Sewanee, The University of the South
Encyclopedia
The University of the South is a private, coeducational liberal arts college
located in Sewanee
, Tennessee
. It is owned by twenty-eight southern dioceses
of the Episcopal Church and its School of Theology
is an official seminary
of the church. The university's School of Letters offers graduate degrees in American Literature and Creative Writing. The campus (officially called "The Domain" or, affectionately, "The Mountain") consists of 13000 acres (52.6 km²) of scenic mountain property atop the Cumberland Plateau
in southeastern Tennessee, although the developed portion occupies only about 1000 acres (4 km²).
Often known simply as Sewanee, the school has produced 26 Rhodes Scholars and was ranked 32nd in the annual US News & World Report list of liberal arts colleges. In 2009, Forbes
ranked it 94th of America's Best Colleges
. Sewanee is a member of the Associated Colleges of the South
.
On July 4, 1857, delegates from ten dioceses
of the Episcopal Church — Alabama
, Arkansas
, Florida
, Georgia
, Louisiana
, Mississippi
, North Carolina
, South Carolina
, Tennessee
, and Texas
— were led up Monteagle mountain by Bishop Leonidas Polk
for the founding of their denominational college for the region. The six-ton marble cornerstone, laid on October 10, 1860 and consecrated by Bishop Polk, was blown up in 1863 by Union soldiers from an Illinois
regiment; many of the pieces were collected and kept as keepsakes by the soldiers. At least a few were donated back to the University, and a large fragment was eventually installed in a wall of All Saints' Chapel, where the relic can be visited by pilgrims. Several figures later prominent in the Confederacy
, notably Bishop-General Leonidas Polk
, Bishop Stephen Elliott, and Bishop James Hervey Otey
, were significant founders of the University. Generals Edmund Kirby Smith
, Josiah Gorgas
and Francis A. Shoup
were prominent in the University's postbellum revival and continuance.
Because of the damage and disruptions of the Civil War
, construction came to a temporary halt around that time. In 1866 the process was resumed, and this date is sometimes given as the re-founding of the University
and the point from which it has maintained continuous operations (though official materials and anniversary celebrations use 1857 as the founding year). The University's first convocation was held on September 18, 1868, with nine students and four faculty members present. After the Civil War, Robert E. Lee
was offered the position of Vice-Chancellor but declined, choosing instead to work at Washington College
in his native Virginia. The Rt. Rev. Charles Todd Quintard, Vice Chancellor of the University (Second Bishop of Tennessee and "Chaplain of the Confederacy") journeyed to the first Lambeth Conference in England (1868) and received financial support from clergy and laity of the Church of England which enabled the rebuilding of the school. He is known as the "Re-Founder" of the University of the South.
During World War II
, University of the South 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.
Schools of dentistry, engineering, law, medicine, and nursing once existed, and a secondary school was part of the institution well into the second half of the twentieth century. For financial reasons, however, it was eventually decided to focus on two schools which exist today, the College and the School of Theology. In June 2006, Sewanee opened its School of Letters, a second graduate school. The School of Letters offers an M.A. in American Literature and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing.
style.
When this naming system was proposed in 2004, it was misinterpreted by some alumni to reflect a change in the official name of the University. A minor scandal ensued, due in large part to insinuations that the change was intended to "distance" the University from its historic association with Southern culture. The controversy has generally subsided, though some students and alumni still mistakenly refer to the incident as a "name change".
, founded in 1892, is thought to be the longest-running literary magazine in the country and has published and been praised by many distinguished authors. Its success has helped launch the Sewanee Writers' Conference, held each summer.
In 1983, playwright and Pulitzer Prize
winner Tennessee Williams
left his literary rights to the University of the South. Royalties have helped build the Tennessee Williams Center, a performance venue and teaching facility, and to create the Tennessee Williams teaching fellowships, which bring well-known figures in the arts to the campus.
"Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum," the University's motto, is taken from the opening of Psalm
133: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to
dwell together in unity."
practice in North America. Furthermore, the Order is charged with the maintenance of this and other traditions of the University. Similarly, drinking clubs, including The Highlanders and The Wellingtons, The Beefeaters, and ribbon societies continue to thrive after many decades. At major events, members of the former two groups display their distinctive ceremonial garb, kilts and cloaks, respectively. The Vice-Chancellor on formal occasions assumes the cappa clausa cope
as the Vice-Chancellor at Cambridge University still does.
