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University of Oklahoma
Seal of the University of Oklahoma
MottoCivi et reipublicae (Latin for "For the citizens and for the state")
TypePublic
Space-grant
Land-grant
Established1890
Endowment$879,300,000[1][2]
PresidentDavid L. Boren
ProvostNancy L. Mergler
DeanClarke Stroud
OU Board of RegentsPaul D. Austin, Chairman
Academic staff
1,230 (Norman Campus)
Students30,447
Undergraduates21,270
Postgraduates9,177
Address
660 Parrington Oval, Norman, OK, 73019
,
Norman
,
Oklahoma
,
USA
CampusSuburban
3,000 acres (12 km²) including north research park
ColorsCrimson and Cream            
NicknameSooners
AffiliationsBig 12 Conference
MascotSooners; "Boomer and Sooner"; "Sooner Schooner" (football)
Websitewww.ou.edu


Logo is a trademark of The University of Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma, abbreviated OU, is a coeducational public research university located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma founded in 1890. It enrolls 30,447 students (with a vast majority of those located at its main campus in Norman, Oklahoma), has over 2,000 full-time faculty members, and offers 153 baccalaureate programs, 152 master's programs, 75 doctorates, 20 majors at the first professional level, and 18 graduate certificates.[3][4] David Boren, a former U.S. Senator and Oklahoma Governor, has been the president of OU since 1994.

The Princeton Review has named OU as one of its "Best Value" colleges.[5] OU is number one per capita among public universities in the number of National Merit Scholars enrolled and in the top five among all public universities in the graduation of Rhodes Scholars.[3] OU is the sponsor of the Neustadt International Prize for Literature, considered to be second in prestige only to the Nobel Prize and often referred to as the "American Nobel."[3] The Carnegie Foundation classifies the university as a research university with "high research activity."[6]

The university is very well-recognized nationwide as a result of the success of its athletic teams. The gymnastics teams has won four national championships since 2002. The football team has the best winning percentage of any Division I-FBS team since the introduction of the AP Poll in 1936[7] and has played in three BCS national championship games since the inception of the BCS system in 1998.

History

The history of the University of Oklahoma can be traced back to actions taken before Oklahoma was a state. In 1890, Governor of Oklahoma Territory George Washington Steele urged the Oklahoma Territorial legislature to create public school systems and universities of higher education in the Territory. In December 1890, the Legislature approved and established two universities: one in Norman and another in Stillwater. When Oklahoma was admitted to the union in 1907, the Norman Territorial University became the University of Oklahoma. Norman residents donated 407 acres (1.6 km²) of land for the university 1/2 mile (800 m) south of the Norman railroad depot. Prior to the beginning of construction of the first campus building, numerous trees were planted.[8] Landscaping is still a vital focal point of the university.

David Ross Boyd became the University's first president and arrived in Norman in August 1892. The first freshmen were enrolled that year. As there was a high demand for pharmacists in the territory, the School of Pharmacy was founded in 1893. Three years later, the first degree from the university was awarded to a pharmaceutical chemist.[9] The first university building opened on September 6, 1893. Prior to that, classes were held in a building called the "Rock Building" in downtown Norman.[10]

The former Holmberg Hall, now the Donald W. Reynolds Center for the Performing Arts, exemplifying the architectural style of OU.

On January 6, 1903, the university's only building burned down and destroyed many records of the early university. Construction began immediately on a new building as several other towns hoped to capitalize by convincing the university to move. President Boyd was not dismayed by the loss, saying, "What do you need to keep classes going? Two yards of blackboard and a box of chalk."[10] As a response to the fire, English professor Vernon Louis Parrington, created a plan for the future development of the campus. Most of the plan was never implemented, but Parrington's suggestion for the campus core formed the basis for the North Oval. The North and South Ovals are now distinctive features of the campus.[8] He also suggested the university adhere to the architectural style of "Collegiate Gothic" that was popular among east coast colleges.[8] Over a dozen buildings have been built using some variation of Collegiate Gothic.

Statehood

School Presidents
David Ross Boyd, 1892-1908
A. Grant Evans, 1908-1911
Stratton D. Brooks, 1912-1923
James S. Buchanan, 1924-1925
William Bennett Bizzell, 1926-1940
Joseph A. Brandt, 1941-1943
George Lynn Cross, 1943-1968
John Herbert Hollomon, 1968-1970
Paul F. Sharp, 1971-1977
William S. Banowsky, 1978-1984
Frank E. Horton 1985-1988
Richard Van Horn, 1989-1993
David Boren, 1994-present

In 1907, Oklahoma entered statehood, fostering changes in the political atmosphere of the state. Up until this point, Oklahoma had been mostly Republican but this changed with the election of Oklahoma's first governor, the Democratic Charles N. Haskell. Since the inception of the university, a religious bout had been brewing between different groups on campus. Early in the university's existence, many professors were Presbyterian, as was Boyd. Under pressure, Boyd eventually hired several Baptists and Southern Methodists.[11] The Presbyterians and Baptists got along but the Southern Methodists conflicted with the administration. Two notable Methodists, Rev. Nathaniel Lee Linebaugh and Professor Ernest Taylor Bynum, were critics of Boyd and activists in Haskell's election campaign. When Haskell was elected, he fired many of the remaining Republicans at the university, including President Boyd.

