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Saint Joseph's University (also called SJU or St. Joe's) is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line, Pennsylvania, United States.
The school was founded in 1851 as Saint Joseph's College by the Society of Jesus. As of 2007, Saint Joseph's University is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Saint Joseph's University educates over 7,500 students each year in over 50 undergraduate majors, 10 special-study options, 28 study-abroad programs, 53 graduate study areas, and an Ed.D.
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Encyclopedia
Saint Joseph's University (also called SJU or St. Joe's) is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line, Pennsylvania, United States.
The school was founded in 1851 as Saint Joseph's College by the Society of Jesus. As of 2007, Saint Joseph's University is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Saint Joseph's University educates over 7,500 students each year in over 50 undergraduate majors, 10 special-study options, 28 study-abroad programs, 53 graduate study areas, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. It has 17 centers and institutes. The school is one of 142 U.S. colleges with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and AACSB business school accreditation. Saint Joseph's is one of the oldest Jesuit, Catholic universities in the United States.
Saint Joseph's has grown in physical size and scope since 2000, and as of 2008, was ranked eighth among Best Universities-Master’s (North) in U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2009" edition.
History
As far back as 1741, a Jesuit College in Philadelphia had been proposed and planned by Rev. Joseph Greaton, S.J., the first resident pastor of Saint Joseph's Church. The suppression of the Jesuits (1773-1814) and lack of people and money delayed for over a hundred years the realization of Greaton's plans.
| Presidents of St. Joseph's |
|---|
| President | From | To |
|---|
| Rev. Felix Barbelin, S.J. | 1851 | 1856 | | Rev. James Ryder, S.J. | 1856 | 1857 | | Rev. James A. Ward, S.J. | 1857 | 1860 | | Rev. Felix Barbelin, S.J. | 1860 | 1868 | | Rev. Burchard Villiger, S.J. | 1868 | 1893 | | Rev. Patrick J. Dooley, S.J. | 1893 | 1896 | | Rev. William F. Clark, S.J. | 1896 | 1900 | | Rev. Cornelius Gillespie, S.J. | 1900 | 1907 | | Rev. Denis T. O'Sullivan, S.J. | 1907 | 1908 | | Rev. Cornelius Gillespie, S.J. | 1908 | 1909 | | Rev. Charles W. Lyons, S.J. | 1909 | 1914 | | Rev. J. Charles Davey, S.J. | 1914 | 1917 | | Rev. Redmond J. Walsh, S.J. | 1917 | 1920 | | Rev. Patrick F. O'Gorman, S.J. | 1920 | 1921 | | Rev. Albert G. Brown, S.J. | 1921 | 1927 | | Rev. William T. Tallon, S.J. | 1927 | 1933 | | Rev. Thomas J. Higgins, S.J. | 1933 | 1939 | | Rev. Thomas J. Love, S.J. | 1939 | 1944 | | Rev. John L. Long, S.J. | 1944 | 1950 | | Rev. Edward G. Jacklin, S.J. | 1950 | 1956 | | Rev. J. Joseph Bluett, S.J. | 1956 | 1962 | | Rev. William F. Maloney, S.J. | 1962 | 1968 | | Rev. Terrence Toland, S.J. | 1968 | 1976 | | Rev. Donald I. MacLean, S.J. | 1976 | 1986 | | Rev. Nicholas S. Rashford, S.J. | 1986 | 2003 | | Rev. Timothy R. Lannon, S.J. | 2003 | Present | |
Credit for founding the college is given to Rev. Felix Barbelin, S.J., who served as its first president. Barbelin and four other Jesuits formed the first faculty of Saint Joseph's College. On the morning of September 15, 1851, some 30 young men gathered in the courtyard outside Old St. Joseph's Church, located in Willing's Alley off Walnut and Fourth Street in Philadelphia, one block from Independence Hall. After attending High Mass and reciting the Veni Creator in the church, these men were assigned to their classes in a building adjacent to the church.
