Alabama State University
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2011) |
| File:AlStateU seal.png | |
| Motto | "When we teach class, the world takes note." |
|---|---|
| Type | Public, HBCU |
| Established | 1867 |
| President | Dr. William H. Harris (President Emeritus) |
| Vice-president | John F. Knight |
| Provost | Alfred Smith |
| Students | 12,000 |
| Undergraduates | 7,800 |
| Postgraduates | 3,400 |
| 400 | |
Other students | 400 |
| Location | , United States, Alabama |
| Campus | Urban, 172-acres[1] |
| Colors | Black and Old Gold |
| Nickname | Hornets and Lady Hornets |
| Affiliations | Southwestern Athletic Conference |
| Website | www.alasu.edu |
| File:AlabamaStateHornets.png | |
Alabama State University, founded 1867, is a historically black university located in Montgomery, Alabama. ASU is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
History
Alabama State University founded in 1856 as the Lincoln Normal School of Marion in Marion. In December 1873, the State Board accepted the transfer of title to the school after a legislative act was passed authorizing the state to fund a Normal School, and George N. Card was named President. Thus, in 1874, this predecessor of Alabama State University became America's first state-supported educational institution for blacks. This began ASU’s history as a “Teacher’s College.”
In 1878, the second president, William Paterson, was appointed. He is honored as a founder of Alabama State University and was the president for 37 of the first 48 years of its existence. Paterson was instrumental in the move from Marion to Montgomery in 1887. In 1887, the university opened in its new location in Montgomery, but an Alabama State Supreme Court ruling forced the school to change its name; thus, the school was renamed the Normal School for Colored Students.
In the decades that followed Lincoln Normal School became a junior college and in 1928 became a full four-year institution. In 1929 it became State Teachers College, Alabama State College for Negroes in 1948 and Alabama State College in 1954. In 1969, the State Board of Education, then the governing body of the university, approved a name change; the institution became Alabama State University. The 1995 Knight vs. Alabama remedial decree transformed ASU into a comprehensive regional institution paving the way for two new undergraduate programs, four new graduate programs, diversity scholarship funding and endowment, funding to build a state-of-the art health sciences facility and a facility renewal allocation to refurbish three existing buildings.
WVAS-FM was launched on June 15, 1984, beaming 25,000 watts of power from the fifth floor of the Levi Watkins Learning Center for two years before moving to its current location at Thomas Kilby Hall. Today, WVAS has grown to 80,000 watts and enjoys a listenership that spans 18 counties, reaching a total population of more than 651,000. In recent years, the station has also begun streaming its broadcast via the Web, connecting a global audience to the university.
The early 1990s witnessed the beginning of WAPR-FM (Alabama Public Radio), which Alabama State University and Troy University, both of which already held station licenses of their own, cooperated with the University of Alabama in building and operating. WAPR-FM 88.3—Selma – The signal reaches the region known colloquially as the Black Belt, about 13 counties in the west central and central parts of Alabama, including the city of Montgomery.
On September 3, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a jury verdict for over $1 million in favor of three former ASU employees who had sued the University for creating a hostile work environment, based on the conduct of the employees' supervisors who repeatedly directed offensive racial and sexual comments to them. In affirming the judgment, the Court of Appeals stated: "We are left to speculate who is in charge at ASU. Regardless, however, we are unnerved by the apparent acquiescence to, if not outright condoning of, the abusive work environment created by its high-level employees." Weatherly v. Alabama State University, ___F.3d ___ (2013), available at http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/201213414.pdf .
Academics
Alabama State University has more than 5,000 students from more than 42 states and six countries.[2]
Alabama State University has eight degree-granting colleges or schools or divisions.
- College of Business Administration
- College of Education
- College of Health Sciences
- College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
- College of Science, Mathematics & Technology
- College of Visual & Performing Arts
- Division of Aerospace Studies
- Continuing Education
Alabama State offers 47 degree programs including 31 bachelors’, 11 masters’, two Education Specialist and three doctoral programs (Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Law (EdD), Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctorate in Microbiology (PhD)).
Alabama State is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Association of Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy, the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM, the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and the Council of Social Work Education.
Campus
ASU's urban, 172-acre (0.70 km2) campus has Georgian-style red-brick classroom buildings and architecturally contemporary structures.[1][3] ASU is home to the state-of-the-art 7,400-seat academic and sports facility the ASU Acadome; the Levi Watkins Learning Center; a five-story brick structure with more than 267,000 volumes, the state-of-the-art John L. Buskey Health Sciences Center; which is 80,000 square feet (7,400 m2) facility which houses classrooms, offices, an interdisciplinary clinic, three therapeutic rehabilitation labs, state-of-the-art Gross Anatomy Lab, Laboratory for the Analysis of Human Motion (LAHM), a Women’s Health/Cardiopulmonary lab, and a health sciences computer lab, and WVAS-FM 90.7; the 80,000-watt, university operated public radio station.
