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Categories: Land-grant universities | Sea-grant universities | Southeastern Conference | University System of Georgia University of Georgia Located 60 miles northeast of Atlanta in Athens, Georgia, the University of Georgia was the first state-chartered university in the United States, making it the birthplace of the American system of public higher education. It was incorporated January 27, 1785 by the Georgia General Assembly, which gave its trustees, the Senatus Academicus of the University of Georgia, 40,000 acres (160 km²) for the purposes of founding a “college or seminary of learning.” The university's motto is Et docere et rerum exquirere causas ("To teach and to inquire into the nature of things"). The first meeting of the university's board of trustees installed its first president, Abraham Baldwin, a native of Connecticut and graduate of Yale University. This meeting also identified the 633 acres (2.6 km²) on the banks of the Oconee River on which the university was to be built. The first classes were held in 1801, in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences —named in honor of Benjamin Franklin—under the direction of President Josiah Meigs . The university graduated its first class in 1804. White and male for most of its history, women were first admitted to the university in 1918. In 1961, UGA became racially integrated after notable tension with the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools . UGA is home to the George Foster Peabody Awards, which are presented annually for excellence in television and radio news, entertainment and children’s programming. It also presents the annual Delta Prize for Global Understanding, which recognizes individuals or groups whose initiatives promote peace and cooperation among cultures and nations. UGA has had long-running difficulties with its fundraising organization, the University of Georgia Foundation . In 2003, UGA officials neglected to renew the trademark to the name "University of Georgia", and the trademark was acquired by the University of Georgia Foundation. After UGA dissolved its relationship with the foundation on May 25, 2004, the foundation declared its intentions to assume control of commercial use of this name, including all campus logo products and even "education services, namely providing instruction at the college level." The ramifications of this action are unknown, and the ultimate resolution of the situation remains to be seen. However, the most probable outcomes are as follows: (a) either state officials will rule that the UGA name is the intellectual property of the university, or (b) the Foundation might be able to force the university to cease use of the name "University of Georgia."
CampusThough there have been many additions, changes, and augmentations, UGA’s campus maintains its historic character and southern charm. The customary practice is to divide the extensive, 4,308 acre (17 km²) campus into two sections: North Campus [1] and South Campus [2].
Modeled on Yale University’s Central/Old Campus [3], UGA’s North Campus contains the picturesque historic buildings—such as the Chapel [4], Old College, New College, Demosthenian[5] and the Phi Kappa [6] Halls, Park Hall [7], Meigs Hall, and the President’s office [8]—as well as modern additions such as the Lumpkin Law School [9] and the Main Library [10]. The dominant architectural themes are Federal—the older buildings—and Greco-Roman Classical/Antebellum style. UGA’s North Campus has also been designated an arboreum by the State of Georgia. Perhaps the most notable North Campus fixture, though, is the Arch [11]. Situated where historic downtown Athens, Georgia meets the campus, the inspiration for the Arch is the arch found on the Great Seal of the State of Georgia [12]. Legend has it that if you walk through the arch as an underclassman, you will never graduate from UGA [13]. Football
Moving from North Campus toward South Campus—the more recently constructed campus where science and mathematics departments are located—one passes the Tate Student Center [14] and, most notably, the 92,746 seat Sanford Stadium[15]: home of the UGA Bulldog Football Team [16]. The white English Bulldog is UGA’s mascot and is properly known as "Uga" [17]. (UGA's mascot is another Yale influenced aspect of the University.) The Bulldogs play in the Southeastern Conference against teams such as the University of Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Louisiana State University. It also has a historic rivalry with Auburn, referred to as "the Deep South's oldest rivalry." The biggest rivalries, though, are between the Bulldogs and the Atlantic Coast Conference's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and, most importantly, its archrival, the Florida Gators [18]. The UGA-UF game is held annually in late October/early November in Jacksonville, Florida: a supposedly neutral site. Often referred to as "the world's largest outdoor cocktail party," this event is a must-do for many UGA undergrads as well as alumni. The Bulldogs are cheered on in this game—as well as in all the others—by the 90,000+ fans that sell out every home game as well as the UGA Marching Band, affectionately known as “the Red Coat Marching Band.” [19] Certainly, football dominates the UGA athletic scene. However, other notable sports teams include the UGA equestrian team [20], the UGA gymnastic team [21], the UGA fencing club [22], and the UGA baseball team [23] and the UGA basketball teams (men's [24] and women's [25]) which play in the UGA Stegeman Coliseum [26]. Statistics
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Categories: Land-grant universities | Sea-grant universities | Southeastern Conference | University System of Georgia |
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