The campus continued to grow over the next several decades. By 1926, the university encompassed 167 acres (.68 km²). The South Oval was developed, allowing the campus to spread further south. A new library was built in 1929 at the north end of the new oval.

President Brook's inauguration in 1912 in front of Evans Hall.

As with colleges all over the country, the enrollment at OU sharply declined during World War II. Enrollment in 1945 was 3,769, down from its Pre-WWII high of 6,935 in 1939.[12] However, there were many infrastructure changes to the university during this time. The southern portion of south campus in the vicinity of Constitution Avenue, still known to long-time Norman residents as 'South Base', was originally built as an annex to Naval Air Station Norman. It contained mostly single-story frame buildings used for classrooms and military housing;[13] most were severely deteriorated by the late 1980s and were demolished in the 1990s to make room for redevelopment. The Jimmie Austin University of Oklahoma Golf Course was built as a Navy recreational facility.[13] The north campus and the airfield were built in the early 1940s as Naval Air Station Norman. The station served mainly an advanced flight training mission and was built to allow all but the largest bombers to land.[14] A large earthen mound east of Interstate 35 and north of Robinson Street, colloquially known as 'Mount Norman', was used as a gunnery (the mound has since been removed to make way for a commercial development).[15] The installation was given to the university in the post-World War II demobilization. This airfield's Naval past is commemorated by Naval aviator's wings displayed at the entrance to the terminal.

After the war ended, enrollment surged. By 1965, enrollment had risen over 450% to 17,268. Because of this, student housing became a concern. In the mid 1960s, the administration completed construction of three new 12-story dormitories located immediately south of the South Oval. In addition to these three towers, an apartment complex was completed around this time that housed married students, which was an issue following WWII.[16] These apartments are now Kraettli Apartments.

Boren's presidency

Since David Boren became Oklahoma's president in 1994, he has overseen an increase in new developments throughout the University of Oklahoma system. Some of the new developments include:[17]

  • purchasing the new 60 acre (24 ha) location of OU-Tulsa
  • building the new Gaylord Hall, Price Hall, the ExxonMobil Lawrence G. Rawl Engineering Practice Facility (under construction), Devon Energy Hall (under construction), the Wagner Student Academic Services Center (under construction), and the Research and Medical Clinic (under construction in Tulsa)
  • expanding Holmberg Hall, Nielson Hall, and the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
  • renovating the Henderson-Tolson Cultural Center, the Huston-Huffman Physical Fitness Center, and the National Weather Center[18]
File:Lightning over Bizzell Library.jpg
Bizzell Library in the heart of Oklahoma's main campus.

The Oklahoma Mesonet, a state-of-the-art network of environmental monitoring stations that is an OU-OSU partnership, won a special award from the American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation's leading professional society for those in the atmospheric and related sciences. In 2001, OK-F1RST was recognized as one of the nation’s five most innovative government programs by Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and their Innovations in American Government program.[18]

On September 30, 2004, a Sigma Chi pledge was found dead of alcohol poisoning inside the fraternity house.[19] Shortly thereafter, Boren announced that starting on January 18, 2005, OU would be a "dry" campus,[20] meaning alcohol would not be allowed in Greek houses, student housing, or student functions (without permission). In addition, a "three strikes policy" was enacted which holds students accountable for alcohol violations both on and off campus and an online alcohol education program is required for all incoming freshmen.[21]

On October 1, 2005, OU engineering student Joel Henry Hinrichs III, committed suicide less than 1,500 feet (358 m) from Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where more than 84,000 spectators were attending an Oklahoma football game.[22] Hinrichs placed a homemade bomb made with triacetone triperoxide in a backpack that he detonated in his lap.[23] There were rumors and conspiracy theories that Hinrichs was a converted Islamic extremist and was attempting to enter and detonate the bomb inside the stadium, though there is no evidence to support any of these theories.[23]

Academic profile

Gaylord Hall, home of the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, completed construction in 2004.

The university is composed of fifteen colleges, including many majors such as meteorology, geology, petroleum engineering, architecture, law, medicine, Native American studies, history of science, and dance programs. While the two main campuses are located in Norman and Oklahoma City, affiliated programs in Tulsa expand access for students in eastern Oklahoma. Programs in Tulsa include: medicine, pharmacy, nursing, public health, allied health and liberal studies.

