Southern Arkansas University Explained

Southern Arkansas University
Former Names:Third District Agricultural School (1909–1925)
Agricultural and Mechanical College, Third District (1925–1951)
Southern State College (1951–1976)
Endowment:$57 million[1]
President:David F. Rankin (interim)
Provost:David Lanoue
Country:United States
Coor:33.2917°N -93.2361°W
Students:5,128
Undergrad:3,252
Postgrad:1,876
Doctoral:32
Campus:Rural, Residential
1418acres
Colors:Royal blue and Gold[2]
 

Southern Arkansas University (SAU) is a public university in Magnolia, Arkansas.

History

Southern Arkansas University was established by an Act of the Arkansas Legislature in 1909 as a district agricultural high school for southwest Arkansas and was originally named Third District Agricultural School, often called by students and faculty "TDAS."[3] Its first term began in January 1911, with its curriculum including only subjects at the secondary school level.[4] In 1925, the State Legislature authorized the school to add two years of college work and to change its name to Agricultural and Mechanical College, Third District (Magnolia A&M).[5] The school continued to offer both high school and junior college courses until 1937, at which time the high school courses were discontinued.[6]

In the fall of 1949, the Board of Trustees, exercising authority vested in it by the State Legislature, decided to develop the college as a four-year, degree-granting institution. The Board authorized the addition of third-year college level courses to being with the fall semester of 1950.[7] Fourth-year courses were added in the fall semester of 1951.[8] By Act Eleven (January 24, 1951), the State Legislature changed the name of the institution to Southern State College.[9]

Like Arkansas' other six state-supported colleges, Southern State College did not allow non-white students to enroll as undergraduates until after 1954's Brown v. Board of Education. Most began to admit African American students—though in tiny numbers and only for Saturday or night classes—in the fall of 1955. SSC's first Black student was Wilmar B. Moss, who "was admitted but only when he refused to accept an initial rebuff," according to an official history of the school. "At SSC from 1956 to 1963 an occasional black student enrolled in a Saturday or summer class, but there is no history of a black undergraduate attending regular classes during fall or spring semesters in those eight years".[10]

More change came after Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. On May 29, SSC’s board of trustees concluded, “Nothing was to be gained by refusing admittance to qualified Negroes.” About ten Black undergraduates were allowed to enroll that fall. In 1966, Black students were finally allowed to live in school dormitories. The first Black graduate received her diploma in 1967, and the first Black faculty member began teaching in 1974.[11]

In 1975, the institution was approved and accredited to offer a Master of Education Degree in some areas.[12] The Board of Trustees approved another name change, to Southern Arkansas University by the Board of Higher Education on July 9, 1976, in accordance with Act 343 of the General Assembly of 1975.[13]

Also in 1975, Southwest Technical Institute in Camden, Arkansas, joined the SAU system as Southern Arkansas University Tech.[14]

Academics

Southern Arkansas University offers 70 undergraduate options, including pre-professional tracks, and 2+2 degree completion programs in four different academic colleges:[15]

Southern Arkansas University also offers 19 graduate programs, which are offered either face-to-face, online, or as a hybrid combination of the two.[16]

Campus housing

The university operates several residence halls and apartments, many of which are associated with specific living-learning communities.[17] [18]

Athletics

See main article: Southern Arkansas Muleriders.

See also: Southern Arkansas Muleriders football and Southern Arkansas Muleriders baseball. Southern Arkansas University is in the NCAA Division II as a member of the Great American Conference.[19]

The university's athletic nicknames are Muleriders and Lady Muleriders. The Muleriders take their name from the legend that the football team in the early 1900s had to ride mules from the college's agricultural department to catch the nearest train 6miles north of the college in order to reach out-of-town football games.[20]

The Muleriders football team won the Gulf South Conference Championship in 1997.[21]

In each of 1953 and 1954, the then Southern State College Mulerider tennis team went undefeated winning the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference in both singles and doubles and was invited by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to represent their district in their National Tennis Championships in 1953.[22]