Student life
More than 70 student organizations are chartered at Alabama State, including nine Greek-letter organizations, a full range of men’s and women’s intramural and intercollegiate sports, and 17 honors organizations. In addition to social, cultural and religious groups, there are musical opportunities, such as the marching and symphonic bands, the choir, and departmental organizations for most majors.
The Golden Ambassadors
The Golden Ambassadors are a select group of outstanding students who are the official greeting body for Alabama State University.
Student publications
The students are served by two media publications, The Hornet Tribune (student newspaper) and The HORNET (the student yearbook).
Athletics
The Alabama State University Department of Athletics currently sponsors men's intercollegiate football, baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, track and cheerleading along with women's intercollegiate basketball, soccer, softball, bowling, tennis, track, volleyball, golf and cheerleading. Sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (FCS – Football Championship Subdivision for football) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), which it joined in 1982. The university's colors are black and old gold and their nickname is the Hornets.
Mighty Marching Hornets
The Mighty Marching Hornets have gained national recognition as a result of their participation in the halftime shows on NBC's national televised professional football games between the NY Jets vs. KC Chiefs on December 10, 1967, and CBS's nationally televised professional football game between the New Orleans Saints vs. the Green Bay Packers in 1969, the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints in October 1976 and 1977; and the pre-game and halftime for the Cincinnati Bengal vs. Houston Oilers at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, 1976. The band was twice televised on the Blue-Gray Football Classic, Montgomery, AL, in December 1976 and 1977.
In 1980, The Marching Hornets put together a halftime show saluting the late, great Joe Louis. In 1985, the Marching Hornets were invited to perform at the second annual Freedom Bowl classic in Fulton Stadium, Atlanta, GA, representing the SWAC Conference. They also performed for the Atlanta Falcon vs. Chicago Bears in 1986, were they presented a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and were the Exhibition Band for the South Central Marching Band Classic in Homewood, AL., November 1, 1986. The Marching Hornets also performed at other classics and games such as the 1991 Bronze Classic in Atlanta, the 1991 Motor City Classic in Pontiac Michigan, the 1991 Alma Heritage Bowl in Miami, the 1992 Circle City Classic of Indianapolis, the 2000 Battle of the Bands in Mobile, AL, the 2003 and 2004 Detroit Football Classic, and the 2006 Battle of the Bands in Atlanta, Ga. The band appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2007.
Stingettes
The Stingettes is the name of Alabama State University's dance line. Their name is derived from the stinger of the Hornet mascot. They made their debut in 1977.
The Honey Bees
The Honey Bees are a dance team that dance during the football halftime performances in many ways. They have recently appeared on the Steve Harvey Television Show and on ESPNU.
The Bama State Collegians
The Bama State Collegians is a big band jazz orchestra sponsored by Alabama State University. In the 1930s, the ensemble was directed by noted jazz trumpeter, Erskine Hawkins, an inductee of both the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. After moving to New York City, the Collegians, directed by Hawkins, became the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra and produced a string of national hit records, including "Tuxedo Junction", "After Hours", "Tippin' In" and others. The song "Tuxedo Junction", with its recordings by Hawkins and by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, became one of the anthems of World War II in America.
Notable people
Notable faculty
| Name | Department | Notability | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alvin Holmes | Alumnus and member of the Alabama State Legislature, representing the 78th District (Montgomery) | [3] | |
| Arthur D. Baylor | Criminal Justice | First black police chief of Montgomery, Alabama. Appointed by President Obama in 2010 and currently serves as the U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Alabama. | |
| Horace B. Lamar | Music | Professor and Former Dean of School of Music | |
| John F. Knight | Alumnus, Executive Vice President and C.O.O at Alabama State University, and member of the Alabama State Legislature for the 77th district | ||
| Sheyann Webb-Christburg | notable civil rights activist, author of Selma Lord Selma! and Dr. Martin Luther King's proclaimed "smallest freedom fighter". | ||
| Ralph J. Bryson | English professor and former Grand Historian of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity | ||
| Tonea Stewart | theatre | actress, playwright, and Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts | [4] |
Notable alumni
| Name | Class year | Notability | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe L. Reed | civil rights pioneer | ||
| W.C. Patton | civil rights leader who served as state president of the Alabama NAACP from 1947 to 1955, and was later the national director of voter education of the NAACP | [5] | |
| Ralph David Abernathy | civil rights leader and minister | ||
| Yasmin Salina | Government The White House | ||
| Fred Gray | attorney who represented Rosa Parks during the Montgomery Bus Boycott | ||
| Dr. Fred Shuttlesworth | civil rights leader and minister, co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Council | ||