Norman campus

As of the Fall of 2005, the Norman campus had 20,424 undergraduate students and 6,570 postgraduate students.[24] Following the Sooner's 2000 football national championship season, the university experienced a surge in college applicants and admissions. In 2001, 5,279 new freshman were enrolled. In 2005, 4,360 freshmen were enrolled. Students come from all 50 U.S. states and nearly 100 countries. 37% of the 2005 freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class.[25] Over 23% of newly-enrolled undergraduates[26] and 27% of all students[27] are members of ethnic minority groups. In addition, the university has an enrollment of over 700 National Merit Scholars, making it number one per capita among public universities.[3]

Price Hall, an addition to the Michael F. Price College of Business, completed construction in 2005.

More OU-Norman students (37%) are in the College of Arts & Sciences. The next largest college is the Price College of Business with 14%. Other large colleges in Norman include the College of Engineering with 11% and the College of Education and the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, both with approximately 6% of the student body.[28] The rest of the students are enrolled in one of the smaller schools that include the College of Architecture, College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, College of Earth and Energy, Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, or Law School. New students do not have to declare a major (a concentrated course of study) immediately and are not required to declare a major until their Junior year. If they are undecided in their major, they are considered a part of the University College. Many Pre-Health majors choose this option as well until they are able to apply for the medical program. University College comprises roughly 11% of the student body.[28]

While Oklahoma is ranked in the top 10 for "Best Value Public Colleges" by the Princeton Review,[29] OU usually ranks academically at the bottom of the Big 12 Conference. In a survey of the top 500 academic institutions in the world by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Oklahoma ranked 301-400 (99 schools had the same score). OU was tied with other Big 12 schools such as Texas Tech University and Kansas State University. Oklahoma State University and Baylor University were not ranked, while all other Big 12 schools were ranked higher. University of Colorado was the highest Big 12 school, being ranked number 34.[30] However, due to stricter enrollment policies in recent years,[31][32][33] average scores for incoming students are on the rise. The average ACT score for a first-time student in 2005 was a 25.8[34] while in 1999, it was 24.5.[35]

Health Sciences Center

The OU Health Sciences Center has its main campus in Oklahoma City while other classes are taught at the Tulsa campus. There are over 3,500 students enrolled in one of the seven colleges at the Health Center. The distribution of students in each of these colleges is more uniform than that of the main campus. These colleges include (with student percentages in parenthesis) the College of Allied Health (19%), College of Dentistry (9%), College of Medicine (26%), College of Nursing (23%), College of Pharmacy (15%), and the College of Public Health (9%). There are also students in the Graduate College who are studying within these colleges.[36][37]

Campus

Norman

File:Sower Statue 4-15-2006 11-36-03 AM.jpg
The Seed Sower - a sculpture in the South Oval cast by a Norman company.[38]

The Norman campus is divided into three sections: north campus, main campus, and south campus. All three campuses are connected by a free bus service funded by student fees. A free shuttle allows students to park at Lloyd Noble Center and provides 5-10 minute service to the main and south campuses. Other regular Norman bus routes provide service to north campus as well as the main campus. The main and south campus are contiguous while the north campus is located about two miles north of the main campus.

Main campus

The main campus is bordered by Boyd Street on the north, Timberdell Road on the south, Chautauqua Avenue on the west, and Jenkins Avenue on the east. The Norman campus is centered around two large "ovals." The Parrington Oval (or North Oval as it is more commonly called) is anchored on the south by Evans Hall, the main administrative building. This building highlights the "Cherokee Gothic" style of architecture locally derived from the Collegiate Gothic style, the style that dominates and defines the older buildings on the OU campus. The North Oval is bordered on the east by the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

View of the east side of Memorial Stadium looking southwest

On the east side of the northernmost part of campus sits Sarkeys Energy Center while to the west is the Fred Jones, Jr. School of Art and Museum, home to the Weitzenhoffer Collection of Impressionist art and the Catlett Music Center. The Van Vleet Oval (or South Oval) is anchored on the north by the Bizzell Memorial Library and flanked by academic buildings. When class is in session, the South Oval is often inundated with students going to and from class. Elm Avenue bounds the western edge of the academic portion of OU, with a few exceptions. Lying between Elm Avenue and Chautauqua Avenue are mostly fraternity and sorority houses.

File:NativeAmerStatue OU.jpg
May We Have Peace - a Native American sculpture by Allan Houser on the Oklahoma Campus.

On the east side of the central part of campus lies Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, just north of Lindsey street on Jenkins Avenue. Immediately adjacent to the stadium is the Barry Switzer Center, a museum highlighting the historical success of Oklahoma athletics, as well as a comprehensive training facility for Oklahoma athletes. North of the stadium is the McCasland Field House, the former home of Oklahoma Basketball and the current home of Oklahoma's wrestling, volleyball and gymnastics programs. Across Jenkins Avenue are the athletic dorms and statues honoring Oklahoma's four Heisman Trophy winners (two statues, featuring Billy Vessels and Steve Owens are currently on display; statues for the other two Heisman winners will go up over the next two seasons). Other statues on campus include several honoring the Native Americans who defined so much of Oklahoma's history and a new memorial statue on the north side of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium honoring OU students, faculty, and staff that have died while serving in the armed forces.[39][40]

The portion of campus south of Lindsey Street consists of mainly student housing, Cate and Cross centers being four-story quadrangular centers and Walker Tower, Couch Tower and Adams Center being twelve-story towers. Facing the towers on Asp Avenue is the Huston Huffman Center, the student activity and fitness center. On the north side of Timberdell road is the Murray Case Sells Swim Complex which is open to students and features indoor and outdoor pools.