Modern traditions include the Festival of Lessons and Carols in early December, an imitation of the traditional Christmas service in Cambridge
. Also, local mythology regarding angels is abundant; residents of the Domain tap the roofs of their cars as they pass through the stone gates in order to "get their angel" for protection in their travels. Numerous other traditions continue to flourish on the Mountain, many adapted to fit modern practices.
In recent years, some alumni and students have perceived that the school was trying to downplay the university's traditions, particularly its historical and cultural ties with Southern culture. As a result, some traditions have come under special scrutiny.
and decorated with Confederate-themed marks and images. The mace has been controversial due to its association with Forrest and its implications for attitudes toward African-Americans. Forrest had no connection with the university; the mace had been commissioned in 1964 by Louise Claiborne-Armstrong, whose brother attended the university, and made by San Francisco jewelry firm Shreve and Company using several of Claiborne-Armstrong's most precious jewels, notably a blue/white 4 carats (800 mg) diamond
which sat in the center cross atop the mace. The rest of the mace consisted of solid silver
except for the band, which was solid gold
. It was officially donated to the University in 1965, and was carried by the Order of Gownsmen at academic processions until it "disappeared" in 1997. Religion professor Gerald L. Smith said he had accidentally broken the mace while viewing it for an alumnus, and history professor Samuel R. Williamson, who was then chief executive, said he had already commissioned a new one. Dr. Smith said a misunderstanding led to the mace's disappearance; he had asked the campus police
chief to put it in a vault for safekeeping, but it was instead placed in the police station's gun vault, where it was found in early 2005. Upon its discovery, over 30 alumni offered to pay for the mace's repair but the University refused their offer. The mace is now available for private viewing via the school's archives.
(1856–1935), is sung to the tune of Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser
(The Emperor's Hymn, known in English language hymnals as "Austria"), by Joseph Haydn
. The tune was previously used for the Austria
n national anthem and a variation is used for Germany
's national anthem.
Alma Mater, written by Newton Middleton (Class of 1909)
Alma Mater, Sewanee
My Glorious Mother ever be.
I will give my All to Thee
God Bless Thee to Eternity.
Thou canst make me worth the while
O Guide and Shelter me.
And all my life, through Storm and Strife,
My Star Thou'lt be.
under the guidance of Dr. Arthur Ben Chitty, the Historiographer of the University.
Following the merger of the Sewanee Academy with St. Andrew's School
, located a few miles from Sewanee, in 1981, the School of Theology moved to the former SA campus. Because this new location was a mile away from St. Luke's Chapel (west of the campus proper), seminarians worshiped in a converted classroom until a new chapel was constructed adjacent to the school in 2000.
The School of Theology is one of the eleven seminaries officially connected with the Episcopal Church. Further, it is the only one located within the Southeastern U.S. proper, the only other Southern seminaries being located at geographical fringes of the region, Virginia Theological Seminary
near Washington, D.C.
and the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest
in Austin, Texas
. Historically, its position within Anglicanism is generally considered to fall within the parameters of the High Church
tradition, whereas Virginia was seen as the seminary in the Low Church tradition.
program in the 1890s. Their 1899 football team had perhaps the best season in college football history, winning all 12 of their games, 11 by shutout
, and outscoring their opponents 322-10. Five of those wins, all shutouts, came in a six day period while on a 2500 miles (4,023.4 km) trip by train. Ten of their twelve opponents, including all five of their road trip victims, remain major college football powers to this day.
Sewanee was a charter member of the Southeastern Conference
upon its formation in 1932, but by this time its athletic program had declined precipitously and Sewanee never won a conference football game in the eight years it was an SEC member. The Tigers were shut out 26 times in their 37 SEC games, and were outscored by a combined total of 1163–84.
When vice chancellor Benjamin Ficklin Finney, who had reportedly objected to Sewanee joining the SEC, left his position in 1938, the leading candidate was Alexander Guerry, a former president of the University of Chattanooga
. According to a university historian, Guerry agreed to come to Sewanee only if the school stopped awarding athletic scholarship
s. In 1940, two years after Guerry's arrival, Sewanee withdrew from the SEC and subsequently deemphasized varsity athletics. Guerry's stance is sometimes credited as an early step toward the 1973 creation of NCAA
Division III, which prohibits athletic scholarships.
