Northwest Missouri State University
Encyclopedia
Northwest Missouri State University is a state university
in Maryville, Missouri
. Founded in 1905 as a teachers college, it offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus, based on the design for Forest Park
at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, is the official Missouri State Arboretum. The school is governed by a state-appointed Board of Regents
and headed by President Dr. John Jasinski
.
The Northwest Bearcats competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(Division II) and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
for men's and women's sports. They have won three NCAA Division II football national championships (1998, 1999, and 2009) and finished four times as runner-up (2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008).
) in a state teacher college network.
Maryville won the competition for the Northwest district with an offer to donate 86 acres (34.8 ha) (on coincidentally the northwest corner of town) and $58,000 on the site of a Methodist Seminary. The other districts in the network were to be at Kirksville
(Northeast - now Truman State), Cape Girardeau
(Southeast), Springfield (Southwest - now Missouri State), and Warrensburg (Central - now Central Missouri).
The original mission of the school was to teach elementary school teachers. Classes began on June 13, 1906 with a lab school teaching Maryville's children (that was eventually named the Horace Mann
school) in kindergarten through third grade. The school was later expanded to a full-fledged high school before dropping back to its current configuration of kindergarten through sixth grade.
In 1919 the school was renamed Northwest Missouri State Teacher's College, and with that the ability to grant baccalaureate degrees. In 1949 the name was shrunk to Northwest Missouri State College by the Board of Regents.
, Northwest Missouri State University was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program
which offered students a path to a Navy commission.
from a two-year school into a four-year state college. At approximately the same time, authorities decided against a plan to continue routing Interstate 29
north of St. Joseph along U.S. Route 71
through Maryville and Clarinda, Iowa
, instead picking a route to Council Bluffs, Iowa
/Omaha, Nebraska
along the sparsely populated Missouri River bottoms
.
Opening a new four-year state school within 45 miles (72.4 km) of Maryville (along with a delay in widening U.S. Route 71
to Maryville) was perceived in Maryville as an attempt to kill the school and the town with which it is intertwined. Those fears came to the forefront in 1988 when Shalia Aery, commissioner of higher education under Governor John Ashcroft
announced a plan to close the school, a plan that was ultimately withdrawn.
The university currently holds four Missouri Quality Awards, granted in 1997, 2001, 2005, and 2008. Northwest is the only educational institution to receive multiple Missouri Quality Awards.
In 1987, Northwest unveiled its Electronic Campus Program, the first such program among public U.S. colleges. It put computer terminals in all residence halls, eventually reaching more than 6000 students. The VAX
computers were command line driven and included access to programs such as Wordstar
. Brit Hume
, visiting the college during this period on a speaking engagement, wrote a guest column in the Washington Post proclaiming Northwest as the country's first electronic campus. In 1997, the program was upgraded and all of the faculty members received laptop computers, while network machines were implemented in each residence hall room. Recently, all full-time students were provided a laptop. Many locations on campus are now connected via WiFi
.
The campus design was inspired by the Forest Park
design for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair which evolved into the campus for Washington University. In 1993 the state legislature designated Northwest the official Missouri State Arboretum.
In 2000 Northwest began offering an on-campus course for gifted high school students who spend their junior and senior years of high school living on the campus completing their high school courses as well as two years of college work. Upon graduation, students receive their high school diploma and an associates degree from Northwest. The program is called the Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing
, with an average enrollment around 80 students that has grown since 2007 by 20 students, and continues to increase.
at Washington University in St. Louis. Brookings Hall served as the Administration Building of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. The master St. Louis design was created by Cope & Stewardson
, famed for designing schools throughout the country based on the Oxford University style.
The Collegiate Gothic structure with its central tower keep design evokes Tattershall Castle
and lords over the campus with the motto, "And the truth shall make you free," engraved in stone. Because of this design, the term "Tower" is used frequently throughout campus and is the name of the school yearbook. Work on the building began in 1906 and continued on and off until classes began in it on October 3, 1910. The architect of record for the Maryville building is John H. Felt. On March 15, 1919, a tornado
ripped the roof off its auditorium and blew out most of its windows.
