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'Humboldt State University' is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata, California, USA. The 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 Humboldt State 40th among the top Western Master's level universities.[2]

Contents

History

Academics

Statistics

Student life

Newspaper

Marching Lumberjacks

People

Alumni

Faculty

Footnotes

References

External links

History

Humboldt State Normal School was established as a teachers college on 16 June 1913 by California Governor Hiram Johnson. It opened on 6 April 1914, in the former Arcata Grammar School building with 78 students and 5 faculty. The school was put under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Education and renamed Humboldt State Teachers College and Junior College in 1921. In 1924 the Associated Students and the Alumni Association were organized and ''The Foghorn'', the first student newspaper, was published. Bachelor's degrees began being offered in 1927. It was renamed Humboldt State College in 1935 and the next year the Lumberjack was adopted as its mascot. In 1937 the students opened a cooperative bookstore and soda fountain, which would exist for the next 40 years as the center of student life.
During World War II Founder's Hall was painted camouflage, so Japanese submarines would not use it as a navigational aid, and an air observation post was set up atop the art shop, mostly staffed by the faculty members' wives, until 1953.
Graduate programs began being offered in 1947. The same year KHSC, the first state college radio station in California, was established (later to become KHSU). In 1960 the college joined the California State College system. The junior college program was terminated in 1962, followed by the establishment of College of the Redwoods in 1964.
Student activism on campus rose through the 1960s and early 1970s, peaking in a protest against the Vietnam War with about 800 students (out of 3,600) on 15 October 1969. This was followed by another protest with nearly 3,000 students, who planned a student strike, after the Cambodian Incursion. With similar events across the state, Governor Reagan shut down the CSC system in May 1970. 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 renamed Humboldt State University two years later. Enrollment reached 7,500 in 1974, where it would remain up to today. Through the 1980s mature students started becoming a large part of Humboldt State's student body, and in 1986 40% of the students were over the age of 25.^[1]

Academics

The university is divided into three colleges: the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; the College of Natural Resources and Sciences; and the College of Professional Studies. There are 49 undergraduate majors and 85 minors. The two most popular majors are Biology and Art, both with over 20 faculty and extensive facilities on and off campus. There are several credential programs and twelve master's programs of which Natural Resources and Social Work are the largest.
Humboldt State is one of only two universities in California to offer a major in Botany, the other being Cal Poly Pomona. The Native American Studies major and the Oceanography major are also unique to the California State University system. The university offers unique minors including Multicultural Queer Studies, Scuba Diving, and Appropriate Technology.
The university's location on the North Coast provides access to the Pacific Ocean, lagoons, marshes, estuaries, and the Fred Telonicher Marine Laboratory, which provides opportunities for "hands-on" experiences and research for the sciences.

Statistics

★ Average GPA: 3.18

★ Average SAT: 1051

★ Average ACT: 22[3]

★ Student to Faculty Ratio: 17.3[4]

Student life

Humboldt State's student population has stayed consistently around 7,500 for several decades. 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 the residence halls, usually new freshmen and transfer students. The university's student body's average age is 26, one of the highest in the country.[5]
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 most active and strongest Associated Students in the California State University system offering more services and programs than any other. One of HSU's largest clubs is the Humboldt Circus, and is one of the better known clubs in the community for their regular performances and appearances at local events.
Humboldt State is well known for its environmental awareness and activism. Compost and recycling bins are more common on campus than trash cans and many events are encouraged to be zero waste. The Associated Students fund the Campus Recycling Program, the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology, and the Sustainable Living Arts and Music Festival (SLAM fest).

Newspaper

''The Lumberjack'' is the student-run weekly newspaper of Humboldt State University and is funded by the Instructionally Related Activities fee. It covers news relevant to the students and faculty of the Humboldt State and major news throughout Humboldt County. This includes coverage of university issues, protests, rallies, athletics and the local music scene and sometimes has a quirky police log.

Marching Lumberjacks

The World Famous HSU Marching Lumberjacks are the official student-run band of the university.

The group added the “World Famous” title after being featured in the July 1993 National Geographic magazine marching into the Pacific ocean. They were also seen and heard in the 2001 feature film The Majestic with Jim Carrey, filmed in nearby Ferndale, CA. The band plays at numerous campus and community events, aids in recruiting and performs at all home football and basketball games. Their traditional uniform consists of a loggers hardhat, red suspenders, work pants and boots.

The band performs in the scatter band style often associated with ivy league schools, using humorous routines and scripts during it’s half-time field shows in redwood bowl.

People

Alumni

★ Evan Brewer — early key contributor to Napster

★ Raymond Carver — American short story writer and poet

★ Wes Chesbro — former State Senator, former Chairman of Senate Budget Committee (didn't graduate)

★ John Diaz — editorial page editor of ''San Francisco Chronicle''

★ Jack Fimple — former Major League Baseball catcher

★ Ken Fisher — billionaire CEO of Fisher Investments, long-time ''Forbes'' columnist, and author of books on investing

★ Harrell Fletcher — socially engaged interdisciplinary American artist - http://www.harrellfletcher.com/

★ Wendell Hayes — former NFL running back

★ 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)

★ Martin Wong — American painter and ceramist - http://www.ppowgallery.com/artists/MartinWong/index.html

Faculty

★ Stephen Fox — author and educator

★ Steven C. Hackett — economist

★ Dr. Jacob Varkey — cellular biologist

★ Stephen C. Sillett — botanist

★ Robert A. Gearheart (emeritus) — environmental engineer

★ Samuel Oliner (emeritus) — Holocaust survivor and sociologist

★ Eric Rofes (deceased) — gay activist, feminist, educator, and author

Footnotes

1. Tanner, 135-144

References

★ William R. Tanner, PhD. ''A View from the Hill: A History of Humboldt State University''. Humboldt State University, Arcata, California: University Graphic Services, 1993.

★ Kathryn Corbett and Kathleen Preston. ''From the Catbird Seat: A History of Women’s Studies at Humboldt State University 1971-1996'', Eureka: Eureka Printing Company, 1998.

★ http://www.humboldt.edu/~anstud/

External links

★ Official website

★ The Lumberjack Newspaper

★ Lumberjack Athletics

★ Associated Students of Humboldt State

★ Youth Educational Services

★ Schatz Energy Research Center

★ First Street Gallery - Fine Arts Exhibitions

★ HSU Marching Lumberjacks

★ KHSU-FM 90.5 Arcata, CA - Diverse Public Radio

★ KRFH-AM 610 Arcata, CA - Student Run Radio

★ Natural History Museum

★ The Telonicher Marine Laboratory