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Wikipedia

Sewanee: The University of the South

The University of the South, familiarly known as Sewanee (/səˈwɑːni/),[7][8] is a private Episcopal liberal arts college in Sewanee, Tennessee. It is owned by 28 southern dioceses of the Episcopal Church, and its School of Theology is an official seminary of the church. The university's School of Letters offers graduate degrees in American Literature and Creative Writing. The campus (officially called "The Domain" or, affectionately, "The Mountain") consists of 13,000 acres (53 km2)[9] of scenic mountain property atop the Cumberland Plateau, with the developed portion occupying about 1,000 acres (4.0 km2).

The University of the South
Latin: Universitas Meridiana
MottoEcce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum.
(Latin, from Psalm 133)
Motto in English
Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity![1]
TypePrivate
Established1857; 166 years ago (1857)
Religious affiliation
Episcopal Church
Academic affiliations
Endowment$519.1 million (2021)[3]
ChancellorRobert Skirving[4]
Vice-ChancellorNancy Berner (acting)[5]
Undergraduates1,695[6]
Postgraduates73[6]
Location,
U.S.
CampusRural, 13,000 acres (5,300 ha)
Colors    Purple and gold
NicknameTigers
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division IIISAA
Websitesewanee.edu

History

 
1871 Poster for Sewanee

Beginning in the 1830s Bishop James Otey of Tennessee led an effort to found an Episcopal seminary in the Deep South. Following the Mexican War the Episcopal Church saw tremendous growth in the region, and a real need for an institution "to train natives, for natives" as Otey put it arose.[10] Up to that point only the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia existed south of the Mason-Dixon Line and other denominations were already establishing schools in the region. The location was chosen primarily because of the proximity to the major railway hub of Chattanooga, Tennessee and the existing railroad spur up the mountain, the "Mountain Goat" which ran from 1858 until April 1985.[11] Bishop Leonidas Polk commented that due to the access to railroads one could reach any point in the South from Sewanee within thirty-six to forty-eight hours.

On July 4, 1857, delegates from ten Southern dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States—Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas—were led up Monteagle Mountain by Polk for the founding of their denominational college for the region. The goal was to create a Southern university free of Northern influences. As Otey put it: the new university will "materially aid the South to resist and repel a fanatical domination which seeks to rule over us."[12] The majority of the land for the university was donated by the Sewanee Mining Company on the condition that a university "be put in operation within ten years".[13] The company's early profits were derived from the labor of mainly African-American convict leasing.[14]

The six-ton marble cornerstone, laid on October 10, 1860, and consecrated by Polk, was blown up in 1863 by Union soldiers; many of the pieces were collected and kept as keepsakes by the soldiers. A few were donated back to the university, and a large fragment was eventually installed in a wall of All Saints' Chapel. Several figures later prominent in the Confederacy, notably Polk, Bishop Stephen Elliott, Jr., and Bishop James Hervey Otey, were significant founders of the university. Generals Edmund Kirby Smith, Josiah Gorgas and Francis A. Shoup were prominent in the university's postbellum revival and continuance.

Because of the damage and disruptions during the Civil War, construction came to a temporary halt. Polk died in action during the Atlanta campaign. He is remembered through his portrait Sword Over the Gown, painted by Eliphalet F. Andrews in 1900. After the original was vandalized in 1998, a copy by Connie Erickson was unveiled on June 1, 2003.

In 1866, building was resumed, and this date is sometimes used as the re-founding of the university and the year from which it has maintained continuous operations (though official materials and anniversary celebrations still use 1857). The university's first convocation was held on September 18, 1868, with nine students and four faculty members present. Presiding was the Rt. Rev. Charles Todd Quintard, vice-chancellor (chief academic officer) of the university, second Bishop of Tennessee and "Chaplain of the Confederacy" (compiler of the Confederate Soldiers' Pocket Manual of Devotions, 1863). He attended the first Lambeth Conference in England (1868) and received financial support from clergy and laity of the Church of England for rebuilding the school. Quintard is known as the "Re-Founder" of the University of the South.

During World War II, the University of the South was one of 131 tertiary institutions nationally that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program, which offered students a path to a Navy commission.[15]

Schools of dentistry, engineering, law, medicine, and nursing once existed, and a secondary school was part of the institution into the second half of the 20th century. However, for financial reasons it was eventually decided to focus on the college and the School of Theology. In June 2006, Sewanee opened its School of Letters, a second graduate school. The School of Letters offers a Master of Arts in American Literature and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.