A $13.8 million capital program repaired most of the building and made extensive changes to the campus layout. The building ceased to serve as classroom space, with the exception of 3rd floor, which houses the Family and Consumer Sciences Department. The theater and music departments moved out of the building to what is now the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts, located southeast of Bearcat Stadium. The north wing of the Administration Building was torn down and sealed, although the outline of the wing is still visible against the bricks on the north. The former Wells Library (now Wells Hall) was turned into a classroom area and home for the National Public Radio affiliate radio station KXCV-FM
and the library was moved to its current location in the new B.D. Owens Library. All the academic files were burned and lost with no backups prior to the fire.
in 1912 and has remained in the conference ever since. From its founding until 1937 it competed in the Amateur Athletic Union
. From 1937 to 1957 it competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
. In 1957 it joined NCAA Division II. Northwest has appeared in seven Division II football title games (winning three) since 1998. The men's basketball team appeared in an AAU title game in 1930.
Academic (such as an Association for Computing Machinery
chapter),
Greek fraternities and sororities
,
Political (such as the College Republicans
or the Young Democrats),
Honorary (such as the Blue Key Honor Society and Mortar Board
),
Multicultural (with groups such as the Alliance of Black Collegians, the Asian Student Association, the Hispanic American Leadership Organization, and the Indian Student Association),
Performing (such as the American Choral Directors Association
),
Religious (such as Campus Crusade for Christ
),
Residential Life (with student governing bodies for the residential halls),
Sports (with clubs for cheerleading, fencing, rugby, soccer, wrestling and equestrian sports),
and dozens more.
Fraternities at the university include
Alpha Gamma Rho
,
Alpha Kappa Lambda
,
Alpha Phi Alpha
,
Delta Chi
,
Delta Sigma Phi
,
Phi Delta Theta
,
Phi Mu Alpha,
Phi Sigma Kappa
,
Sigma Alpha Iota
,
Sigma Phi Epsilon
,
Sigma Tau Gamma
, and
Tau Kappa Epsilon
.
Sororities include
Alpha Delta Pi
,
Alpha Sigma Alpha
,
Delta Sigma Theta
,
Phi Mu
,
Sigma Alpha
,
Sigma Kappa
,
Sigma Sigma Sigma
, and
Zeta Phi Beta
.
, one of the original programmers for the ENIAC computer and a member of the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame.
Politicians include:
Professional athletes and sports figures include:
State university
In the United States, a state college or state university is one of the public colleges or universities funded by or associated with the state government. In some cases, these institutions of higher learning are part of a state university system, while in other cases they are not. Several U.S....
in Maryville, Missouri
Maryville, Missouri
Maryville is a city in Nodaway County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,581 at the 2000 census. The town, organized on February 14, 1845, was named for Mrs. Mary Graham, wife of Amos Graham, then the county clerk. Mary was the first Caucasian woman to have lived within the boundaries...
. Founded in 1905 as a teachers college, it offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus, based on the design for Forest Park
Forest Park (St. Louis)
Forest Park is a public park located in western part of the city of St. Louis, Missouri. It is a prominent civic center and covers . The park, which opened in 1876 more than a decade after its proposal, has hosted several significant events, including the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 and...
at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, is the official Missouri State Arboretum. The school is governed by a state-appointed Board of Regents
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
and headed by President Dr. John Jasinski
John Jasinski
John Jasinski is the 10th university president of Northwest Missouri State University.-Early life:Jasinski was born in Flint, Michigan and was a 1980 graduate of Powers Catholic High School.-Education:He attended Mott Community College...
.
The Northwest Bearcats competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(Division II) and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association is a college athletic conference which operates in the states of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and effective in 2012 in Oklahoma in the Midwestern United States. The conference was formerly known as the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic...
for men's and women's sports. They have won three NCAA Division II football national championships (1998, 1999, and 2009) and finished four times as runner-up (2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008).
Founding
In 1905 the Missouri Legislature created five districts in the state to establish teaching standards or norms (hence the original name Normal schoolNormal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
) in a state teacher college network.
