Langston University

Langston University
Langston University seal
Motto	Education for Service
Established	March 12, 1897 (1897-03-12)
Type	Public Land-grant HBCU
President	Kent J. Smith, Jr.
Students	3,922
Location	Langston, Oklahoma, United States
Campus	Rural
Former names	Oklahoma Colored Agricultural and Normal University
Colors	Navy Blue and Orange
Athletics	NAIA
Nickname	Lions
Affiliations	Red River Athletic Conference
Website	www.langston.edu

Langston University is an institution of higher learning located in Langston, Oklahoma, USA. It is the only historically black college in the state, and the westernmost historically black college in the United States. Though located in a rural setting just 10 miles (16 km) east of Guthrie, Langston also serves an urban mission with University Centers in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

History

The school was founded in 1897 and was known as the Oklahoma Colored Agricultural and Normal University. Langston University was created as a result of the second Morrill Act in 1890. The law required states with land-grant colleges (such as Oklahoma State University, then Oklahoma A&M) to either admit African-Americans, or provide an alternative school for them to attend as a condition of receiving federal funds. Langston University is named for John Mercer Langston (1829–1897), civil rights pioneer, first African American member of Congress from Virginia, founder of the Howard University Law School, and American consul-general to Haiti.

Poet Melvin B. Tolson taught at Langston from 1947 until 1964. Tolson was portrayed by Denzel Washington in the film The Great Debaters.

Academics

The University offers associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in a variety of disciplines. It is known as a leader in the field of agricultural research, and hosts the internationally recognized E (Kika) de la Garza Institute for Goat Research. The School currently has an open doors admissions policy. LU has nearly 3,000 students from several states representing a diverse student body at an Oklahoma college^{[citation needed]}.

The university was accredited with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy program in 2005.

Student activities

The student life at Langston University garnered the attention of Black Entertainment Television BET and the second season of the reality television show College Hill (TV series)College Hill was filmed there.

The university boasts one of the nation's top choral programs and its nearly 150 piece show band is sought after for bowl games, parades, government ceremonies and marching competitions across the nation and abroad.^{[citation needed]}

The Langston University Quiz Bowl team won games against Spelman and an all-star team from the City Colleges of Chicago on the 2009 nationally televised "Black College Quiz" show airing nationally throughout Black History Month in 2009 to make the championship game.

Notable alumni

Name	Class year	Notability	References
Bessie Coleman		The first African American woman pilot and the first American woman to obtain an International Pilot's license. Coleman enrolled in 1910; but, lacking funds, she only completed one term.
Maurice "Mo" Bassett		Former NFL fullback for Cleveland's Browns
Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher		Stands at the forefront of the fight to integrate historically white law schools in the South
Dr. William H. Hale		Past President of Langston University and of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
The Delta Rhythm Boys		Jazz vocal group inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Nathan Hare		Founding publisher of The Black Scholar (1969-1975) and author of The Black Anglo Saxons. Also wrote the conceptual proposal for the first department of black studies; the first person hired to coordinate a black studies program in the United States (1968).
Marques Haynes		Basketball and football star before going on to captain the Harlem Globetrotters and induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame	.
Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson	1974	Pro-Bowl linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys (1974-1979).
Clara Luper	1944	Civil rights leader best known for her leadership role in the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-in Movement
Nancy Riley		Former member of the Oklahoma Senate from the 37th district
Dr. Ernest L. Holloway		Past President Langston University
Dr. Henry Ponder		Past President of Fisk University, Talladega College, Benedict College, NAFEO and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Norma Tucker		Past President of Merritt College
William Hytche		Past President of University of Maryland Eastern Shore, formerly Maryland State College
Colonel Michael C. Thompson		member of Oklahoma Highway Patrol with the rank of OHP Major and is a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard. 2010 Nominee to be Oklahoma Secretary of Safety & Security as well as Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety	.
James Rosser		President of California State University at Los Angeles for almost three decades; attended Langston University for a year on a basketball scholarship
Matthew Hatchette	1997	wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Amsterdam Admirals (1997-2003).
Robert DoQui		Actor

External links

• Official website