian Smith, gymnastics coach Rob Drass, soccer coach Bryan Blitz, tennis coach Blake Starkey, and volleyball coach Wayne Kreklow.
Football games are played on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Built in 1926, the stadium has an official capacity of 68,349, and features a nearly 100 ft. wide "M" in the north end zone. Men's and women's basketball games are played at the Mizzou Arena, located just south of the football stadium. The Hearnes Center hosted men's and women's basketball from 1972 to 2004 and is still used for other athletic and school events.
The official mascot for Missouri Tigers athletics is Truman the Tiger, who was born on Sept. 16, 1986. Truman was named following a campus-wide naming contest in honor of Missouri's only U.S. President, Harry S. Truman. Previously MU had two mascots, a male and a female, but neither had an identity. Truman was acclaimed the "Best Mascot in the Nation" for the second time, in national competition in 2004.
Today, Truman can be seen cheering on the Tigers and mingling with supporters at Mizzou athletic events as well as pep-rallies, alumni association functions, and frequent visits to Columbia area schools.
[edit] Campus Life
[edit] Greek Life
MU is home to one of the oldest and largest Greek systems in the nation. The University is home to the first chapter of an existing national fraternity founded at a public institution west of the Mississippi and the first national fraternity founded west of the Mississippi. Currently, more than 70 Greek-letter organizations remain active at MU.
[edit] Residential Life
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Dobbs Area
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Bingham/Mark Twain Area
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Pershing/Johnston/Wolpers Area
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Rollins/Virginia Avenue Area
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[edit] Traditions
[edit] Alma Mater
The Alma Mater for the University of Missouri–Columbia is Old Missouri. It was written in 1895 and is sung to the tune of Annie Lisle and has two verses. Before and after athletic events, sometimes only the first verse is used. The first and second verses are more commonly sung at student orientation and at commencement/graduation ceremonies. Both verses are followed by the chorus.
First Verse
Old Missouri, fair Missouri
Dear old Varsity.
Ours are hearts that fondly love thee
Here's a health to thee.
Chorus
Proud art thou in classic beauty
Of thy noble past
With thy watch words: honour, duty,
Thy high fame shall last!
Second verse
Every student, man and maiden
Swells the glad refrain.
'Till the breezes, music laden
Waft it back again.
Chorus
Proud art thou in classic beauty
Of thy noble past
With thy watch words honour, duty,
Thy high fame shall last!
[edit] Homecoming
MU is credited with establishing the tradition of Homecoming in the United States, which was subsequently adopted by most colleges and high schools across the country. The tradition began in 1911 when athletic director Chester L. Brewer invited alumni to "come home" for the big football game against KU. A spirit rally and parade were planned as part of the welcome home celebration for alumni. MU's homecoming celebration has been named the best Homecoming in the nation and a model homecoming program by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Since 1999, the homecoming blood drive has earned the Guinness Record as the nation's largest.
[edit] Tap Day
Tap Day is an annual spring ceremony in which the identities of the members of the six secret honor societies are revealed. The participating societies are QEBH, Mystical Seven, LSV, Omicron Delta Kappa, Mortar Board, and the Rollins Society. The ceremony, first held in 1927, takes place at the base of the Columns on Francis Quadrangle.
[edit] Notable alumni
MU has been home to scores of people from Sam Walton to Sheryl Crow for the full list see: List of University of Missouri–Columbia alumni. While Brad Pitt also attended the university, he never actually graduated.
[edit] Notable faculty
For a complete list see: List of University of Missouri–Columbia faculty
- George Caleb Bingham American artist
- Carl Esbeck, law
- Don Faurot, football, invented the Split-T formation
- William Least Heat-Moon, author of Blue Highways, a cult classic, and other novels
- Dennis R. Heldman, food scientist
- Steve Hofmann, mathematics, involved in solving Kato's Conjecture (1988-)
- Sergei Kopeikin, physicist, conducted widely publicized experiment to measure the speed of gravity (2000–)
- Barbara McClintock, cytogenetics pioneer (1936–1941)
- Charles Griffith Ross, White House Press Secretary
- Frank Stack, American cartoonist
- Lewis Stadler, genetics, performed early experiments on the effects of X-rays in producing mutations in corn.
- Zbylut Twardowski, nephrologist and pioneer in kidney dialysis
- Thorstein Veblen, sociologist and economist, author of The Theory of the Leisure Class (1911–1918)
- Walter Williams founder of the world's first journalism school, author of the Journalist's Creed
[edit] Presidents of The University
There have been 20 presidents of the University of Missouri, John Lathrop is the only one to have served separate terms.
- John Hiram Lathrop (1841-1849)
- James Shannon (1850-1856)
- William Wilson Hudson (1856-1859)
- Benjamin Blake Minor (1860-1862)
- John Hiram Lathrop (1865-1866)
- Daniel Read (1866-1876)
- Samuel Spahr Laws (1876-1889)
- Richard Henry Jesse (1891-1908)
- A. Ross Hill (1908-1921)
- John Carleton Jones (1922-1923)
- Stratton Brooks (1923-1930)
- Walter Williams (1931-1935)
- Frederick Middlebush (1935-1954)
- Elmer Ellis (1955-1966)
- John C. Weaver (1966-1970)
- C. Brice Ratchford (1971-1976)
- James Olson (1977-1984)
- C. Peter Magrath (1985-1991)
- George A. Russell (1991-1996)
- Manuel T. Pacheco (1997-2002)
- Elson S. Floyd (2003- 2007)
[edit] Points of interest
- McAlester Arboretum
- Mizzou Botanic Garden
- Thomas Jefferson tombstone
- Jesse Hall
- Memorial Union
- David R. Francis Quadrangle
- Mel Carnahan Quadrangle (Tiger Plaza)
- Student Recreation Center (Voted best in the nation by Sports Illustrated- 2005/06)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official MU site
- Official MU athletics site
- Official MU Alumni Association site
- University of Missouri System homepage
- Missouri Students Association
[edit] References
- "MU awards law degree to kin of rights pioneer" by Alan Scher Zagier, Columbia Daily Tribune, May 14, 2006, retrieved on August 15, 2006
- ^ "2006 NACUBO Endowment Study". National Association of College and University Business Officers.
- ^ http://www.missouri.edu/about/mufacts.php
- ^ [1]
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