| Fred Wesley | An American jazz and funk trombonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s and 1970s. | ||
| Eugene Sawyer | Politician and businessman,former Mayor of Chicago from 1987–1989 | [6] | |
| China Jude | 1994 | First Black Female Athletic Director, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (2007-11) and Queens College 2011-Present | |
| Dr. Yvonne Kennedy | Former President of Bishop State Community College | ||
| J. Bernard Calloway | 1997 | actor who has appeared in Broadway productions as well making appearances on TV and film | [7] |
| Clarence Carter | 1960 | American soul singer and musician. Best known for his hits "Strokin'", "Patches", "Snatching It Back" | [8] |
| Rickey Smiley | comedian/actor | ||
| Dionne Walters | contestant on America's Next Top Model | ||
| Jesse White | 37th Secretary of State of Illinois | ||
| Doug Williams | 1995 | Comedian/Actor | |
| Brad Baxter | former American football running back who played 7 seasons in the NFL for the New York Jets(1989–1995 | ||
| Eddie Robinson | former American football linebacker who played 11 seasons in the NFL for the Houston Oilers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, and the Buffalo Bills. He started for the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. | ||
| Erskine Hawkins | noted jazz musician, composer of "Tuxedo Junction" | ||
| Felix Stallings, Jr. | Electronica Artist/Producer/DJ Felix da housecat | ||
| James Daniel | 1974 | Tight Ends Coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers | |
| Jessie Tompkins | 1998 | a former nationally ranking American athlete in Track and Field and head coach for the East Montgomery Track Club, Tompkins was the first African America student to challenge the State of Alabama’s White-Only Race based scholarships. His story was featured in the Wall Street Journal and Aired on 60 Minutes with Morley Safer (vice versa). Double Reverse Scholarship program for whites becomes a test of preferences By June Kronholtz,The Wall Street Journal, December 23, 1997, | [9]
|
| Kefla Hare | 2000 | Actor, educator, motivational speaker; MTV Road Rules Down Under (season 6 cast member), Hip Hop Harry (Emmy nominated children series on TLC and Discovery Kids | |
| Lewis Jackson | 1984 | former NBA player, educator, ASU basketball coach | |
| London "Deelishis" Charles | Winner of reality show Flavor of Love 2 | ||
| Marcus Winn | Linebacker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League | ||
| Quinton Ross | member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 26th District | ||
| Ralph Simpson | first African American to earn a PhD (music) from Michigan State University; former Dean of the School of Music at Tennessee State University | ||
| Manny Martin | former NFL defensive back for the Buffalo Bills during the 1990s | ||
| Michael Coe | 2007 | current NFL defensive back | |
| Reggie Barlow | 1996 | former professional football wide receiver and current head football coach at Alabama State University | |
| Steven Daniel | 1993 | actor/comedian Steven Daniel | |
| Tangi Miller | 1993 | actress with The WB's Felicity | |
| Tarvaris Jackson | 2006 | Professional football player. Quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks | [10] |
| Tauheed Epps | Rapper known as 2 Chainz | ||
| Woody McCorvey | 1972 | Assistant Head Football Coach for The Mississippi State University Bulldogs | [11] |
Additional reading
- Bond, Horace Mann (1939 Reprint 1969). Negro Education in Alabama A Study in Cotton and Steel. New York: Octagon Books.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Caver, Joseph (1982). A Twenty-Year History of Alabama State University, 1867–1887." Master's thesis. Alabama State University.
- Knight v. Alabama, 933 F.2D. 1991.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - United States v. Alabama, 828 F.2D 1532. 11th Cir. 1987.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Watkins, Levi (1987). Fighting Hard: The Alabama State University Experience. Detroit, Mich.: Harlo Press.
- Westhauser, Karl E. (2005). Creating Community: Life and Learning at Montgomery's Black University. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
References
- ^ "Alabama State University". The Encyclopedia of Alabama. July 28, 2008.
- ^ "Academic Offerings". Alabama State University. Retrieved October 21, 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Alabama State Legislature: Alabama House of Representatives- Alvin Holmes". Alabama State Legislature. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
- ^ "Bio of Stewart, Tonea". AEI Speakers Bureau. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
- ^ "WC Patton". bhamwiki.com. Birmindham Wikipedia. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ Wilkerson, Isabel (December 3, 1987). "MAN IN THE NEWS; A Calm Voice For Chicago: Eugene Sawyer Jr". New York Times. Retrieved December 3, 1987.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Alabama State graduate lands on Broadway". newyorktheatreguide.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3851
- ^ Adversity.net
- ^ "Tarvaris Jackson". www.nfl.com. NFL.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Woody McCorvey". mstateathletics.com. Mississippi State University. Retrieved October 14, 2009.
External links
- Alasu.edu – Official web site
- Bamastatesports.com – Official athletics web site
- Istap.org – Athletic booster web site
- Lib.alasu.edu – ASU Library and Learning Resources Center
- mightymarchinghornetsbandboosters.com – Marching band booster web site
- Thehornettribune.com – The Hornet Tribune (student newspaper)
- Wvasfm.org – WVAS-FM radio station web site
- Apr.org – WAPR web site
- Asunaa.org – ASU National Alumni Association]
- Lib.alasu.edu/natctr/, University's National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American Culture