Maryville won the competition for the Northwest district with an offer to donate 86 acres (34.8 ha) (on coincidentally the northwest corner of town) and $58,000 on the site of a Methodist Seminary. The other districts in the network were to be at Kirksville
Truman State University
Truman State University is a public liberal arts and sciences university in Missouri, United States and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. About 6,000 students attend Truman, pursuing degrees in 43 undergraduate and 9 Graduate programs. It is located in Kirksville in...
(Northeast - now Truman State), Cape Girardeau
Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University, is a public, accredited university located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States, near the banks of the Mississippi River. The institution, having started as a normal school, has a traditional strength in teacher education...
(Southeast), Springfield (Southwest - now Missouri State), and Warrensburg (Central - now Central Missouri).
The original mission of the school was to teach elementary school teachers. Classes began on June 13, 1906 with a lab school teaching Maryville's children (that was eventually named the Horace Mann
Horace Mann
Horace Mann was an American education reformer, and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1827 to 1833. He served in the Massachusetts Senate from 1834 to 1837. In 1848, after serving as Secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education since its creation, he was...
school) in kindergarten through third grade. The school was later expanded to a full-fledged high school before dropping back to its current configuration of kindergarten through sixth grade.
In 1919 the school was renamed Northwest Missouri State Teacher's College, and with that the ability to grant baccalaureate degrees. In 1949 the name was shrunk to Northwest Missouri State College by the Board of Regents.
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Northwest Missouri State University was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program
V-12 Navy College Training Program
The V-12 Navy College Training Program was designed to supplement the force of commissioned officers in the United States Navy during World War II...
which offered students a path to a Navy commission.
Rivalry with Missouri Western
In 1969, Missouri Governor Warren Hearnes pushed for switching St. Joseph Junior CollegeMissouri Western State University
Missouri Western State University is a public, co-educational university located in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The school enrolls 6,010 undergraduate students and 124 graduate students.-History:...
from a two-year school into a four-year state college. At approximately the same time, authorities decided against a plan to continue routing Interstate 29
Interstate 29
Interstate 29 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern United States. I-29 runs from Kansas City, Missouri, at a junction with Interstate 35 and Interstate 70 to the Canadian border near Pembina, North Dakota, where it connects with Manitoba Highway 75 via the short Manitoba Highway 29.-Route...
north of St. Joseph along U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71 is a north–south United States highway. This original 1926 route has remained largely unchanged by encroaching Interstate highways. Currently, the highway's northern terminus is in International Falls, Minnesota at the Canadian border, at the southern end of the Fort...
through Maryville and Clarinda, Iowa
Clarinda, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 5,572 in the city, with a population density of . There were 2,180 housing units, of which 1,928 were occupied....
, instead picking a route to Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
/Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
along the sparsely populated Missouri River bottoms
Missouri River Valley
The Missouri River Valley outlines the journey of the Missouri River from its headwaters where the Madison, Jefferson and Gallatin Rivers flow together in Montana to its confluence with the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri. At long the valley drains one-sixth of the United States, and is...
.
Opening a new four-year state school within 45 miles (72.4 km) of Maryville (along with a delay in widening U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71 is a north–south United States highway. This original 1926 route has remained largely unchanged by encroaching Interstate highways. Currently, the highway's northern terminus is in International Falls, Minnesota at the Canadian border, at the southern end of the Fort...
to Maryville) was perceived in Maryville as an attempt to kill the school and the town with which it is intertwined. Those fears came to the forefront in 1988 when Shalia Aery, commissioner of higher education under Governor John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
announced a plan to close the school, a plan that was ultimately withdrawn.
Northwest Missouri State University
On August 14, 1972, Northwest was elevated to university status so that it could offer masters degrees. Its name changed to Northwest Missouri State University.The university currently holds four Missouri Quality Awards, granted in 1997, 2001, 2005, and 2008. Northwest is the only educational institution to receive multiple Missouri Quality Awards.