In 2006 and 2009, the Mulerider baseball team won the Gulf South Conference championship.[23]

Traditions

Bed races

The annual Bed Races have been a unique tradition as a part of SAU's Family Day festivities since November 7, 1981. Representatives from SAU's residence halls build and race twin-sized "beds" with a mattress platform on top of four bicycle tires. Once constructed, the beds are decorated according to a theme decided annually by the residence's Hall Councils. The bed must have one reclining student, protected by a football helmet, and four runners. Each team competes in a double elimination race, and the winners take home the coveted Bed Race Trophy.[24]

Celebration of Lights

The Celebration of Lights has been a Christmas tradition at SAU since 1984. What once started as a single display to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the school has become an annual part of the holidays in Magnolia. During the celebration, a large Christmas tree is lit in front of Overstreet, as well as light displays all over campus. Additional strands of lights are strewn along the 187-foot SAU bell tower, transforming it into a giant Christmas candle. Included in the festivities each year are: the Magnolia City Christmas Parade, caroling, pictures with Santa Claus for the children, and a holiday buffet dinner for the community.[25]

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. As of January 12, 2021. Web site: Southern Arkansas University (SAU). Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Willis . James. August 15, 2014.
  2. Web site: Colors University Communications & Marketing Southern Arkansas University . September 14, 2017.
  3. Book: Willis, Dr. James. The Mulerider School's Centennial History, 1909–2009. 2009. Xlibris Corporation. United States of America. 978-1-4415-5364-5. 27–33.
  4. Book: Willis, Dr. James. The Mulerider School's Centennial History. 2009. Xlibris Corporation. United States of America. 978-1-4415-5364-5. 35.
  5. Book: Willis, Dr. James. The Mulerider School's Centennial History, 1909–2009. 2009. Xlibris Corporation. United States of America. 978-1-4415-5364-5. 88.
  6. Book: Willis, Dr. James. The Mulerider School's Centennial History, 1909–2009. 2009. Xlibris Corporation. United States of America. 978-1-4415-5364-5. 108.
  7. Book: Willis, Dr. James. The Mulerider School's Centennial History, 1909–2009. 2009. Xlibris Corporation. United States of America. 978-1-4415-5364-5. 188–190.
  8. Book: Willis, Dr. James. The Mulerider School's Centennial History, 1909–2009. 2009. Xlibris Corporation. United States of America. 978-1-4415-5364-5. 190.
  9. Book: Willis, Dr. James. The Mulerider School's Centennial History, 1909–2009. 2009. Xlibris Corporation. United States of America. 978-1-4415-5364-5. 195.
  10. Web site: Willis . James F. . Integration, 1955: Wilmar B. Moss, First African American to Attend SSC . 2023-10-12 . University Archives Southern Arkansas University . en-US.
  11. Web site: Willis . James F. . Integration and the First Black Professor . 2023-10-12 . University Archives Southern Arkansas University . en-US.
  12. Book: Willis, Dr. James. The Mulerider School's Centennial History, 1909–2009. 2009. Xlibris Corporation. United States of America. 978-1-4415-5364-5. 268.
  13. Book: Willis, Dr. James. The Mulerider School's Centennial History, 1909–2009. 2009. Xlibris Corporation. United States of America. 978-1-4415-5364-5. 289.
  14. Encyclopedia: Coker. Kim. Southern Arkansas University Tech. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. The Central Arkansas Library System. 12 March 2014.
  15. Web site: Southern Arkansas University Magnolia Undergraduate Catalog 2013–2014. Southern Arkansas University. 13 March 2014.
  16. Web site: Programs . Southern Arkansas University. 13 March 2014.
  17. Web site: Housing Options . Southern Arkansas University . 14 July 2020.