Before the end of the first academic year in 1851, the enrollment rose from fewer than 40 students to 97. In the following year, the college received its charter of incorporation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the enrollment grew to 126 students. The fledgling college soon outgrew an increasingly noisy and commercialized location on Willing’s Alley. The college moved in 1856 to a building at Juniper and Filbert Streets, then in a prosperous residential neighborhood near the future site of City Hall. In 1889, Saint Joseph’s inaugurated its third site at 17th and Stiles Streets in North Philadelphia, in the heart of Philadelphia’s booming industrial zone. In 1922, Saint Joseph's opened the first college radio station on AM radio. In 1927, in recognition of population shifts toward the western part of the city and into the western suburbs, the college moved to its current location, 54th and City Avenue, at the entrance to Philadelphia’s fashionable Main Line. After World War II, Saint Joseph’s began to acquire properties across City Avenue on the Main Line itself, propelling the institution physically as well as culturally into the suburbs proper.
In fall 1970, the undergraduate day college opened its doors to women. Saint Joseph's was recognized as a university by the Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on July 24, 1978. The corporate charter was formally changed to reflect university status on December 27, 1978.
Recent developments and plans
In 2005, the University agreed to purchase the Merion campus of neighboring Episcopal Academy. Once completed, the acquisition will add containing 52 classrooms, eight laboratories, 113 offices, and of playing fields. Two gymnasiums, a pool, and a new dining hall are also planned for the new campus. After the announcement, alumnus James J. Maguire '58 donated $10 million to help fund the purchase, and Saint Joseph's officials announced that the tract will be known as the James J. Maguire '58 Campus. Maguire's gift was later matched by a donation by Brian Duperreault '69; the two donations are the largest single alumni gifts in Saint Joseph's history.
The University recently completed a large parking facility on 54th Street, next to Borgia Hall, named "Hawks' Landing". The facility provides 471 enclosed parking spaces for students, faculty, staff, and basketball game attendees, as well as two first-floor restaurants including Cosi, which is adjacent to Borgia Hall, near Larry's Steaks. The University Bookstore, which had been located in the middle of campus in Simpson Hall, was moved to the parking facility's first floor in the center of the first floor for the beginning of the Spring 2008 semester.
On October 6, 2007, ground was broken on the Saint Joseph's University Fieldhouse expansion and renovation. The facility will be renamed the Michael J. Hagan Arena upon completion of the project that will include a new south entrance. Flannigan Hall and Barry Annex will be demolished during fall 2007 to make room for the a new east wing. Barry Hall will remain standing and renovated into the Athletic Department office building. The project includes a new hall of fame area, basketball suite, varsity locker rooms and offices as well as a full concourse with concessions that allows access to the arena from 54th and Overbrook. The expansion will also allow the seating of 1,000 more people in the arena.
The university received $7.5 million from the John R. Post family which will help build state-of-the-art library learning commons, beginning in 2013.
The rest of the $150 million will go to financial aid and scholarships, and hiring faculty. All of the money being raised is part of a fundraising effort called With Faith and Strength To Dare: The Campaign For Saint Joseph's University which is a result of SJU's Plan 2010: The Path To Preeminence.
The first floor of the Campion Student Center, including the main dining hall, will be completely renovated during summer 2008. Finnesey Field has also been resurfaced.
A plan was recently proposed that, if accepted by the Board of Trustees, will lead to the tearing down of Sourin Hall and Tara Hall, both residence halls. A new residence hall would then be built in their place and another one would be built on Gest Lawn.
Speakers
Many famous people including Martin Luther King, Jr., Chuck D, Desmond Tutu, Michael Nutter, James Cone, Chelsea Clinton, Caroline Kennedy, Tim Russert, Jonathan Weiner, Pat Croce, Tim Wise, Ed Rendell, and Rick Santorum have spoken various locations around campus, including the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.
Demographics
59% of the student population is from out of state. 83% of the students are white, 5% are black, 2% are Hispanic, 2% are Asian, and 1% are Native American. The student body is evenly split between men and women. There is also a nearly even split between students who study at the College of Arts and Sciences and the Haub School of Business. Sixty-one percent of traditional full-time students reside on campus. The university is considered to be moderately selective during its admissions process and its freshmen retention rate is 89% while 47% of applicants are admitted which is fourth among the nation's twenty-eight Jesuit institutions. 38 states and 30 countries are represented by the student body. The student-faculty ratio is 13:1 and the average class size is around 30 students. The average SAT score out of 1600 for the class of 2012 is 1210. The mean GPA is a 3.5 on the 4.0 scale. The class of 2012 is the largest in the school's history with nearly 1,500 students.