Today, Sewanee is a member of the Division III Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
(SCAC), offering 11 varsity sports for men and 13 for women. , 27 Sewanee student-athletes have received the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for academic excellence since the program's
inception in 1964.
Sewanee announced that they, along with six other SCAC members, would leave the conference effective July 1, 2012 to form the new Southern Athletic Association
beginning with the 2012-13 season. The announcement was made in Atlanta at the 2011 annual meeting of SCAC presidents.
.
Liberal arts colleges in the United States
Liberal arts colleges in the United States are certain undergraduate institutions of higher education in the United States. The Encyclopædia Britannica Concise offers a definition of the liberal arts as a "college or university curriculum aimed at imparting general knowledge and developing general...
located in Sewanee
Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee is an unincorporated locality in Franklin County, Tennessee, United States, treated by the U.S. Census as a census-designated place . The population was 2,361 at the 2000 census...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. It is owned by twenty-eight southern dioceses
Province 4 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
Province 4 , also known as the Province of Sewanee, is one of nine ecclesiastical provinces making up the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The largest of the provinces of the Episcopal Church, it is composed of twenty dioceses in nine Southeastern states...
of the Episcopal Church and its School of Theology
Divinity School
Divinity School may refer to:* The common noun, divinity school* When used as a proper noun, may be an abbreviated reference to one of the following:** Beeson Divinity School** Berkeley Divinity School** Brite Divinity School...
is an official seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of the church. The university's School of Letters offers graduate degrees in American Literature and Creative Writing. The campus (officially called "The Domain" or, affectionately, "The Mountain") consists of 13000 acres (52.6 km²) of scenic mountain property atop the Cumberland Plateau
Cumberland Plateau
The Cumberland Plateau is the southern part of the Appalachian Plateau. It includes much of eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia, part of Tennessee, and a small portion of northern Alabama and northwest Georgia . The terms "Allegheny Plateau" and the "Cumberland Plateau" both refer to the...
in southeastern Tennessee, although the developed portion occupies only about 1000 acres (4 km²).
Often known simply as Sewanee, the school has produced 26 Rhodes Scholars and was ranked 32nd in the annual US News & World Report list of liberal arts colleges. In 2009, Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
ranked it 94th of America's Best Colleges
Forbes Magazine's List of America's Best Colleges
In 2009 Forbes Magazine, along with The Center for College Affordability and Productivity, compiled a list of America's Best Colleges based on "the quality of the education they provide, the experience of the students and how much they achieve".- 2009 List :...
. Sewanee is a member of the Associated Colleges of the South
Associated Colleges of the South
The Associated Colleges of the South is a consortium of 16 liberal arts colleges in the southern United States. It was formed in 1991.-Members:*Birmingham-Southern College - Birmingham, Alabama...
.
History
Dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
The Episcopal Church is governed by a General Convention and consists of 100 dioceses in the United States proper, plus ten dioceses in other countries or outlying U.S. territories and the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, which is similar to a diocese....
of the Episcopal Church — Alabama
Episcopal Diocese of Alabama
The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama is located in Province IV of The Episcopal Church and serves the State of Alabama with the exception of the extreme southern region, including Mobile, which forms part of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast....
, Arkansas
Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas
The Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas is part of the larger Episcopal Church in the United States and the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Diocese is organized into 56 congregations, with its diocesan office in Little Rock. The seat of the Bishop of Arkansas is , Little Rock.-List of bishops of...
, Florida
Episcopal Diocese of Florida
The Episcopal Diocese of Florida is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America . It originally comprised the whole state of Florida, but is now bounded on the west by the Apalachicola River, on the north by the Georgia state line, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the...
, Georgia
Episcopal Diocese of Georgia
The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, USA is one of 20 dioceses that comprise Province IV of the US Episcopal Church, and is a diocese within the worldwide Anglican Communion. The current bishop is the Rt. Rev. Scott Anson Benhase who succeeded the Rt. Rev. Henry I. Louttit, Jr...
, Louisiana
Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana
The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the eastern part of the state of Louisiana. The see city is New Orleans.-History:...
, Mississippi
Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi
The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, created in 1850, is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America with jurisdiction over the entire state of Mississippi. It is in Province 4 and its cathedral, St...