VAX
VAX was an instruction set architecture developed by Digital Equipment Corporation in the mid-1970s. A 32-bit complex instruction set computer ISA, it was designed to extend or replace DEC's various Programmed Data Processor ISAs...
computers were command line driven and included access to programs such as Wordstar
WordStar
WordStar is a word processor application, published by MicroPro International, originally written for the CP/M operating system but later ported to DOS, that enjoyed a dominant market share during the early to mid-1980s. Although Seymour I...
. Brit Hume
Brit Hume
Brit Hume is an American television journalist and political commentator.For twenty years he was a correspondent for the American Broadcasting Company, including Chief White House Correspondent. He then spent ten years as the Washington, D.C. managing editor of the Fox News Channel and the anchor...
, visiting the college during this period on a speaking engagement, wrote a guest column in the Washington Post proclaiming Northwest as the country's first electronic campus. In 1997, the program was upgraded and all of the faculty members received laptop computers, while network machines were implemented in each residence hall room. Recently, all full-time students were provided a laptop. Many locations on campus are now connected via WiFi
WIFI
WIFI is a radio station broadcasting a brokered format. Licensed to Florence, New Jersey, USA, the station is currently operated by Florence Broadcasting Partners, LLC.This station was previously owned by Real Life Broadcasting...
.
Missouri State Arboretum
Forest Park
-Towns and villages:*Forest Park, Ontario, Canada*Forest Park, Georgia, USA*Forest Park, Illinois, USA*Forest Park, Ohio, Hamilton county, Ohio, USA*Forest Park, Ottawa County, Ohio, USA*Forest Park, Oklahoma, USA...
design for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair which evolved into the campus for Washington University. In 1993 the state legislature designated Northwest the official Missouri State Arboretum.
Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics, and Computing
Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing
The Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing is a two-year residential early college entrance program for gifted high school students at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, replacing the junior and senior years of high school...
, with an average enrollment around 80 students that has grown since 2007 by 20 students, and continues to increase.
Design
The defining landmark of the campus is the Administration Building, very similar to Brookings HallBrookings Hall
Brookings Hall is a Collegiate Gothic landmark on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. The building, first named "University Hall", was built between 1900 and 1902 and served as the administrative center for the 1904 World's Fair...
at Washington University in St. Louis. Brookings Hall served as the Administration Building of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. The master St. Louis design was created by Cope & Stewardson
Cope & Stewardson
Cope & Stewardson was an architecture firm best known for its academic building and campus designs. The firm is often regarded as a Master of the Collegiate Gothic style. Walter Cope and John Stewardson established the firm in 1885, and were later joined by Emlyn Stewardson in 1887...
, famed for designing schools throughout the country based on the Oxford University style.
The Collegiate Gothic structure with its central tower keep design evokes Tattershall Castle
Tattershall Castle (Lincolnshire)
Tattershall Castle is a castle in Tattershall, Lincolnshire, England, north east of Sleaford, and in the care of the National Trust.-History:...
and lords over the campus with the motto, "And the truth shall make you free," engraved in stone. Because of this design, the term "Tower" is used frequently throughout campus and is the name of the school yearbook. Work on the building began in 1906 and continued on and off until classes began in it on October 3, 1910. The architect of record for the Maryville building is John H. Felt. On March 15, 1919, a tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
ripped the roof off its auditorium and blew out most of its windows.
1979 fire
On July 24, 1979, a fire destroyed 60 percent of the building on the central and west wing as well as the north wing housing the auditorium and Little Theater. Many thought the building was going to be razed, However the east wing survived with relatively little damage.A $13.8 million capital program repaired most of the building and made extensive changes to the campus layout. The building ceased to serve as classroom space, with the exception of 3rd floor, which houses the Family and Consumer Sciences Department. The theater and music departments moved out of the building to what is now the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts, located southeast of Bearcat Stadium. The north wing of the Administration Building was torn down and sealed, although the outline of the wing is still visible against the bricks on the north. The former Wells Library (now Wells Hall) was turned into a classroom area and home for the National Public Radio affiliate radio station KXCV-FM
KXCV
KXCV is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Maryville, Missouri, USA. The station is currently owned by Northwest Missouri State Univ. and features programing from American Public Media and National Public Radio...
and the library was moved to its current location in the new B.D. Owens Library. All the academic files were burned and lost with no backups prior to the fire.