File:OU RelaxingManStatue.jpg
Pastoral Dreamer - a bronze sculpture on the Oklahoma campus cast by OU alum David Phelps.[41]
Boyd Street with Campus Corner on the right (north).

Directly north of the main campus on Boyd Street is Campus Corner, a popular commercial area. There are several restaurants, bars, and small shops that cater to the student body and the Norman population at large.

The Oklahoma administration prides itself on the aesthetic appeal of the campus.[42][8] All three campuses (Norman, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa) have beautifully landscaped gardens. Trees were planted on the OU campus before the first building was ever built.[8] There are also many statues and sculptures around campus, most of which portray the strong influence of the Native American culture.

South campus

The National Weather Center on OU's south campus.

South of student housing is Timberdell Road, the approximate southern boundary of the university. South of this road are University-owned apartments and athletic complexes. On the south side of Timberdell Road is the law school building which opened in 2002.[43] L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park, OU Softball Field, and the Lloyd Noble Center all are found in this area of campus. While this area has traditionally been free from academic buildings, with the pressure of expansion being felt in the northern part of campus, new academic buildings, such as the National Weather Center and Stephenson Research and Technology Center were recently completed on the south end of campus. This development is not without controversy[44] although it has already led to increased economic activity in Norman. In 2004, global weather information provider WeatherNews opened its U.S. Operations Center located in the south campus one block away from the new NWC building.[45] The southern boundary of the south campus is State Highway 9.

North campus

On the far north side of Norman is the OU Research Park, which includes University of Oklahoma Max Westheimer Airport (ICAO airport code KOUN), several weather radars, and the university's old mainframe system. This part of campus is not frequented by students with the exception of those studying meteorology or aviation.

Oklahoma City and Tulsa

The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, established in the early 20th century, is OU's presence in Oklahoma City. OUHSC is one of only four academic health centers in the nation with seven professional colleges.[46] The nineteen buildings that make up the OUHSC campus occupies a fifteen block area in Oklahoma City near the Oklahoma State Capitol. Surrounding these buildings are an additional twenty health-related buildings some of which are owned by the University of Oklahoma. The Health Sciences Center is the core of a wider complex known as the Oklahoma Health Center. With approximately 600 students and 600 residents and fellows training in specialties and subspecialties of medicine, the College of Medicine is the largest component of the Health Sciences Center. The major clinical facilities on campus are the OU Medical Center hospital complex and they include The Children's Hospital, the OU Physicians clinics, and the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. Large biomedical research facilities operated by the University are joined on campus by a growing biomedical research park developed by the Presbyterian Health Foundation and dedicated to biotechnology, research, and new scientific ventures.

The new Research and Medical Clinic building on the University of Oklahoma campus in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Established in 1972 as a branch of the main medical school campus, the College of Medicine–Tulsa has enabled the University to use hospital training facilities in Tulsa to establish medical residencies and provide for expanded health care capabilities in the state. Under this program, selected third- and fourth-year students receive their clinical training in hospitals in the Tulsa community. Between 1972 and 1999, OU's presence in Tulsa has grown but scattered. In 1999, a 60 acre (24 ha) site formerly owned by BP Amoco was sold to the University for $24 million (even though the property was appraised at $48 million). The site already featured a 370,000 square foot (34,400 m²) building with office, labs, and classrooms.[47] The university quickly purchased this property with the help of a $10 million gift from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. The existing building was given the name the Schusterman Center.[48] In 2003, Tulsa voters approved the Vision2025 plan for capital improvements to the Tulsa metro area. Included in this plan was $30 million for a new Research and Medical Clinic to be built near the existing Schusterman Center.[49] Construction on the new building is nearing completion.

Student life

Residential life

Walker Dorm on the left, Adams Dorm on the right, Honors Dorm in front of both (with clock on top).

