(Redirected from University of Missouri - Columbia)
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 exceeds 28,000 with students from every
county in Missouri, every
state in the nation and more than 100 foreign countries.
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History
Main articles: History of the University of Missouri
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 central 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 Jefferson's original plans for the
University of Virginia. Jefferson's original
tombstone was given to Mizzou by his heirs in July
1883.
In
1862, while in the midst of the
Civil War, the board of curators suspended operations of the University. 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 insistent fighting to keep the Confederate bushwhackers away from the city and University. Later, in 1890 an alumnus suggested the University's newly-formed football team be called the "Tigers" out of respect for those who fought to defend Columbia. The College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources was opened. In
1888 the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station opened. This grew to encompass ten centers and research farms around central Missouri. MU soon added schools of
law and
medicine.
The burning of Academic Hall.
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, Columbia was able to rally against the move. The columns, which still stand today, became a symbol of the campus and form the center of
Francis Quadrangle, the oldest part of campus. At the southern end of the quad is Academic Hall's replacement,
Jesse Hall. Built in
1895, 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." In
1908 the world's first
journalism school was opened at MU. It became famous worldwide 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.
Events at the University of Missouri were instrumental in the desegregation of universities and schools nationwide. In the winter of
1935, four graduates of
Lincoln University—a
traditionally black school about 30 miles (50 km) away in
Jefferson City—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. In
1962, the University of Missouri officially added ''Columbia'' to its name, fitting the naming scheme of the newly created four-campus
University of Missouri System. However, in the Spring of 2007, MU's "For All We Call Mizzou" National Campaign Steering Committee proposed that MU's official name be changed back to "The University of Missouri," to reflect the university's historic name as well as its statewide mission. MU's Chancellor Brady Deaton has officially asked the University of Missouri Curators to approve this initiative. The
Mizzou Alumni Association, Jefferson Club Trustees, the MU Graduate and Professional Council and the MU Staff Advisory Council subsequently supported this initiative.
[4]
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 nation's highest level of college sports. MU has over a 250,000 living alumni worldwide.
Campus
View of the Columns and
Jesse Hall down the Avenue of the Columns.
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
★
★
David R. Francis Quadrangle
★
White Campus
★
★
Memorial Union
★
MU Sports Park
★
Discovery Ridge Research Park
★
MU Research Park
★
★
University of Missouri Research Reactor Center
★
East Campus
★
University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics
★
★
Columbia Regional Hospital
★
★
Ellis Fischel Cancer Center
★
★
University of Missouri Hospital
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★
Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital
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Lemone Industrial Area
Academics
The University's academic divisions include:
★ College of
Agriculture,
Food, and
Natural Resources
★
★ School of
Natural Resources
★ College of
Arts and
Science
★
★ School of
Fine Arts
★
★ School of
Music
★ 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.
Athletics
Main articles: Missouri Tigers
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. Former football coach
Dan Devine holds the record for most wins on the gridiron. Additionally, former basketball coach and alum
Norm Stewart maintains the record for most wins on the hard court. The current head coach of the men's basketball team is
Mike Anderson.
Gary Pinkel is the current 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.
MU 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.
Campus Life
Greek Life
Main articles: MU 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.
Residential Life
Traditions
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, commencement/graduation ceremonies and
Mizzou Alumni Associationevents. 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!
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.
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.
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.
Notable faculty
For a complete list see:
List of University of Missouri–Columbia faculty
★
George Caleb Bingham American
artist
★
Frank O. Bowman III,
law, noted scholar in the area of Federal Sentencing
★
Henry C. Dethloff,
historian, author of more than two dozen books in variety of fields, formerly with
Texas A&M University
★
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)
★
J.P. Moreland,
philosopher,
theologian, and
Christian apologist.
★
Charles Griffith Ross,
White House Press Secretary
★
Ernie and Lotti Sear, Plant Geneticist who pioneered methods of transferring desirable genes from wild relatives to cultivated wheat in order to increase wheat's resistance to various insects and diseases. Member of the
National Academy of Sciences, past president of the
Genetics Society of America, winner of the
Wolf Prize, inducted into the
ARS-USDA Science Hall of Fame. The
plant growth facility on the Campus of Mizzou is named after him.
★
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
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 (1923-1927)
★
Tyler Pete Davis (1927-1931)
★
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)
★
Gordon H. Lamb (interim) (2007-present)
Points of interest
The Fountain and Statue of Tiger Plaza, located on the Mel Carnahan (South) Quadrangle
Tower of Memorial Union
★
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)
See also
★
Missouri Students Association
★
KOMU-TV
★
The Maneater
★
MUTV
External links
★
Official MU site
★
Official MU athletics site
★
Official Mizzou Alumni Association site
★
University of Missouri System homepage
★
Missouri Students Association
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
1. "2006 NACUBO Endowment Study". ''National Association of College and University Business Officers''.
2. http://www.missouri.edu/about/mufacts.php
3. [1]
4. MU Name Restoration
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