, North Carolina
Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, founded in 1817, roughly corresponds to the segment of the U.S. state of North Carolina between I-77 in the west and I-95 in the east, including the most populous area of the state. Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, Cary, and Durham are the...
, South Carolina
Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America covering an area of 24 counties in the eastern part of the state of South Carolina. Its see city is Charleston, home to the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul and Diocesan House. There are...
, Tennessee
Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee
The Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America that covers roughly Middle Tennessee. A single diocese spanned the entire state until 1982, when the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee was created; the Diocese of Tennessee was again split...
, and Texas
Episcopal Diocese of Texas
The Episcopal Diocese of Texas is one of the largest dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The diocese consists of all ECUSA congregations in the southeastern quartile of Texas, including the cities of Austin, Beaumont, Galveston, Houston and Waco.The 153 congregations...
— were led up Monteagle mountain by Bishop Leonidas Polk
Leonidas Polk
Leonidas Polk was a Confederate general in the American Civil War who was once a planter in Maury County, Tennessee, and a second cousin of President James K. Polk...
for the founding of their denominational college for the region. The six-ton marble cornerstone, laid on October 10, 1860 and consecrated by Bishop Polk, was blown up in 1863 by Union soldiers from an Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
regiment; many of the pieces were collected and kept as keepsakes by the soldiers. At least a few were donated back to the University, and a large fragment was eventually installed in a wall of All Saints' Chapel, where the relic can be visited by pilgrims. Several figures later prominent in the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, notably Bishop-General Leonidas Polk
Leonidas Polk
Leonidas Polk was a Confederate general in the American Civil War who was once a planter in Maury County, Tennessee, and a second cousin of President James K. Polk...
, Bishop Stephen Elliott, and Bishop James Hervey Otey
James Hervey Otey
James Hervey Otey , Christian educator and the first Episcopal Bishop of Tennessee, established the first Anglican church in the state and its first parish churches.-Biography:...
, were significant founders of the University. Generals Edmund Kirby Smith
Edmund Kirby Smith
Edmund Kirby Smith was a career United States Army officer and educator. He served as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, notable for his command of the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederacy after the fall of Vicksburg.After the conflict ended Smith...
, Josiah Gorgas
Josiah Gorgas
Josiah Gorgas was one of the few Northern-born Confederate generals and was later president of the University of Alabama....
and Francis A. Shoup
Francis A. Shoup
Francis Asbury Shoup was a lawyer from Indianapolis, Indiana, who decided to become a brigadier general for the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Pre-war:...
were prominent in the University's postbellum revival and continuance.
Because of the damage and disruptions of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, construction came to a temporary halt around that time. In 1866 the process was resumed, and this date is sometimes given as the re-founding of the University
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
and the point from which it has maintained continuous operations (though official materials and anniversary celebrations use 1857 as the founding year). The University's first convocation was held on September 18, 1868, with nine students and four faculty members present. After the Civil War, Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
was offered the position of Vice-Chancellor but declined, choosing instead to work at Washington College
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
in his native Virginia. The Rt. Rev. Charles Todd Quintard, Vice Chancellor of the University (Second Bishop of Tennessee and "Chaplain of the Confederacy") journeyed to the first Lambeth Conference in England (1868) and received financial support from clergy and laity of the Church of England which enabled the rebuilding of the school. He is known as the "Re-Founder" of the University of the South.
During World War II
World 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...
, University of the South 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.
Schools of dentistry, engineering, law, medicine, and nursing once existed, and a secondary school was part of the institution well into the second half of the twentieth century. For financial reasons, however, it was eventually decided to focus on two schools which exist today, the College and the School of Theology. In June 2006, Sewanee opened its School of Letters, a second graduate school. The School of Letters offers an M.A. in American Literature and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing.
Buildings
The Sewanee campus includes many buildings constructed of various materials faced with local stone, most done in the GothicGothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style.
- All Saints' Chapel was originally designed by Ralph Adams CramRalph Adams CramRalph Adams Cram FAIA, , was a prolific and influential American architect of collegiate and ecclesiastical buildings, often in the Gothic style. Cram & Ferguson and Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson are partnerships in which he worked.-Early life:Cram was born on December 16, 1863 at Hampton Falls, New...
and began construction in 1904 (replacing the smaller, wooden St. Augustine's Chapel which stood nearby), but the financial panic of 1907 left the University without the funds to complete it. It was completed in 1959 to a design by then-Vice Chancellor Edward McCrady.
