Humboldt State University

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Humboldt State University
Motto	Phos Aletheia (Greek for "Light and Truth")
Established	June 16, 1913
Type	Public
President	Rollin C. Richmond
Faculty	534
Students	7,550
Undergraduates	6,245
Postgraduates	1,065
Location	Arcata, California, United States
Campus	Rural, 144 acres main campus and 561 acres of additional property
Colors	Green and Gold
Nickname	Lumberjacks
Mascot	Lucky the Logger
Affiliations	California State University
Website	www.humboldt.edu

This article is about Humboldt State University in California. For the German university, see Humboldt University of Berlin.

Humboldt State University is the northernmost campus of the California State University system. The university is located in Arcata, California, 285 miles north of San Francisco. The university campus, nestled in the redwoods and overlooking the Pacific Ocean, is notable for its natural beauty and prime location with respect to outdoor activities. US News and World Report rated HSU 40th among the top Western Master's level universities.^[1] Humboldt State has the only Division II football team in California.

[edit] History

Founders Hall is the most prominent building on campus and is featured on the university's seal. It is also the oldest building on campus, constructed in 1921.

Humboldt State Normal School was established as a two-year teachers college on 16 June 1913 and opened on 6 April 1914. The schools was renamed Humboldt State Teachers College and Junior College in 1921 and put under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Education. In 1924 the Associated Students and the Alumni Association were organized and The Foghorn, the first student newspaper, was published. The college was authorized to offer bachelor's degrees in 1927. The college was renamed Humboldt State College in 1935 and the next year adopted the Lumberjack as its mascot. In 1937 the students opened a cooperative bookstore and soda fountain, which would exist for at least 40 years.

During World War II Founder's Hall was painted camouflage, so as to not act as a navigational aid for Japanese submarines, and an air observation post was set up atop the art shop, mostly staffed by the faculty member's wives, until 1953. The college started offering graduated programs in 1947.

In 1960 Humboldt State College joined the California State College system. The college terminated the junior college program in 1962, followed by the establishment of College of the Redwoods in 1964. Student activism on campus rose through the 1960s and early 1970s. A protest of about 800 students (out of about 3,600), with the consent of the college's President Siemens, occured on 15 October 1969 and, after the Cambodian Incursion, the campus shut down in May 1970 due to a student strike. The 1970s also saw the rise of feminist, cultural, and LGBT groups, and though the Women's Center would be the only one to survive through the 1980s most would reappear in the mid 1990s.

In 1972 the college was renamed California State University, Humboldt, and would be renamed Humboldt State University two years later. Enrollment reached 7,500 in 1974, where it would remain. Through the 1980s mature students became a larger part of Humboldt State's student body, and in 1986 40% of the students were over the age of 25.^[2]

[edit] Academics

The university is divided into three colleges: College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; College of Natural Resources and Sciences; and College of Professional Studies.

Humboldt State is one of only two universities in the state of California to offer a major in Botany, the other being Cal Poly Pomona. The Native American Studies major and the undergraduate Oceanography majors are also unique to the California State University system. The university's location on the North Coast provides access to the Pacific Ocean, lagoons, marshes, estuaries, and the Fred Telonicher Marine Laboratory, which in turn provides opportunities for "hands-on" experiences and research for Oceanography and other science majors.

Humboldt State offers unique minors including Multicultural Queer Studies, Scuba Diving, and Appropriate Technology. The master's programs include Biology, International Development Technology, Forestry, Theatre Arts, Social Work, and Environmental Resources Engineering.

[edit] Student Life

The university's student population is approximately 7,550. This is equal to approximately half of the population of Arcata, though students are dispersed all over the region. Eighteen percent of students live in on campus housing through the University Housing and Dining Services.^[3] University Housing and Dining Services operates five dining facilities and five unique living areas ranging from traditional dormitory style rooms to more modern apartment buildings.

The Associated Students president is undergraduate Crystal Chaney, a philosophy major. Many of Humboldt State's unique programs, such as the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology, Youth Educational Services, and Student Access Gallery, are student-initiated, student-directed, and student-employed programs. The University has one of the strongest Associated Students Incorporations in the California State University system offering more services and programs than any other ASI.

[edit] The Lumberjack

The Lumberjack is a student-run weekly newspaper at Humboldt State University and is funded by the Instructionally Related Activities fee. It covers news relevant to the students and faculty of the HSU. This includes coverage of University issues, athletics and the local music scene.

For color, the paper has a sometimes-quirky police log.

[edit] School statistics

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,245
• Average GPA: 3.18
• Average SAT: 1051
• Average ACT: 22
• Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1^[4]

[edit] Notable people

[edit] Alumni

• Raymond Carver — American short story writer and poet
• Wes Chesbro — former State Senator, former Chairman of Senate Budget Committee (didn't graduate)
• Don Chin — writer and publisher of Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters comic book and creator of fan websites http://www.williamhung.net and http://www.garybrolsma.net
• John Diaz — editorial page editor of San Francisco Chronicle
• Jack Fimple — former Major League Baseball catcher
• Ken Fisher — CEO of Fisher Investments, long-time Forbes columnist, and author of books on investing
• Stephen Hillenburg — creator of Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants
• Sue Laris — editor and publisher of Los Angeles Downtown News
• Mike Patton — singer; most famous as a member of Faith No More (didn't graduate)
• Brad Stanhope — associate editor of Fairfield Daily Republic. Contributer to "The Gary Radnich Show" on KNBR
• Roy Tennant — author and user services architect for the California Digital Library

[edit] Faculty

• Stephen Fox
• Eric Rofes — gay activist, feminist, educator, and author
• Steven C. Hackett

[edit] Student clubs, programs, and organizations

• Center Arts
• Green Wheels
• Green campus Program at HSU
• Humboldt Energy Independence Fund
• The Lumberjack newspaper.
• Renewable Energy Student Union
• Sustainable Entraprenuers Network
• HSU NORML

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/t1univmas_w_brief.php
2. ^ William R. Tanner, PhD. A View from the Hill: A History of Humboldt State University. Humboldt State University, Arcata, California: University Graphic Services, 1993.
3. ^ http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drlife_1149_brief.php
4. ^ http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/profiles/generalinfo.asp?listing=1023812&LTID=1

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Lumberjack Athletics
• Housing and Dining Services
• Campus Center for Appropriate Technology
• Youth Educational Services
• Schatz Energy Research Center
• Associated Students of Humboldt State University
• KHSU-FM 90.5 Arcata, CA - Diverse Public Radio
• KRFH-AM 610 Arcata, CA - Student Run Radio
• The California State Student Association
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 40.875781° -124.078560°
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  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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