Oklahoma requires, with few exceptions, that all freshmen live in one of the six residence halls.[50] Three of these building are towers (12 stories each): Adams Center, Walker Center, and Couch Center; the other two are quads with Cate Center being the primary quad and Cross Center being a spillover location.[51] The final building is the Academic Arts Community.[52] It is a quad that caters to Honors students. The three towers are all located around each other with the Couch Cafeteria completing the residence community. Couch Cafeteria is composed of several different themed restaurants that serves a wide variety of food each day.[53] Located in between Adams and Walker Centers is the Adams/Walker Mall, a field roughly the size of a football field. This are includes a basketball court and an open grass are that hosts musical events and other student-related activities. As of Fall 2005, over 3,400 students lived in one of these residence halls. By 2010, all residential halls will be completely renovated and upgraded.[54]

The university owns several apartment complexes around the campus. Some of these apartments were old and dilapidated, and the university has taken the strides to resolve this issue. Two brand new complexes owned by the university opened in recent years; OU Traditions Square East in 2005 and OU Traditions Square West in 2006.[55] One older complex, Kraettli apartments, still has residents (mainly families and law students[56]), while another, Parkview Apartments, were recently demolished.[57]

Due to the lower cost of living in Oklahoma, many students find it financially viable to live off campus in either apartments or houses. Over the last several years, Norman has seen a boom in apartment development. Since 2002, four new apartment or condominium complexes (not including the OU-owned properties) have been built[58] in addition to a booming housing market that is resulting in Norman spreading further east. Many students commute from nearby Moore and Oklahoma City.

Student organizations, activities, and media

The Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band

There are over 350 student organizations at Oklahoma.[59] Focuses of these organizations range from ethnic to political, religious to special interest. The College Republicans club at OU has over 1,800 members,[60] nearly 10% of the Norman campus undergraduate population. In addition, OU has around 20 organizations related to Christian ideals.[61]

The student union provides a place for students to relax, sleep, study, watch television, or socialize. The student union is home to the Union Programming Board which provides diverse activities and programs in the Union. These programs can include movies, bands, dances, give-aways, and other activities. Intramural sports are a popular activity on campus with over 35 different sports available.[62] A large intramural field where many outdoor events take place is located just one block east of the dorms.

The Pride of Oklahoma is the university's marching band. The Pride celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2004 and consists of 311 student musicians and dancers from 19 states. Students wishing to enter the band must go through a rigorous audition process. The band plays at every home football game. A smaller "pep-band," which usually consists of 100 members, travels to every away football game. The full band makes trips to the AT&T Red River Rivalry game against The University of Texas, Big 12 Championship Game, and the bowl game. In some circumstances, the full band may travel if a game is of importance. Members of the band are also present for many student events. It is often noted as one of the best college marching bands, as it won the Sudler Trophy in 1987.[63]

The campus radio station is The Wire, which is broadcast on TV4OU SAP and over the Internet. The campus TV station, TV4OU, features student produced programming five nights a week and is available on local cable (COX Ch. 4). The Wire and TV4OU are programmed through Oklahoma's Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Oklahoma's Department of Continuing Education operates KROU and KGOU, a public radio station broadcasting on 106.3 FM. KGOU is affiliated with NPR. The campus newspaper is The Oklahoma Daily produced daily during the fall and spring semesters and weekly during the summer semester.[64]

Oklahoma has a strong social fraternity and sorority presence. Many fraternities and sororities are only a couple decades younger than the university itself with the first fraternity chapter being established in 1905. Currently there are 40 national fraternities and sororities on campus. Governing these 40 Greek chapters are four governing bodies: Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association, National Pan-Hellenic Council, and the Latino Greek Council. In 2005, the average GPA for the Panhellenic Association was 3.30.[65]

Student government

The main governing arm of the student body is the University of Oklahoma Student Association (UOSA). UOSA comprises four branches: an Executive Branch, a Legislative Branch, a Judicial Branch, and a Programming Branch. The student government, as well as all organizations, has offices located in the Conoco Student Leadership Center located in the student union. The organization is technically a branch of the Oklahoma Government and is subject to the same regulations.[citation needed]

The Executive Branch provides student services on behalf of the UOSA, executes UOSA law, and advocates for the position of the student.[66] The General Counsel is the chief legal counsel for the UOSA and provides legal advice, handles issues regarding academic misconduct, and approves new student organization constitutions. The Legislative Branch is comprised of the Undergraduate Student Congress and the Graduate Student Senate. The Judicial Branch is headed by the Superior Court and includes Student Traffic Court. The Programming Branch is comprised of the Campus Activities Council (CAC). The CAC oversees all of the campus-wide events that happen on campus. These events include Homecoming, Parent's Weekend, Big Red Rally, Howdy Week, Winter Welcome Week, Speakers' Bureau, as well as many others. Originally, CAC was the programming arm of the UOSA under the Executive Branch which UOSA began in 1971. In 2002, UOSA voted to make the CAC its own branch.[67] The CAC is comprised of over 300 students who volunteer their time to ensuring these events go as planned.

