University of Missouri

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University of Missouri–Columbia
MU logo   University of Missouri seal
Motto: Salus Populi (Latin: The Welfare of the People)[1]
Established 1839
Type: Flagship state university
Endowment: US $500.3 million[2]
Chancellor: Dr. Brady J. Deaton
Provost: Dr. Brian L. Foster
Faculty: 4,021 (Fall 2006)[3]
Staff: 12,394 (Fall 2006)
Students: 28,253 (Fall 2006)[2]
Undergraduates: 21,551
Postgraduates: 6,702
Location Columbia, Missouri, USA
Campus: Urban, (main campus) 1,358 acres (2.12 sq mi) (5.50 sq km), (total) 17,895 acres (27.96 sq mi) (72.42 sq km)
Town [2]
Colors: Black and MU Gold[4]           
Nickname: Tigers
Mascot: Truman the Tiger
Athletics: NCAA Division I, Big 12
Website: www.missouri.edu

The University of Missouri–Columbia (also officially known as the University of Missouri, Mizzou, or MU) is a public land-grant university in Columbia, Missouri. Founded in 1839, it was the first public university west of the Mississippi River and is the flagship of the University of Missouri System. MU is Missouri's largest university and public research institution with current enrollment exceeding 28,000 students coming from every county in Missouri, every state in the nation, and more than 100 foreign countries. The University offers more than 270 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs through 20 schools and colleges and is one of only six public universities in the United States with medicine, veterinary medicine, and law schools all on one campus. Also widely known are its programs in journalism (the world's first, founded in 1908), agriculture, and life sciences. It is one of only 34 public universities in the United States to be an elected member of the prestigious Association of American Universities.

Main article: History of the University of Missouri

In 1839, the Missouri legislature passed the Geyer Act to establish funds for a state university.[5] It would be the first public university 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.[6] 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 public 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.

Francis Quadrangle, featuring the Columns and Jesse Hall, prior to the movement of construction equipment into this area for the Reynolds Journalism Institute.
Francis Quadrangle, featuring the Columns and Jesse Hall, prior to the movement of construction equipment into this area for the Reynolds Journalism Institute.

In 1864, 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 formed a "home guard" unit that became notoriously known as the "Fighting Tigers of Columbia". This name was given because of the group's steadfast readiness to fight against any form of invading force that was hoping to plunder 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.
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 one of Edison's first electric generators. 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 when Athletic Director, Chester Brewer, invited alumni to "come home" for a spirit rally, a parade, and the football game between MU and the University of Kansas.[7] 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 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.[8] 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 1963, the University of Missouri officially added Columbia to its name to fit the naming scheme of the newly created four-campus University of Missouri System. However, on 29 November 2007, the Board of Curators voted unanimously to allow MU to drop Columbia from its name in promotional media in response to a campaign started by MU faculty, administration, and alumni who felt the university might be perceived as a regional institution due to its name. The name University of Missouri-Columbia will still be used for official business. Such a campaign had long been dormant, but was revived when the University of Missouri–Rolla was allowed to change its name for similar reasons.[9]

MU has more than 240,000 living alumni worldwide, almost half of which continue to reside in Missouri.[2]

View of the Columns and Jesse Hall down the Avenue of the Columns.
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

The University's academic divisions include:

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.

Main article: Missouri Tigers
Faurot Field during a football game
Faurot Field during a football game

The Missouri Tigers are members of the Big 12 Conference. Mizzou is the only school in the state with all of its sports in the NCAA Division I, the nation's highest level of college sports. Their colors are black and old gold. Athletic sports 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" behind 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 September 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.

On November 24, 2007 the Mizzou football team played their biggest rivals, KU. At that time KU was ranked #2 and MU was ranked #4. At the end of the game they defeated KU, 36-28. The following day MU was ranked #1 in the country for only the second time in its history (November 14, 1960, 1 week). On December 1st 2007, the Mizzou football team lost the Big 12 Championship game in San Antonio, Texas to Oklahoma 38-17 falling out of national title and Bowl Championship Series contention. They will play in the Cotton Bowl January 1, 2008 at Dallas, Texas at 10:30 on the Central Time Zone on The Fox Network.

Main article: 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.

Dobbs Area

Bingham/Mark Twain Area

Pershing/Johnston/Wolpers Area

Rollins/Virginia Avenue Area

The Alma Mater for the University 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!

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 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.

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.

For a complete list see: List of University of Missouri–Columbia faculty

There have been 20 presidents of the University, John Lathrop is the only one to have served separate terms.

The Fountain and Statue of Tiger Plaza, located on the Mel Carnahan (South) Quadrangle
The Fountain and Statue of Tiger Plaza, located on the Mel Carnahan (South) Quadrangle
Tower of Memorial Union
Tower of Memorial Union


  1. ^ http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/departments/ur/resources/index.shtml
  2. ^ a b c d http://missouri.edu/about/mufacts.php
  3. ^ http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/about/facts/#columbia
  4. ^ http://webcom.missouri.edu/policy/logo-guidelines.php
  5. ^ http://muarchives.missouri.edu/answers.html#6
  6. ^ http://www.missouri.edu/about/history/mu-history.php
  7. ^ http://www.mizzou.com/homecoming/history.html
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ http://www.missouri.edu/news/name-restoration.php
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