Athletics
Northwest was a founding member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationMid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association is a college athletic conference which operates in the states of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and effective in 2012 in Oklahoma in the Midwestern United States. The conference was formerly known as the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic...
in 1912 and has remained in the conference ever since. From its founding until 1937 it competed in the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
. From 1937 to 1957 it competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
. In 1957 it joined NCAA Division II. Northwest has appeared in seven Division II football title games (winning three) since 1998. The men's basketball team appeared in an AAU title game in 1930.
Student organizations
Student organizations encompass activities and interests that includeAcademic (such as an Association for Computing Machinery
Association for Computing Machinery
The Association for Computing Machinery is a learned society for computing. It was founded in 1947 as the world's first scientific and educational computing society. Its membership is more than 92,000 as of 2009...
chapter),
Greek fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
,
Political (such as the College Republicans
College Republicans
The College Republican National Committee is a national organization for college and university students who support the Republican Party of the United States...
or the Young Democrats),
Honorary (such as the Blue Key Honor Society and Mortar Board
Mortar Board
Mortar Board is an American national honor society whose purpose is to recognize outstanding students dedicated to the values of scholarship, leadership, and service. The Cornell University Der Hexenkreis chapter, founded in 1892, is the oldest and predates the national society's founding in 1918...
),
Multicultural (with groups such as the Alliance of Black Collegians, the Asian Student Association, the Hispanic American Leadership Organization, and the Indian Student Association),
Performing (such as the American Choral Directors Association
American Choral Directors Association
The American Choral Directors Association , headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a non-profit organization with the stated purpose of promoting excellence in the field of choral music...
),
Religious (such as Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
),
Residential Life (with student governing bodies for the residential halls),
Sports (with clubs for cheerleading, fencing, rugby, soccer, wrestling and equestrian sports),
and dozens more.
Fraternities at the university include
Alpha Gamma Rho
Alpha Gamma Rho
Alpha Gamma Rho is a social-professional fraternity in the United States, with 75 university chapters including chapter in Mindanao State University, Philippines...
,
Alpha Kappa Lambda
Alpha Kappa Lambda
Alpha Kappa Lambda is an American collegiate social fraternity for men founded at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1914...
,
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
,
Delta Chi
Delta Chi
Delta Chi or D-Chi is an international Greek letter college social fraternity formed on October 13, 1890,at Cornell University, initially as a professional fraternity for law students. On April 29, 1922, Delta Chi became a general membership social fraternity, eliminating the requirement for men...
,
Delta Sigma Phi
Delta Sigma Phi
Delta Sigma Phi is a fraternity established at the City College of New York in 1899 and is a charter member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference. The headquarters of the fraternity is the Taggart Mansion located in Indianapolis, Indiana...
,
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
,
Phi Mu Alpha,
Phi Sigma Kappa
Phi Sigma Kappa
-Phi Sigma Kappa's Creed and Cardinal Principles:The 1934 Convention in Ann Arbor brought more changes for the fraternity. Brother Stewart W. Herman of Gettysburg wrote and presented the Creed, and Brother Ralph Watts of Massachusetts drafted and presented the Cardinal Principles.-World War II:The...
,
Sigma Alpha Iota
Sigma Alpha Iota
Sigma Alpha Iota , International Music Fraternity for Women. Formed to "uphold the highest standards of music" and "to further the development of music in America and throughout the world", it continues to provide musical and educational resources to its members and the general public...
,
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,...
,
Sigma Tau Gamma
Sigma Tau Gamma
Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity also named "Sig Tau" or "the Knights" is a U.S. all-male college secret-social fraternity founded on June 28, 1920 at University of Central Missouri...
, and
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...
.
Sororities include
Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Delta Pi is a fraternity founded on May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The Executive office for this sorority is located on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. Alpha Delta Pi is one of the two "Macon Magnolias," a term used to celebrate the bonds it shares with Phi Mu...