One of the main functions of the UOSA is allocation of student activity funds. The Ways and Means (WAM) Committee, a subset of the legislative branch, conducts extensive interviews with representatives from student groups each year in order to disperse over half a million dollars.[citation needed]

Notable people and alumni

File:GaylordStatue.jpg
Edward Gaylord, late billionaire tycoon, graduate of OU.
Main article: List of University of Oklahoma alumni

With strong academic and successful athletics programs, the University of Oklahoma has seen many of its former students go on to local and national prominence. This includes many athletes that have excelled at the collegiate and professional levels, including: Lee Roy Selmon, Roy Williams, Tommie Harris, Billy Sims, Wayman Tisdale, Joe Washington, Darrell Royal, and Steve Owens. In addition, many state politicians have graduated from Oklahoma, including current OU President David Boren,[68] David Walters, J.C. Watts,[69] Carl Albert,[70] Frank Keating,[71] Dan Boren,[72] Tom Coburn,[73] and current Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry.[74] Other notable alumni include shuttle astronaut Shannon Lucid[75] and Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise,[76] the mutual fund manager Michael F. Price,[77] Miss America Jennifer Berry,[78] Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen,[79] and actor James Garner.[80]

Athletics

Main article: Oklahoma Sooners
Several of the main athletic facilities at the Norman campus.

The school's sports teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to early Oklahoma land rush pioneers who sneaked into the offered territory and staked claims before the land run officially started. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-Bowl Subdivision and in the South Division of the Big 12 Conference. The University has won 18 team NCAA National Championships and seven national championships in football (football championships are not awarded by the NCAA). By far, OU's most famous and storied athletic program is the football program, which has produced four Heisman Trophy winners: Billy Vessels in 1952, Steve Owens in 1969, Billy Sims in 1978, and Jason White in 2003. Many Pro Football Hall of Famers, including Lee Roy Selmon and Troy Aikman, also attended the University of Oklahoma. In reference to the team's success and popularity as a symbol of state pride, George Lynn Cross, OU's president from 1943 to 1968, once told the Oklahoma State Senate, "I want a university the football team can be proud of."[81]

The men's gymnastics team has won seven national championships including championships in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006. The softball team won a national championship in 2000 and the baseball team a national championship in 1994.

The University of Oklahoma has had a long and bitter rivalry with the University of Texas known as the Red River Shootout, Red River Rivalry, or OU-Texas. This rivalry is often thought of as a contest of state pride along with school pride. Oklahoma has a longstanding rivalry with Oklahoma State University, the Bedlam Series. The Bedlam Series encompasses all the athletic contests between the two universities with the winner receiving the Bedlam Bell. Another major historic rival is the University of Nebraska, which was part of the Big 8 Conference with Oklahoma and later joined with Oklahoma and other schools in the formation of the Big 12 Conference.

Museums and libraries

Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art on the University of Oklahoma campus, which utilizes a different architectural style than the rest of the campus.

The university is home to two very prominent museums, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. The Museum of Art was founded in 1936 and originally headed by Oscar Jacobson, the director of the School of Art at the time. The museum opened with over 3,000 items on display and was originally located on campus in Jacobson Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jones of Oklahoma City donated money for a permanent building in 1971 and the building was named in honor of their son who died in a plane crash during his senior year at the University of Oklahoma. Since then, the museum has attained many renowned works of Native American art and, in 2000, was the recipient of the Weitzenhoffer Collection of French Impressionism which includes works by Degas, Gauguin, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh, and Vuillard. Today, the museum has over 65,000 square feet (6,000 m²) filled with over 8,000 items from a wide array of time periods and movements.[82] In 2005, the museum expanded with the opening of the new Lester Wing designed by contemporary architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen. The architectural style of the new addition differs greatly from the Collegiate Gothic style of the university, but Jacobsen felt this was necessary given the contemporary works of art the wing would house.[83]

The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History that specializes in the history of the people and animals that have inhabited the state of Oklahoma over the last 300 million years. Since its founding in 1899, the museum has acquired over 5,000,000 objects. In 2000, a new building was opened to house the ever expanding museum. The new building offered nearly 200,000 square feet (18,600 m²) of space to display the many exhibits the museum has to offer.[84]

The University of Oklahoma Library system is the largest research library in the state of Oklahoma. The system contains over 4.7 million volumes and is ranked 54th out of 113 research libraries in North America in terms of volumes held.[85] It contains more than 1.6 million photographs, subscriptions to over 31,000 periodicals, over 1.5 million maps, government documents dating back to 1893, and over 50 incunabula.[85] It has nine locations on campus. The primary library is Bizzell Memorial Library, located in the middle of the main campus. Other notable campus libraries include the Architecture Library, the Chemistry and Mathematics Library, the Engineering Library, the Fine Arts Library, the Physics and Astronomy Library, and the Geology Library. The OU library system contains many unique collections such as the History of Science Collection (which houses over 88,000 volumes related to the history of science, including hand-noted works by Galileo Galilei), the Bizzell Bible Collection, and the Western History Collection.