Academics
About 98% of faculty hold the highest possible degrees in their fields. The 2008 graduation rate was 90% and the freshman retention rate is 89%. About 51% of undergraduates are enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences while 49% are enrolled in the Haub School of Business. Peer universities that Saint Joseph's typically competes with for students include Villanova University, University of Delaware, Penn State University, Loyola College in Maryland, and Drexel University. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education has placed Saint Joseph's under the designation of "Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)".
College of Arts and Sciences
The goal of education in the College of Arts and Sciences is to "stimulate the mind to think more critically and more imaginatively; the heart to feel more compassionately; and the spirit to be more attentive to the intimations of the divine in the world." The College of Arts and Sciences comprises 16 departments, offering a wide array of majors as well as many interdisciplinary minors. These programs include actuarial science, aerospace studies (Air Force ROTC), Asian studies, biology, chemistry, computer science, criminal justice, economics, education, English, environmental science, European studies, fine and performing arts, foreign languages and literatures, gender studies, history, interdisciplinary health services, international relations, labor studies, Latin American studies, mathematics, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, sociology, and theology.
Graduate degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences include biology, computer science, criminal justice, education, gerontological services, health administration, health education, nurse anesthesia, psychology, public safety and environmental protection, training and organizational development, and writing studies. Many of the programs offer post-master's certificates in a variety of areas. The College also offers a doctoral degree in education.
Erivan K. Haub School of Business
The mission of the Haub School of Business is to "support the aspirations of students to master the fundamental principles and practices of business in a diverse, ethical, and globally aware context. All degree programs stress the development of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and values that prepare our graduates to assume leadership roles in organizations of all sizes and types." The business school is located in Mandeville Hall.
The MBA program offers concentrations in Accounting, Decision and System Sciences, Finance, Health and Medical Services, Human Resource Management, International Business, International Marketing, Management, and Marketing. An MBA from Saint Joseph's University is offered at SJU's campus or at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Courses at both locations are administered and staffed by Saint Joseph's.
Undergraduate programs include Accounting, Decision and System Sciences, Finance, Food Marketing, International Business and Marketing, Management, Marketing, and Pharmaceutical Marketing.
In addition to the MBA program, HSB offers graduate degrees in Human Resource Management, Financial Services, International Marketing, Decision & System Sciences, an Executive MBA, Executive MS in Food Marketing, Executive MBAs in Food Marketing and Pharmaceutical Marketing, and a number of China Programs. The school also offers post-MBA certificate programs.
The Haub School of Business is one of only 15 business schools in the country to feature a Wall Street Trading Room. The room provides access to electronic sources of financial and investment data, analytical tools, and trading simulations. Students in certain classes must trade stocks to prepare themselves for specific careers.
The HSB was awarded The Beta Gamma Sigma 2006, 2007, and 2008 Silver Chapter Award and has been ranked in numerous reports and studies done by national companies, magazines, and websites.
University College
The University College is Saint Joseph's undergraduate continuing studies division. As early as 1852, the administration at Saint Joseph's organized educational opportunities for adults. A regular series of non-credit courses in several areas was offered beginning in 1942, and beginning in 1946, the Evening Division, which would eventually be known as University College, was formally established. In addition to traditional on-campus programs and majors, University College offers accelerated degree programs in English and professional communications, health administration, and leadership. Adult students wishing to pursue a degree during the day take advantage of the division's bridge program, and professionals in certain areas can take part in off-campus programs in professional communications, criminal justice, food marketing, and purchasing and acquisitions.
Honors Program
The Honors Program offers an enriched curriculum that broadens cultural interests, integrates knowledge, sharpens writing skills and encourages student involvement in the learning process. Students may enroll in General Honors, which is awarded upon successful completion of eight Honors courses or Departmental Honors, which is awarded upon successful completion of a two-semester honors level research project. Students of an exceptional caliber may apply for the University Scholar designation. Those who qualify are freed from four to ten of their senior year course requirements in order to complete an independent project of unusual breadth, depth and originality.