  18. Web site: University Village. Southern Arkansas University. 12 March 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140224111836/http://web.saumag.edu/housing/options/village/. 24 February 2014.
  19. Web site: Great American Conference Member Institutions. Great American Conference. 13 March 2014.
  20. Book: Willis, Dr. James. The Mulerider School's Centennial History, 1909–2009. 2009. Xlibris Corporation. United States of America. 978-1-4415-5364-5. 13–17.
  21. Web site: Important Dates in SAU History. Southern Arkansas University. 13 March 2014.
  22. Book: Willis, Dr. James. The Mulerider School's Centennial History, 1909–2009. 2009. Xlibris Corporation. United States. 978-1-4415-5364-5. 229.
  23. Web site: Important Dates in SAU History. Southern Arkansas University. 13 March 2014.
  24. Book: Willis, Dr. James. The Mulerider School's Centennial History, 1909–2009. 2009 . Xlibris Corporation. United States. 978-1-4415-5364-5. 312.
  25. Book: Willis, Dr. James. The Mulerider School's Centennial History, 1909–2009. 2009. Xlibris Corporation. United States. 978-1-4415-5364-5. 312.
  26. Web site: Jordan Babineaux . DatabaseFootball.com . February 25, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121023122857/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BABINJOR01 . October 23, 2012 .
  27. Web site: Kenneth Beck. mindenmemories.org. July 18, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190302/http://www.mindenmemories.org/Kenneth%20Beck.htm. March 4, 2016. usurped. mdy-all.
  28. Web site: Bruce Bennett (1917–1979). Encyclopedia of Arkansas. February 25, 2013.
  29. Web site: Ken Brown. pro-football-reference.com. February 25, 2020.
  30. Web site: Biography of The Honorable Joyce Elliott Arkansas State Senator. Arkansas State Legislature. 17 April 2014.
  31. Web site: Steve Forbes named to lead ETSU men's basketball. Raiders Athletics . February 25, 2013.
  32. Web site: Tanner Hudson. pro-football-reference.com. February 25, 2020.
  33. Web site: Daniel G Kyle. Our Campaigns . February 25, 2013.
  34. Web site: Tracy Lee Lawrence (1968–). Encyclopedia of Arkansas . February 25, 2013.
  35. Web site: Nik Lewis . Calgary Stampeeders website . 22 April 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141210010757/http://www.stampeders.com/roster/show/id/773 . 10 December 2014 .
  36. Web site: In Loving Memory of Lynn Lowe. Republican Party of Arkanasas. February 25, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140307081123/http://www.arkansasgop.org/index.cfm?p=Blog&ContentRecord_id=2516c784-9bdf-40c5-a818-f0fc9de4f64c. March 7, 2014.
  37. Web site: Fred Perry. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020035848/http://www.nfl.com/player/fredperry/2504803/profile. dead. October 20, 2012. NFL Enterprises LLC. February 25, 2013.
  38. Web site: Kenneth Pettway. pro-football-reference.com. February 25, 2020.
  39. Web site: Ron Simmons' Biography. votesmart.com. March 15, 2014.
  40. Web site: Greg Stumon.
  41. Billy Hathorn "Otto Passman, Jerry Huckaby, and Frank Spooner: The Louisiana Fifth Congressional District Election of 1976", Louisiana History: The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association, LIV No. 3 (Summer 2013), p. 346
  42. Web site: Principals. Mozark Productions. 22 April 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140424204644/http://www.mozarkproductions.us/principals/. 24 April 2014.
  43. Web site: Cedri Thornton . Pro-Football-Reference.com . February 25, 2016.
  44. Web site: Tommy Tuberville, University of Cincinnati . AFCA . February 25, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130929231851/http://www.afca.com/article/article.php?id=TommyTuberville . September 29, 2013.
  45. Web site: DeAnn Vaught. arkansashouse.org. April 1, 2015.
  46. Web site: General Horace M. Wade. U.S. Air Force. 22 April 2014.
  47. Web site: Dennis Woodberry. pro-football-reference.com. February 25, 2020.

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