The School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) is the only American Library Association-accredited program in the state of Oklahoma[86] and offers two graduate degrees (Master of Library and Information Studies and Master of Science in Knowledge Management) and one undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Arts in Information Studies). The impact of OU and SLIS on the history of libraries in Oklahoma can be seen in the recent list of 100 Oklahoma Library Legends as produced by the Oklahoma Library Association.[87] Two current faculty, one faculty emeriti, and numerous others associated with either the OU libraries or SLIS comprise nearly 10% of the list's members.

See also

References

  1. ^ Burr, Carol J. (Spring 2006). "Membership in the Billion-Dollar Club requires aggressive optimism" (PDF). Sooner Magazine. p. 1. LCCN 46-0 – 043. Retrieved 2006-06-23.
  2. ^ Figures as of March 31, 2006.
  3. ^ a b c d "OU Facts". University of Oklahoma Public Affairs. Retrieved 2006-06-07.
  4. ^ As of 2006-11-15 per source.
  5. ^ "America's Best Value Colleges". The Princeton Review. Retrieved 2006-06-07.
  6. ^ "University of Oklahoma Norman Campus". Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Retrieved 2006-06-07.
  7. ^ "Oklahoma Football Quick Facts". SoonerSports.com. 2004. Retrieved 2006-06-07.
  8. ^ a b c d e Gumprecht, Blake (Forthcoming). "The Campus as a Public Space in the American College Town" (PDF). Journal of Historical Geography. Retrieved 2006-06-05. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ "Chronological History. 1890-present". 2006 OU Factbook. University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2006-06-05.
  10. ^ a b Long, Charles F. (September 1965). "With Optimism For the Morrow: A History of The University of Oklahoma" (PDF). Sooner Magazine. LCCN 46-0 – 043. Retrieved 2006-06-23.
  11. ^ Levy, David W. (Spring 1996). "Combating the Image of "Godlessness" in 1909" (PDF). Sooner Magazine. pp. 28–30. Retrieved 2006-07-03. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ "Total Headcount Enrollment, 1892 to Present". 2006 OU Factbook. University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2006-06-06.
  13. ^ a b "A University Moves South" (PDF). Sooner Magazine. 1961. LCCN 46-0 – 043. Retrieved 2007-01-22. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  14. ^ Floren, Sigfrid (1941). "O.U.'s Quarter-Million Airport". Sooner Magazine. LCCN 46-0 – 043. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  15. ^ Scheffer , David J. (March 1998). The clear and present danger of war crimes (Speech). Norman, Oklahoma. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  16. ^ Burr, Carol J. (1963). Always Room for One More. Sooner Magazine. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  17. ^ For a complete list of campus improvements from 1994-2002, refer here
  18. ^ a b "About OKFIRST". University of Oklahoma Board of Regents. Retrieved 2007-01-08.
  19. ^ McEntire, Sarah (September 30, 2004). "Sigma Chi pledge found dead". OU Daily. Retrieved 2006-05-31.
  20. ^ Gasparro, Annie (December 7, 2004). "New alcohol policies approved". OU Daily. Retrieved 2006-05-31.
  21. ^ Sneed Jr., Earl (August 26, 2005). "Alcohol education implemented". OU Daily. Retrieved 2006-05-31.
  22. ^ Axson, Scooby (October 3, 2005). "Bombs shake campus". OU Daily. Retrieved 2007-01-08.
  23. ^ a b Slater, Grant (February 28 2006). "Details of Hinrichs Case Revealed". OU Daily. Retrieved 2007-01-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Headcount Enrollment for All Campuses, Fall 2005". 2006 OU Factbook. University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2006-06-03.
  25. ^ "First-Time Students by High School Class Rank, Fall 1998-2005". 2006 OU Factbook. University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2006-06-01.
  26. ^ "First-Time Students by Ethnic Background, Gender and Resident Status, Fall 2005". 2006 OU Factbook. University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2006-06-01.
  27. ^ "Enrollment by Ethnic Background, Fall 1985-2000". 2006 OU Factbook. University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2006-06-01.
  28. ^ a b "Norman Campus Enrollment Summary - By Major, Fall 2005". University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2006-06-01.
  29. ^ "Top 10 Best Value Public Colleges". Princeton Review. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  30. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2006 - Top 500 World Universities" (PDF). Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  31. ^ McMahan, Ty (2000-12-04). "Admission Standards For Next Fall Are Increased". OU Daily. Retrieved 2007-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ Chittum, Ryan (2001-02-05). "High Enrollment Forces Change:OU Freshmen Admissions Are Up 45 Percent As Of Monday". OU Daily. Retrieved 2007-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ Burns, Jenny (2002-03-28). "Regents Raise OU Admission Standards". OU Daily. Retrieved 2007-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ "First-Time Student Average ACT/SAT Scores by College, Fall 2005". University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  35. ^ "First-Time Student Average ACT Composite Scores by College, Fall 1999-2005". University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  36. ^ These numbers include students in Tulsa participating in one of the colleges.
  37. ^ "Unduplicated Enrollment by College, Major and Level, Fall 2005". 2006 OU Factbook. University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2006-06-01.