,
Alpha Sigma Alpha
Alpha Sigma Alpha
Alpha Sigma Alpha is a US national sorority founded on November 15, 1901 at the Virginia State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia...
,
Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
,
Phi Mu
Phi Mu
Phi Mu is the second oldest female fraternal organization established in the United States. It was founded at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The organization was founded as the Philomathean Society on January 4, 1852, and was announced publicly on March 4 of the same year...
,
Sigma Alpha
Sigma Alpha
Sigma Alpha is a professional agricultural sorority that promotes scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship among its members.On January 26th, 1978 five young women, Ann Huling Mathews, Cindie Davis, Marilyn Burns, Jennifer McMillan and Amy Mathews, founded Sigma Alpha at the Ohio State...
,
Sigma Kappa
Sigma Kappa
Sigma Kappa is a sorority founded in 1874 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Sigma Kappa was founded by five women: Mary Caffrey Low Carver, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Mabel Fuller Pierce, Frances Elliott Mann Hall and Louise Helen Coburn...
,
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma , also known as Tri Sigma, is a national American women’s sorority with membership of more than 100,000 members. Sigma Sigma Sigma is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference and hosts chapters on more than 110 college campuses and 89 alumnae chapters in communities all...
, and
Zeta Phi Beta
Zeta Phi Beta
Zeta Phi Beta is an international, historically black Greek-lettered sorority and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.Zeta Phi Beta is organized into 800+ chapters, in eight intercontinental regions including the USA, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean...
.
Campus lore
- Mike the Dog - Although the team mascot is a bearcat, perhaps the school's most touching monument is a small memorial to a dog near the east end of the Administration Building. Mike (which appears to resemble a Cairn TerrierCairn TerrierThe Cairn Terrier is the oldest of the terrier breeds, originating in the Scottish Highlands and recognized as one of Scotland's earliest working dogs...
) was a campus fixture from 1916–1917 and wore a green blanket with an "M" on it. Mike died after drinking arsenide of lead mistaking it for water. Students raised money for the memorial. - Roberta Hall ghost - On April 28, 1951 a gas tanker car stored on a siding of the Wabash RailroadWabash RailroadThe Wabash Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. It served a large area, including trackage in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and Ontario. Its primary connections included Chicago, Illinois, Kansas City, Missouri, Detroit,...
tracks behind what was then Residence Hall exploded, sending steel chunks several blocks away. The ensuing fire destroyed much of Residence Hall and injured Roberta Steel, who was to die from the wounds in 1952. The Hall was rebuilt and renamed for Roberta. A persistent story says that she haunts the building throwing hair brushes. - Bobby the Bearcat - Northwest initially did not have a formal mascot and had been nicknamed the "Normals." In 1916 a Drury College coach asked the Northwest coach if his bearcats were ready to play. The name stuck.
- Northwest Yeti - Although the official mascot is Bobby the Bearcat, a Yeti can often be seen at Northwest events, including basketball and football games. The Yeti has a small cult following.
- Kissing Bridge - The small wooden kissing bridge was over a small usually dry creek leading to Colden Pond southwest of Charles J. ColdenCharles J. ColdenCharles J. Colden was a 20th century California politician who served in the Los Angeles City Council and the U.S. Congress.Charles J. Colden was a 20th century California politician who served in the Los Angeles City Council and the U.S. Congress.Charles J...
Hall. Legend says that a female student isn’t officially a co-ed until she has been kissed on the bridge before the first snowfall. Another legend says that if you cross the bridge you will visit the campus again. The bridge has been moved from its original location closer to Colden Hall. - University Seal in the Bell Tower - The university seal, which is also the seal of the State of Missouri, is at the base of the Bell Tower. According to legend, if you walk across it you risk flunking. In a 2004 restoration of the tower the seal was moved to a display case.
- Bell of 48 - A gift from the class of 1948, the bell is rung to announce athletic victories, in memory of any member of the University community and to announce other events deemed important by Student Senate and the administration. The bell is rung at 8:00 AM, (the time classes usually start,) on the Friday before the homecoming game, in order to signify Walk-Out Day. The seniors used to ring the bell some time in the day to "release" the other students from classes. Each year it became earlier until the University made it a tradition by cancelling classes that day.