- Dr. McCrady was also responsible for the connection of the buildings of the original quadrangle with cloisters. During his tenure as Vice Chancellor, the Jesse Ball duPont Library was constructed.
- Dr. McCrady was determined to fill in the plain windows of All Saints' Chapel with stained glass, though many remained without for several years. After his death, a new stained glass window, which includes his image, was dedicated in his memory. The final window was installed in 2004, nearly 100 years after construction began on the Chapel.
- St. Luke's Chapel is one of several chapels on the campus. St. Luke's is located next to the building which formerly housed the School of Theology.
- The Chapel of the Apostles was designed by the ArkansasArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
architectural firm of the late E. Fay Jones and Maurice J. Jennings for the School of Theology and was dedicated and consecrated in October 2000.
- Spencer Hall houses the chemistry, biology, biochemistry, and environmental studies departments. Its completion in late August 2008 provided an additional 49000 square feet (4,552.2 m²) to the existing Woods Lab science building. Sustainable building practices and technology were incorporated into Spencer Hall.
"Name change"
The institution has combined its two historical names in all University publications that are not official documents and bills itself as "Sewanee: The University of the South." The Sewanee Graphics Identity Standards Manual, a document reflecting the official policies of the university with respect to its public image, states, in part:- First, it must be understood that the official and legal name of this institution is “The University of the South.” In the past, though, unorganized use of this official name and the University’s familiar name, Sewanee, has been confusing to those unfamiliar with the institution. In addition, college guides and Web sites that have become so crucial in young people’s college searches may list the institution under as many as four different entries—beginning with "The," "University," "South," or "Sewanee."
- To avoid confusion and to honor the history and character of the institution, a consistent reference to the name of the institution is critical. So, for extended audiences unfamiliar with the institution, the naming convention "Sewanee: The University of the South" should be used on a first reference. Subsequent references may be to "Sewanee" or "the University."
When this naming system was proposed in 2004, it was misinterpreted by some alumni to reflect a change in the official name of the University. A minor scandal ensued, due in large part to insinuations that the change was intended to "distance" the University from its historic association with Southern culture. The controversy has generally subsided, though some students and alumni still mistakenly refer to the incident as a "name change".
Literary associations
The school has long been known for its literary associations. The Sewanee ReviewSewanee Review
The Sewanee Review is a literary journal established in 1892 and the oldest continuously published periodical of its kind in the United States. It incorporates original fiction and poetry, as well as essays, reviews, and literary criticism...
, founded in 1892, is thought to be the longest-running literary magazine in the country and has published and been praised by many distinguished authors. Its success has helped launch the Sewanee Writers' Conference, held each summer.
In 1983, playwright and Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winner Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
left his literary rights to the University of the South. Royalties have helped build the Tennessee Williams Center, a performance venue and teaching facility, and to create the Tennessee Williams teaching fellowships, which bring well-known figures in the arts to the campus.
"Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum," the University's motto, is taken from the opening of Psalm
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
133: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to
dwell together in unity."
Environmental sustainability
In the fall of 2008, the University of the South made a public commitment to environmental sustainability during its Sustainability Week, which featured speakers, feasts of local foods, and environmentally themed documentaries. The Sewanee campus is also home to an EcoHouse, and residence halls compete in the Eco-Cup competition each year in an attempt to reduce their energy consumption. In 2007, the University of the South became a signatory to the Presidents Climate Commitment. As of 2011, the university received a B on the College Sustainability Report Card.Institutional traditions
The school is rich in distinctive traditions, many of which are tied to Southern culture. For example, male students have always worn coats and ties to classes—this tradition has generally been continued, though the coat and tie are often combined with casual pants and, sometimes, shorts. Faculty and student members of the primary honor society and main branch of student government, the Order of Gownsmen, wear academic gowns to teach or attend class—perhaps the last vestige of this historically EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
practice in North America. Furthermore, the Order is charged with the maintenance of this and other traditions of the University. Similarly, drinking clubs, including The Highlanders and The Wellingtons, The Beefeaters, and ribbon societies continue to thrive after many decades. At major events, members of the former two groups display their distinctive ceremonial garb, kilts and cloaks, respectively. The Vice-Chancellor on formal occasions assumes the cappa clausa cope
Cope
The cope is a liturgical vestment, a very long mantle or cloak, open in front and fastened at the breast with a band or clasp. It may be of any liturgical colour....
as the Vice-Chancellor at Cambridge University still does.