Rankings
The University has been ranked 8th among Best Universities-Master’s (North) in both U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2008" and "2009" editions (out of 173 schools). In addition, the publication ranks the Haub School of Business' part-time master's program 8th in the North region and the best in Philadelphia. HSB is also ranked by BusinessWeek (57th in the nation for its undergraduate program) and The Princeton Review ((cite http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/))(mentioned as one of "The Best 143 Business Schools" in 2007 and one of the best 290 in 2008). Saint Joseph's was also featured on Princeton Review's list of top 222 colleges in the Northeast. Barron's Profiles of American Colleges rate Saint Joseph's as "very competitive" among colleges and universities nationwide. CampusExplorer calls St. Joe's "highly selective". and one of the best 290 in 2008 The university's Haub School of Business' part-time M.B.A. program was recently named the best in Philadelphia and #23 nationally. The Corporation for National and Community Service placed Saint Joseph's University on the 2007 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest honor a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement. US News and World report gives SJU a 80 out of 100 overall. US News and World Report named Saint Joseph's Haub School of Business among the best graduate programs in the country in its 2009 edition. The school's graduate education was also listed among the best. College Prowler recently gave SJU high marks in Academics (B+), Local Atmosphere (A-), Athletics (B+), Nightlife (A-), Safety & Security (B+), and Facilities (B). In 2008, US News and World Report ranked the Haub School of Business' part-time MBA program as the best in Pennsylvania and one of the 25 best in the nation. In 2008, for the third year in a row, the Haub School of Business was awarded the Silver Chapter Award by Beta Gamma Sigma. The Princeton Review rated SJU an 85 out of 100 academically in its 2009 edition. In 2008, Forbes ranked Saint Joseph's as the 201st best college in the country.
Campus
Saint Joseph's University's campus, often referred to as Hawk Hill, is located on City Avenue, which splits the University between the northwestern edge of Philadelphia and Lower Merion Township. A bridge which goes over City Avenue, connects the two sides of the campus. Its are concentrated from Cardinal Avenue to 52nd Street and Overbrook Avenue to City Avenue, but also includes individual buildings separate from the main campus. With the acquisition of the Maguire Campus, 57 of the will be located on the Lower Merion side of City Avenue. It is within of University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, Temple University, Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College and Villanova University. There are 650 work stations on campus and all of the dorms are wired for access to the campus-wide network. Two regional rail train stations on each side of campus provide students with easy access to Center City. St. Mary's, Gest, Claver, Neumann, and Wolfington are all lawns located on the Main Campus while there are two quadrangles, College Hall Quad and Barbelin Quad. There are two libraries on campus, the Campbell Collection in Food Marketing & the Francis A. Drexel Library which house approximately 355,000 volumes, 1,450 print journals, 15,000 full-text electronic journals, 2,800 e-books, 866,000 microforms, 4,975 audio-visual materials. Two shuttles operated by Saint Joseph's run along City Avenue and stop at Mandeville Hall for students.
Main Campus
The Main Campus at Saint Joseph's contains the majority of academic buildings and freshmen dorms at SJU. Barbelin, Mandeville, Bellarmine, Post Halls, and the Science Center are all located there. It also includes the Campion Student Center, the Drexel Library, Chapel of Saint Joseph, Hawks' Landing parking facility, the bookstore, and Finnesey Field. The Main Campus is located on the Philadelphia side of City Avenue between Cardinal and Overbrook Avenues and 52nd Street.
James J. Maguire '58 Campus
On 8 August 2008, Saint Joseph's completed the acquisition of the adjacent Episcopal Academy after purchasing the property in 2005. The new campus which covers was named the Maguire Campus for the lead donor, a Saint Joseph's alum, James Maguire. Many existing academic departments such as the English, Education, Sociology, and Fine and Performing Arts departments will relocate to the Maguire Campus. The first building to be in use has been named Cynwyd Hall. The Maguire Campus is located directly across from the Main Campus on the Lower Merion side of City Avenue.
The athletic department is also taking full advantage of the acquisition as eight tennis courts, softball, baseball, soccer, and two multi-purpose fields already reside there. A gym and indoor pool will also be used for intramurals and recreation.
What was the old Episcopal Academy chapel will become a multi-use space which will house lectures, concerts, and social gatherings. There are talks of a small cafeteria and coffee shop being added to this space as well.
Along with all of the buildings and fields, the Maguire Campus adds over 300 parking spaces for faculty and students and a number of acres will be turned into green space. There are over 600 different species of trees on the Maguire Campus.
Overbrook Campus
The Overbrook Campus is located about a mile from and on the same side of City Avenue as the Main Campus. It includes mostly upper-classmen residence halls Moore Hall, Morris Quad, Ashwood Hall, and Alumni House. The SJU shuttle that runs along City Avenue stops at the Overbrook Campus.