- Hickory Stick - The hickory stick is given to the winner of the Northwest and Truman State UniversityTruman State UniversityTruman State University is a public liberal arts and sciences university in Missouri, United States and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. About 6,000 students attend Truman, pursuing degrees in 43 undergraduate and 9 Graduate programs. It is located in Kirksville in...
(Kirksville, MO) football game. The hickory stick says, "This Hickory Stick was grown on a farm in the Maryville District on which Eugene Fair, President of Northeast Missouri State was born." The first recorded game score is from 1908. Also noted on the stick is 1942, '43, '44 and '45 "WAR NO GAME." By tradition the winning team repaints the metal tip with their school color. Truman holds the overall advantage 42-28-4, but the tides are a changin', Northwest has owned the hickory stick for the last 8-years, including a 49-0 drubbing in 2008 as well as a 70-0 win in 2009. - World's Shortest St. Patrick's Parade - Starting off as a joke for downtown watering hole The Palms, it is an ever-diminishing tradition of having of the world's shortest Saint Patrick's DaySaint Patrick's DaySaint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
Parade. Originally going a block on Buchanan from Fourth Street to Fifth Street, the parade has gotten shorter and shorter each year to maintain the record. It was 86 feet (26.2 m) in 2006. - Laptop Program - Northwest gives HPHewlett-PackardHewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
laptop computers to all students for use during the school year.
University Presidents
- Frank DeerwesterFrank DeerwesterFrank Deerwester was the first president of Northwest Missouri State University in 1906-07.Butler was born in Bates County, Missouri and attended Butler College, the Second District Normal School, New York University, the University of Chicago and Harvard.During his first year he fought funding...
(1906–1907) - Homer Martien CookHomer Martien CookHomer Martien Cook was president of Northwest Missouri State University.He was born in La Grange, Missouri. At LaGrange College he received a bachelors in 1890, a masters in 1904 from the University of Chicago and an LLd from the Columbia School of Expression in Chicago in 1906.He was pastor of...
(1907–1909) - Henry Kirby TaylorHenry Kirby TaylorHenry Kirby Taylor was president of Kentucky Wesleyan College, Northwest Missouri State University and the University of Texas at Arlington.-Kentucky Wesleyan:...
(1909–1913) - Ira RichardsonIra RichardsonIra Richardson was a president of Northwest Missouri State University and founding president of Adams State College.-Early life:Richardson was a native of northern Missouri and received a degree from Central Methodist University in 1897....
(1913–1921) - Uel W. LamkinUel W. LamkinUel Walter Lamkin was president of Northwest Missouri State University from 1921 to 1945.Lamkin was born in California, Missouri. He attended the private Clinton, Missouri Academy run by his father...
(1921–1945) - J.W. JonesJ.W. JonesJohn W. Jones was president of Northwest Missouri State Teacher's College from 1945 to 1964. Jones was its first Ph.D president. He came to Northwest as dean of faculty in 1938....
(1945–1964) - Robert P. FosterRobert P. FosterRobert Porter Foster was president of Northwest Missouri State University from 1964 to 1977.During his tenure Northwest's enrollment increased from 500 to 6,500.-Early life:...
(1964–1977) - B.D. OwensB.D. OwensBobbie Dean Owens was a university president of University of Tampa, Northwest Missouri State University and St. Matthew's University-Early life:...
(1977–1984) - Dean L. HubbardDean L. HubbardDean L. Hubbard was the university president of Northwest Missouri State University from 1984 until 2009—the longest of any president in the school history....
(1984–2009) - John JasinskiJohn JasinskiJohn Jasinski is the 10th university president of Northwest Missouri State University.-Early life:Jasinski was born in Flint, Michigan and was a 1980 graduate of Powers Catholic High School.-Education:He attended Mott Community College...
(2009–Present)
Notable alumni
Among Northwest's alumni are Jean BartikJean Bartik
Jean Bartik was one of the original programmers for the ENIAC computer.She was born Betty Jean Jennings in Gentry County, Missouri, in 1924 and attended Northwest Missouri State Teachers College, majoring in mathematics. In 1945, she was hired by the University of Pennsylvania to work for Army...