Modern traditions include the Festival of Lessons and Carols in early December, an imitation of the traditional Christmas service in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. Also, local mythology regarding angels is abundant; residents of the Domain tap the roofs of their cars as they pass through the stone gates in order to "get their angel" for protection in their travels. Numerous other traditions continue to flourish on the Mountain, many adapted to fit modern practices.
In recent years, some alumni and students have perceived that the school was trying to downplay the university's traditions, particularly its historical and cultural ties with Southern culture. As a result, some traditions have come under special scrutiny.
Mace controversy
One particular concern was the disappearance of a ceremonial baton, called a "mace," dedicated to Nathan Bedford ForrestNathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered both as a self-educated, innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years...
and decorated with Confederate-themed marks and images. The mace has been controversial due to its association with Forrest and its implications for attitudes toward African-Americans. Forrest had no connection with the university; the mace had been commissioned in 1964 by Louise Claiborne-Armstrong, whose brother attended the university, and made by San Francisco jewelry firm Shreve and Company using several of Claiborne-Armstrong's most precious jewels, notably a blue/white 4 carats (800 mg) diamond
Diamond (gemstone)
A diamond is one of the best-known and most sought-after gemstones...
which sat in the center cross atop the mace. The rest of the mace consisted of solid silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
except for the band, which was solid gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. It was officially donated to the University in 1965, and was carried by the Order of Gownsmen at academic processions until it "disappeared" in 1997. Religion professor Gerald L. Smith said he had accidentally broken the mace while viewing it for an alumnus, and history professor Samuel R. Williamson, who was then chief executive, said he had already commissioned a new one. Dr. Smith said a misunderstanding led to the mace's disappearance; he had asked the campus police
Campus police
Campus Police or University police in the United States and Canada are often sworn police officers employed by a public school district, college or university to protect the campus and surrounding areas and the people who live on, work on and visit it....
chief to put it in a vault for safekeeping, but it was instead placed in the police station's gun vault, where it was found in early 2005. Upon its discovery, over 30 alumni offered to pay for the mace's repair but the University refused their offer. The mace is now available for private viewing via the school's archives.
University hymn and alma mater
The University Hymn, written by Bishop Thomas Frank GailorThomas Frank Gailor
The Right Reverend Thomas Frank Gailor was the third bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee in the Episcopal Church and served from 1898-1935. He served as the eighth chancellor of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, from June 23, 1908, until his death...
(1856–1935), is sung to the tune of Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser
Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser
Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser was an anthem to Francis II, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and later of Austria. Lorenz Leopold Haschka wrote the lyrics, and Joseph Haydn composed the melody...
(The Emperor's Hymn, known in English language hymnals as "Austria"), by Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
. The tune was previously used for the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n national anthem and a variation is used for Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's national anthem.
God of Light, Whose face beholding,
Israel's Leader learned Thy Will,
Fire and storm the Rock enfolding,
Where the Voice was calm and still,
Give Thy Children on this Mountain
Grace and power Thy Truth to know;
Open here a living fountain,
Whence Thy Praise shall ever flow.
On the world now grows the Vision
Love of Country—Freedom's call;
Gage of Battle, Life's decision,
Faith will see the Christ through all.
Clearer, surer, rings the story,
"Christ our Brother—God Most High!
Through earth's vapors sweeps the glory,
Wrong, injustice, sin must die."
For the warfare train us, Father,
God of battles, God of might,
That no mists of Hell may gather,
Darken or obscure the right.
Gird our souls with Thy compassion,
Purge our minds with fire divine;
Light of Light, the Truth incarnate,
Make our lives and thoughts like Thine.
Alma Mater, written by Newton Middleton (Class of 1909)
Alma Mater, Sewanee
My Glorious Mother ever be.
I will give my All to Thee
God Bless Thee to Eternity.
Thou canst make me worth the while
O Guide and Shelter me.
And all my life, through Storm and Strife,
My Star Thou'lt be.