Buildings
Saint Joseph's most recognizable building is Barbelin Hall, opened in 1927 when the University moved to its current location. The hall is known for its Gothic architecture, particularly the gargoyles that mark what is called the Barbelin Quadrangle and the tall, four-spired bell tower that can be seen from miles away. The bell tower that sits atop Barbelin served as the University's logo for several years and is located upon Philadelphia's highest geographical location. Barbelin was built by John McShain who would later go on to construct many buildings in Washington, D.C. such as The Pentagon and The Jefferson Memorial.
Barbelin, and adjacent Lonergan Hall, are two of eight dedicated classroom buildings on campus. Other class buildings include John R. Post Hall, Mandeville Hall, Bellarmine Hall, the Science Center, Cynwyd Hall, and Boland Hall, the University's fine arts building which features the University Gallery where paintings and other works of art are showcased to students and the public. Classes are also held in Claver Hall, the home of the Honors Program; McShain Hall, a residence center; and the ELS building for international students. A number of buildings on the Maguire Campus will be dedicated to classes especially those for the fine arts. One building will be solely dedicated to the music department.
The University has three dormitory-style residence halls: McShain, Sourin Hall, and LaFarge Residence Center. Students also live in several campus houses, including Hogan, Jordan, Quirk, St. Albert's, St. Mary's, Simpson, Sullivan, and Xavier Halls and the Morris Quadrangle Townhouses. Apartment-style living is available on campus at Ashwood, Borgia, Merion Gardens, Rashford, and Wynnewood. Rashford and Borgia Halls are the newest campus residences, opened in 2004.
Many of the campuses houses are located on Lapsley Lane, which features a number of campus offices housed in the former homes of Lower Merion residents. These include Bronstein Hall, Regis Hall (Office of the President), and St. Thomas Hall
The Campion Student Center is where students generally go to eat. It includes the Hawk's Nest, Campion Food Court, Campion C-Store, Quizno's, Bene Pizza, Ancho Grill, Hawk Wrap, Grille Works, Freshens Smoothie Co., Così, and Jump Asian. The Bellarmine Express is also a popular place for a quick snack. The Student Center also has a Theatre Forum where current movies are shown frequently and an area called the Hawk Rock where students can play pool, watch movies, play videogames, or watch live bands or speakers.
In all, there are 74 buildings on the university's campus.
About 60 percent of students at Saint Joseph's live on campus. Options for on campus housing include apartments, residence halls, campus houses, and townhouses.
Athletics
Saint Joseph's University is home of the Hawks, the University's athletic program. It fields teams in 20 varsity sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Hawks are part of the Atlantic Ten Conference; because the Atlantic 10 does not support men's lacrosse, the Hawks play that sport in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Along with the Atlantic 10, Saint Joseph's is a member of the Philadelphia Big 5, intensifying rivalries with Temple University and Villanova University. The Saint Joseph's school colors are crimson and gray. An impressive 89% of student athletes graduate.
Men's Basketball
Men's basketball is the most popular sport at Hawk Hill. The team has competed in nineteen NCAA Tournaments (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008) and has won seven Atlantic 10 regular season titles and two A-10 tournament championships and ranks 33rd all time with a .605 winning percentage. The team is currently led by coach Phil Martelli. The 2003-2004 Saint Joseph's University Hawks were the last Division I College Basketball team to finish the Regular Season undefeated. Saint Joseph's ended the regular season with a 27-0 record and secured a #1 national ranking and a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Saint Joseph's University's basketball team was ranked 43rd best of all-time by Smith & Street's magazine in 2005. Twenty-seven players from St. Joe's have been drafted into the NBA.
The Saint Joseph's basketball teams play most of their home games at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse on the school's campus, while some games are played at the Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. During the 2008-09 basketball season, the Hawks will play all but one of their home games at the Palestra. Their first home game will be played against Rider University at the Wachovia Center in South Philadelphia. Saint Joseph's University also offers 30 intramural and recreational programs.
Their major rival is Villanova University (the rivalry is known as the Holy War). Fans of the Hawks often chant "The Hawk Will Never Die!". Since the school's undefeated regular season, this chant has gained familiarity with the team's opponents. In 2003, Sports Illustrated listed that cheer among The 100 Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate (Whatever the Cost), calling it "the most defiant cheer in college sports." Also included on the list at number 10 was "Visit Boathouse Row, a cluster of 19th century buildings in Philadelphia that marks the epicenter of U.S. rowing" where Saint Joseph's has a boathouse of its own.