, one of the original programmers for the ENIAC computer and a member of the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame.
Politicians include:
- Jason R. BrownJason R. BrownJason R. Brown is a Republican and small business owner who currently serves as deputy majority whip of the Missouri House of Representatives. He resides with his wife, Rachelle, and their two children, Alayna and Caleb, in Platte City, Missouri.He received a B.S...
- a Republican leader in the Missouri House of RepresentativesMissouri House of RepresentativesThe Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri... - Pat DannerPat DannerPatsy Ann "Pat" Danner is an American politician. She formerly represented the Missouri's 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. She is a Democrat.-Education and background:...
- a former U.S. representative from Missouri - Steve KingSteve KingSteven Arnold "Steve" King is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district is located in the western part of the state and includes Sioux City and Council Bluffs....
- U.S. representative from Iowa - Leonard LenihanLeonard LenihanLeonard Lenihan is the Chairman of the Erie County Democratic Committee in Erie County, New York. He is a former Chairman of the Erie County Legislature and a former county personnel commissioner. He was a Presidential Elector for Sen. John Kerry and Sen. John Edwards in 2004. His wife, Kathleen...
- a Democratic leader in New York - Bill SiebertBill SiebertWilliam Earl Siebert, known as Bill Siebert , is a businessman in San Antonio, Texas, who is a Republican former member of the Texas House of Representatives from Bexar County, having served from 1993 to 2001....
- former member of the Texas House of RepresentativesTexas House of RepresentativesThe Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
from San AntonioSan Antonio, TexasSan Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
Professional athletes and sports figures include:
- Jack McCrackenJack McCrackenJack "Jumping Jack" McCracken was a basketball player in 1930s and 1940s. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Amateur Athletic Union players of all time and was officially named as the greatest player of all time by the AAU organization.A native of Chickasha, Oklahoma, McCracken went to...
, an AAUAmateur Athletic UnionThe Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
basketball player from the 1930s and 1940s who in 1962 was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of FameBasketball Hall of FameThe Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
. - Gary GaettiGary GaettiGary Joseph Gaetti , nicknamed "G-Man", "Rat", or "Zorn" is an American former third baseman in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins , California Angels , Kansas City Royals , St...
- Major league baseball player - Chris GreisenChris GreisenChristopher J. Greisen is an American football quarterback for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Northwest Missouri State...
- Arena Football League starting quarterback for the Georgia Force - Tony MilesTony Miles (football player)Tony Miles is a Canadian Football League wide receiver/punt returner who is currently a free agent.-College career:...
- Canadian Football LeagueCanadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
wide receiver; school's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns - Xavier OmonXavier OmonXavier Omon is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
- National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) running back and 2008 6th round draft pick of the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Mike PetersonMike PetersonPorter Michael "Mike" Peterson is an American professional football player who has been a linebacker in the National Football League for thirteen seasons...
- NFL tight end - Jamaica RectorJamaica RectorJamaica Rector is an American and Canadian football wide receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
- NFL wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals - Shane TwinsShane TwinsThe Shane Twins are a professional wrestling tag team that consist of twin brothers Mike and Todd Shane. They were best known for their appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment as Gymini.-History:The Shane Twins debuted in the Florida based Independent Pro Wrestling promotion in 1998...
- professional wrestlers - Mel TjeerdsmaMel TjeerdsmaMel Tjeerdsma is a retired American football coach. He served as the head coach at Austin College in Sherman, Texas from 1984 to 1993 and at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri from 1994 until his retirement after the 2010 season. In his 27 years as a head coach, Tjeerdsma...
- Northwest's national champion winning coach, and most winning DII post-season coach with 22 victories - Dave TollefsonDave TollefsonDave Tollefson is an American football defensive end for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round, with the 253rd pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
- NFL defensive end for the New York Giants - Seth WandSeth WandSeth Phillip Wand is an American football offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
- NFL offensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans - Steve Williams - NFL defensive tackle for the New England Patriots