School of Theology
The School of Theology at the University of the South was founded in 1878. Originally it was known as "St. Luke's" because it was housed in St. Luke's Hall, which was given by Charlotte Morris Manigault to the University specifically for a School of Theology. This building hosted the first meeting of what would become the National Episcopal Historians and ArchivistsNational Episcopal Historians and Archivists (NEHA)
The National Episcopal Historians and Archivists encourages every congregation, diocese, and organization in the Episcopal Church to collect, preserve and organize its records and share its history.-Vision:...
under the guidance of Dr. Arthur Ben Chitty, the Historiographer of the University.
Following the merger of the Sewanee Academy with St. Andrew's School
St. Andrew's-Sewanee School
St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School is a private, coeducational, Episcopal, boarding and day college preparatory school serving 260 students in grades six through twelve. It is located in Sewanee, Tennessee on the Cumberland Plateau between Nashville and Chattanooga and adjacent to the University of the...
, located a few miles from Sewanee, in 1981, the School of Theology moved to the former SA campus. Because this new location was a mile away from St. Luke's Chapel (west of the campus proper), seminarians worshiped in a converted classroom until a new chapel was constructed adjacent to the school in 2000.
The School of Theology is one of the eleven seminaries officially connected with the Episcopal Church. Further, it is the only one located within the Southeastern U.S. proper, the only other Southern seminaries being located at geographical fringes of the region, Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary , formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the United States. Founded in 1818, VTS is situated on an campus in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few miles from downtown Washington, DC. VTS...
near Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest
Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest
Seminary of the Southwest is one of 11 accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church in the United States. Founded in 1951 by Bishop John E...
in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. Historically, its position within Anglicanism is generally considered to fall within the parameters of the High Church
High church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
tradition, whereas Virginia was seen as the seminary in the Low Church tradition.
Athletics
The Sewanee Tigers were pioneers in American intercollegiate athletics and possessed the South's preeminent footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
program in the 1890s. Their 1899 football team had perhaps the best season in college football history, winning all 12 of their games, 11 by shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
, and outscoring their opponents 322-10. Five of those wins, all shutouts, came in a six day period while on a 2500 miles (4,023.4 km) trip by train. Ten of their twelve opponents, including all five of their road trip victims, remain major college football powers to this day.
Sewanee was a charter member of the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
upon its formation in 1932, but by this time its athletic program had declined precipitously and Sewanee never won a conference football game in the eight years it was an SEC member. The Tigers were shut out 26 times in their 37 SEC games, and were outscored by a combined total of 1163–84.
When vice chancellor Benjamin Ficklin Finney, who had reportedly objected to Sewanee joining the SEC, left his position in 1938, the leading candidate was Alexander Guerry, a former president of the University of Chattanooga
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a public university located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The University, often referred to as UTC or simply "Chattanooga" , is one of three universities and two other affiliated institutions in the University of Tennessee System; the others being in...
. According to a university historian, Guerry agreed to come to Sewanee only if the school stopped awarding athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
s. In 1940, two years after Guerry's arrival, Sewanee withdrew from the SEC and subsequently deemphasized varsity athletics. Guerry's stance is sometimes credited as an early step toward the 1973 creation of NCAA
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 III, which prohibits athletic scholarships.
Today, Sewanee is a member of the Division III Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference , founded in 1962, is an athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member institutions are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas...
(SCAC), offering 11 varsity sports for men and 13 for women. , 27 Sewanee student-athletes have received the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for academic excellence since the program's
inception in 1964.
Sewanee announced that they, along with six other SCAC members, would leave the conference effective July 1, 2012 to form the new Southern Athletic Association
Southern Athletic Association
The Southern Athletic Association is a planned athletic conference, scheduled to begin play in 2012 in NCAA Division III. It was formed in 2011 by seven members of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and Independent Berry College.-Member institutions:...
beginning with the 2012-13 season. The announcement was made in Atlanta at the 2011 annual meeting of SCAC presidents.
Noted alumni and faculty
Sewanee has over 12,000 alumni from all 50 states and 40 countries and has produced 26 Rhodes Scholars—a number that puts Sewanee in the top four nationally among American liberal arts colleges—as well as 26 NCAA Postgraduate Fellows, 36 Watson Fellowships, and dozens of Fulbright Scholars. The School of Theology's alumni include countless bishops, including three of the last five presiding bishops of the Episcopal ChurchEpiscopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
.