SJU's mascot, The Hawk, has garnered numerous accolades in its 50-year history. It won a "Best of Philly" award from Philadelphia Magazine in 2003-04, has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference's best mascot, and has been selected as the nation's top mascot by The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Street & Smith's Basketball Yearbook, and ESPN College Basketball magazine. The Hawk continuously flaps its wings during all appearances.
Saint Joseph's is also a member of the City 6. Similar to the Big 5, the City 6 comprises six local colleges who compete in various extramural sporting events. The schools who compete are Saint Joseph's, Villanova University, University of Pennsylvania, La Salle University, Drexel University, and Temple University. About 75% of SJU men's basketball players graduate.
Saint Joseph's University will host first and second round games of the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The games will be played at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 19 and March 21.
Athletic facilities
- East Norriton Field: Located in East Norriton, Pa., East Norriton Field has served as Saint Joseph's University home softball field for the past 11 seasons. Prior to its move to East Norriton Field, SJU used nearby Belmont Plateau as its primary home field.
- Elmwood Park: The home of Saint Joseph's University baseball is Elmwood Park's Latshaw/McCarthy Field in Norristown, Pa. Originally laid out in 1938, the field was being rebuilt when the Hawks moved in for the 1990 season. The park's dimensions measure to the foul poles and to center field.
- Robert Gillin, Jr. Boathouse: Saint Joseph's University celebrated its sesquicentennial anniversary in 2000-01. In conjunction with that celebration, the SJU Rowing Program, along with Saint Joseph's Prep, kicked off a capital campaign to finance the construction of a state-of-the-art boathouse on the Schuylkill River. The boathouse provides a permanent home for the Hawk rowing programs. In addition, it provides the University with a significant presence on Kelly Drive. Named in honor of Robert Gillin, Jr., groundbreaking for the facility took place in the fall of 2001. The total cost for the project was approximately $3 million dollars, plus an endowment fund to support ongoing operational costs.
- Finnesey Field: Laid out in a natural bowl in the center of Saint Joseph's campus, Finnesey Field has been the home of Hawk athletic teams since 1929. Originally constructed for football and opened in 1929 with plans for an eventual 70,000-seat stadium, the field has undergone numerous changes over the years.
- Finnesey Courts: Adjacent to Finnesey Field stand the Finnesey Courts, home to the Hawk men's and women's tennis teams since the late 1940s. Prior to that SJU primarily played its home matches at the nearby Narberth courts. When courts were first built on campus, they were located where Bellarmine Hall now stands. Due to Bellarmine's construction in the summer of 1960, however, the Finnesey courts were torn down and rebuilt in their current location.
- Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse: The on-campus home of the Hawks basketball teams, was named for the Saint Joseph's graduates who gave their lives in World War II. The building was officially dedicated on November 11, 1949 and two weeks later, played host to its first basketball game, a 62–46 loss to Rhode Island on November 26. Following that initial setback, SJU would go on to win the next 23 games in the friendly confines of the Fieldhouse. Overall, the Hawks have compiled an impressive 305–76 record (80.0 winning percentage) on Hawk Hill. Among the highlights of the Hawks' homecourt advantage was a 34-game winning streak from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, an 11–0 record in 2000–01 and the unbeaten 11–0 mark as the Hawks made their perfect season run in 2003–04. All told, SJU has had only two losing records in the Fieldhouse over 57 seasons. The Fieldhouse currently can hold 3,200 fans but will soon be renovated to add another 1,000 seats. After the renovation is complete, it will be renamed Michael J. Hagan Arena. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at the Fieldhouse in the 1960s.
The university also has a 240 by 120 four-court multi-purpose area for basketball, tennis, and volleyball, an indoor four-lane jogging track, an 8-lane 25-meter indoor pool with a 300 seat observation area, four racquetball courts, locker rooms and saunas, a large fitness center, and nine outdoor tennis courts. The Maguire Campus includes another two gyms, a pool, and a weight room.