  38. ^ Wickman, Beth (September 26, 2006). "Campus Statues". OU Daily. Retrieved 2007-01-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ Williams, Victoria (September 20, 2004). "Speakers Dedicate Memorial to Fallen Sooner Veterans". OU Daily. Retrieved 2007-01-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ Peterson, Althea (September 16, 2004). "Monument To Be Dedicated to OU's Fallen Veterans". OU Daily. Retrieved 2007-01-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ "David L. Phelps - Phelps Sculpture Studio". Retrieved 2007-01-21.
  42. ^ Swan, Stacy (September 25, 2003). "Campus in Bloom". OU Daily. Retrieved 2007-01-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ Marx, Michael (January 24, 2002). "Supreme Court Justice O'Connor to come to OU". OU Daily. Retrieved 2006-05-30.
  44. ^ Prato-Gaines, Maria (November 30, 2005). "Chemistry building discussed at forum". OU Daily. Retrieved 2006-05-30.
  45. ^ "Weathernews Opens State-of-Art Operations Center on The University of Oklahoma's South Research Campus" (Press release). Weathernews, Inc. 2004-10-21. Retrieved 2006-05-30.
  46. ^ "University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center - General Information". University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  47. ^ Burr, Carol (2003). "A Foundation for the Future". Sooner Magazine. Retrieved 2006-05-30.
  48. ^ Krehbiel, Randy (Fall 2002). "Tulsa Time" (PDF). Sooner Magazine. pp. 4–11. LCCN 46-0 – 043. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
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  50. ^ "Housing and Food Services at the University of Oklahoma - faq's". housing.ou.edu. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
  51. ^ "Housing and Food Services at the University of Oklahoma - on-campus living". housing.ou.edu. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
  52. ^ "Housing and Food Services at the University of Oklahoma - academic arts". housing.ou.edu. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
  53. ^ "Housing and Food Services at the University of Oklahoma - campus restaurants". housing.ou.edu. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
  54. ^ Parker, Julianna (January 18, 2005). "OU annouces plan to rennovate dorms". OU Daily. Retrieved 2007-01-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  55. ^ "Housing and Food Services at the University of Oklahoma - ou traditions square apartments". housing.ou.edu. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
  56. ^ "Housing and Food Services at the University of Oklahoma - kraettli apartments". housing.ou.edu. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
  57. ^ Light, Nanette (September 12, 2006). "Parkview apartments await destruction". OU Daily. Retrieved 2007-01-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  58. ^ Macklin, C.J. (January 25, 2006). "More apartments means more perks for tenants". OU Daily. Retrieved 2007-01-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  59. ^ "Student Organizations Information". University of Oklahoma Center for Student Life. Retrieved 2006-05-31.
  60. ^ "About the College Republicans". University of Oklahoma College Republicans. Retrieved 2006-05-31.
  61. ^ "Student Organizations". OU.edu. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  62. ^ "Recreational Services". University of Oklahoma Recreational Services. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
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  65. ^ "Fun Facts". Panhellenic Association. Retrieved 2006-05-31.
  66. ^ "About the Executive Branch". UOSA Executive Branch. Retrieved 2006-05-31.
  67. ^ Shimko, Justin (March 29, 2002). "CAC could head new branch of government". OU Daily. Retrieved 2006-05-31.
  68. ^ "David Boren Biography". DavidBoren.org. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  69. ^ "About Us". JC Watts Companies. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  70. ^ "ALBERT, Carl Bert, (1908 - 2000)". Congress.gov. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  71. ^ "Speakers". pewforum.org. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  72. ^ "U.S. Congressman Dan Boren's Biography". house.gov. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  73. ^ "About Senator Coburn - Biography". senate.gov. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  74. ^ "About : Governor Brad Henry". OK.gov. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  75. ^ "Biographical Data - Shannon W. Lucid (PH.D.)". NASA. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  76. ^ "Biographical Data - Fred Wallace Haise, Jr.)". NASA. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  77. ^ "About OU Price College > Michael F. Price". price.ou.edu. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  78. ^ "Meet Miss American 2006". Miss America Organization. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  79. ^ "Pat Bowlen". Denver Broncos. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  80. ^ "The Man - James Garner". James Garner Plaza. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  81. ^ "The Creation of Quality". Time Magazine. June 2, 1967. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2007-01-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  82. ^ "Museum History". Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Retrieved 2006-06-02.
  83. ^ Rickard, Jennifer (December 9, 2004). "New Home For Art To Open". OU Daily. Retrieved 2007-01-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  84. ^ "Our History". Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 2006-06-02.
  85. ^ a b "Library Facts". University of Oklahoma Libraries. Retrieved 2006-06-02.
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  87. ^ "100 Oklahoma Library Legends". Oklahoma Library Association. Retrieved 2007-01-30.

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