Student Life
All students receive a HawkCard which can be linked to banking services and is also used as a swipe card which then gives students access to residence halls or other areas of campus. Students can also use their HawkCards to pay for meals or snacks at various locations around campus. Student life is documented in The Hawk, the school newspaper. Intramurals are popular on campus, especially thanks to the City 6 extramurals which pit all Philadelphia Division I schools against one another. The non-traditional motto of the school is Spirit, Intellect, Purpose.
Organizations
The school offers many organizations for students to join. They include five national fraternities and four national soroities, a radio station, WSJR, and two newspapers, The Hawk and the HawkEye.
The Villiger Debating Society, the school's nationally recognized speech and debate team, has enjoyed a 150 year legacy of success.
A number of community service organizations exist such as Up 'Til Dawn, Habitat For Humanity, Hand In Hand, Helping Hawks, Students Against Sweatshops, and Students For Peace and Justice. Numerous student government organizations such as Student Union Board, University Student Senate, College Democrats, and College Republicans also exist.
There are over 100 organizations in all at SJU.
Greek life
Approximately 7% of men and 13% of women are in fraternities and sororities, respectively.
Fraternities
Sororities
Publications and Media
Saint Joseph's University has two newspapers, the HawkEye and The Hawk. The HawkEye is a newsletter for faculty and alumni while The Hawk is for students and written by students. Another online only newsletter is called Hawk Hill Online. The Crimson and Gray Literary Magazine showcases the best of student fiction, poetry, and artwork in an annual publication; students and faculty may download the magazine for free (available from the organization's website) or pick one up from select locations around campus. The university also has a magazine called SJU Magazine that is printed every season. The Drexel Library has its own newsletter called Library Lines. The Saint Joseph's University Press prints books and articles written by faculty and other authors.. The school also began a record label in 2008 called Hawk Will Never Die Records. The university's radio station is WSJR and it is a member of the Philadelphia College Radio Collective.
Housing
Approximately 61% of students at Saint Joseph's live on campus. There are a number of housing options including dorms, apartments, townhouses, and campus houses which can be found on various locations around campus.
Traditions
- Hawk Hill: In the early 1920s, when former University president Albert G. Brown, S.J. decided to move the college campus from its location just north of the city at Seventeenth and Stiles to its current site in Overbrook on Philadelphia's west side, he selected the location in part because its hilltop perch overlooking downtown Philadelphia provided a dramatic setting for the construction of the college's main building, Barbelin Hall. In fact, for many years Barbelin's signature carillon tower ranked as the highest point from sea level in the city of Philadelphia. Later, according to oral tradition, students and faculty frequently saw real hawks circling the skies above Barbelin, before swooping down on their prey. The familiar scene eventually led to the coining of the moniker "Hawk Hill".
- Colors: The college colors of crimson and gray date back to the 1890s when it is related that a young seminarian leading a pep rally saw the colors on a book he was holding. Thinking they looked attractive together, he announced that these would be the school colors.
- Fight Songs: "Oh When the Hawks Go Flying In!!" and "Mine Eyes".
- The Hawk Will Never Die: The motto of Saint Joseph's athletics and the University itself. Chanted at basketball games, the mascot demonstrates the motto by flapping its wings the entire game including halftime.
- Free Period: There are no scheduled classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11:15 and 1:00 which allows students to relax, catch up, or enjoy themselves.
- The Seal: Many students avoid walking on the university seal in Mandeville Hall until their senior year.
- Saint Joseph statue: Students rub the toes of this statue in front of Barbelin Hall for good luck.
- University Chapel: Being a Jesuit institution, the Chapel is an important and popular place for many students.
- Basketball: A rich and important tradition at a school in a city known for college hoops.
- Larry's Steaks: Right near the campus on 54th Street, Larry's Steaks has served SJU students with classic Philly cheese steaks for years.
Alma Mater
- Saint Joseph’s hail! In song we praise
- Our mother dear and fair.
- In life’s grim battle, we’ll march on
- With faith and strength to dare.
- For valiant deeds make stout our hearts
- To prove your sons are true.
- Let us rejoice and with one voice
- Pledge loyal love to you.
- Saint Joseph’s hail! Our blood runs proud
- To hold tradition’s fame,
- For words of gold on history’s scroll
- Shed glory on your name.
- To honor God, to love all men,
- Crusaders for each fray,
- Against the sky our colors fly,
- Deep crimson folds and gray.
Notable alumni
There are over 50,000 living alumni of Saint Joseph's who live in all 50 states and 59 countries.
External links
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