2004 name change

For the period 2004 to about 2016, the institution combined its two historical names in all university publications that were not official documents and styled itself as "Sewanee: The University of the South". Version three of the university's style guide, a document reflecting the official policies of the university with respect to its public image following the name change, stated in part:

First, it must be understood that the official and legal name of this institution is "The University of the South". In the past, though, unorganized use of this official name and the university's familiar name, Sewanee, has been confusing to those unfamiliar with the institution. In addition, college guides and Web sites that have become so crucial in young people's college searches may list the institution under as many as four different entries—beginning with "The", "University", "South", or "Sewanee". To avoid confusion and to honor the history and character of the institution, a consistent reference to the name of the institution is critical. So, for extended audiences unfamiliar with the institution, the naming convention "Sewanee: The University of the South" should be used on a first reference. Subsequent references may be to "Sewanee" or "the University".[16]

When this naming system was proposed in 2004, it was misinterpreted by some alumni to reflect a change in the official name of the university. A minor scandal ensued, with more conservative commentators insinuating that the change was intended to "distance" the university from its historic association with Southern culture.[17][18] "Some alumni were also angered by a report commissioned by the university last year [2004] by a marketing firm from Chicago that said that the word 'South' often had negative connotations for students around the country; the weaker the connection between the South and the university's name, the better, the consultants said."[19]

As of February 2016, the university has reverted to using the University of the South as its official name on all correspondence. Version six of the university's style guide now instructs university employees to “use 'the University of the South' on first reference," though it may be accompanied by the modifying, "familiarly known as Sewanee."[20]

2018 Charlie Rose controversy

In the wake of several women coming forward with allegations of sexual harassment against television personality Charlie Rose,[21] many educational institutions revoked honorary degrees bestowed on him.[22] Sewanee's board of regents initially declined to do so, citing a desire to "not condemn the individual".[23] However, due to particular backlash originating from student members of the board of trustees[24] and faculty in the university's school of theology,[25] the board of regents reversed their original decision and rescinded Rose's honorary doctorate.[26]

Ties to slavery and the Roberson Project

In September 2020, the board released a statement acknowledging for the first time that the university "was long entangled with, and played a role in, slavery, racial segregation, and white supremacy".[27] It added that the university "categorically rejects its past veneration of the Confederacy and of the 'Lost Cause' and wholeheartedly commits itself to an urgent process of institutional reckoning ...".[28][29] The university announced that it will utilize the findings of its Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation (which began in 2017) to guide their current discussions and path forward.[27][30]

Campus

 
All Saints' Chapel

The Sewanee campus overlooks the Tennessee Valley and consists of 13,000 acres on the Cumberland Plateau. It includes many buildings constructed of various materials faced with local stone, most done in the Gothic style. In September 2011, it was named by Travel + Leisure as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States.[31]

  • All Saints' Chapel was originally designed by Ralph Adams Cram and began construction in 1904 (replacing the smaller, wooden St. Augustine's Chapel which stood nearby), but the Panic of 1907 left the university without the funds to complete it. It was completed in 1959 to a design by Vice-Chancellor Edward McCrady. McCrady was also responsible for the connection of the buildings of the original quadrangle with cloisters. During his tenure as vice-chancellor, the Jessie Ball duPont Library was constructed. McCrady was determined to fill the plain windows of All Saints' Chapel with stained glass, though many remained without for several years. After his death, a new stained glass window, which includes his image, was dedicated in his memory. The final window was installed in 2004, nearly 100 years after construction began on the chapel.
  • St. Luke's Chapel, designed by the architect Charles C. Haight and built in 1904, is one of three chapels on the campus (All Saints, Chapel of The Apostles, St. Luke's). St. Luke's is located next to St. Luke's Hall (1887) which formerly housed the School of Theology. The Chapel itself is used in various capacities over the academic year, including hosting services in the Taizé style of worship.
  • The Fowler Center is located on Texas Avenue and is the recreation center for the university. It houses swimming pools, basketball courts, tennis courts, a running track, and weight rooms and group exercise rooms. Many of the trophies from Sewanee's athletic history are also located in this building.
  • Bishop's Commons is located near the Jessie Ball duPont Library and serves as the student union building. The Sewanee Outing Program is housed there along with The Student Post office, commonly referred to as "The SPO". The Tiger Bay Pub is also located in this building.
  • The duPont Library first opened in 1965. It hosts around 750,000 printed volumes.[32] Special features of the duPont Library include: the Theology Library, the William Ralston Listening Library & Archive (containing a state of the art listening space and over 15,000 compact discs),[33] and the Cup and Gown Café'.[34]
  • The Chapel of the Apostles was designed by the Arkansas architectural firm of E. Fay Jones and Maurice J. Jennings for the School of Theology and was dedicated and consecrated in October 2000.[35] Primarily used as the worship center for the School of Theology, the chapel hosts services Monday through Friday during sessions. The Daily Office is prayed daily along with celebrations of the Eucharist.
 
McClurg Hall
  • McClurg Dining Hall is located adjacent to All Saints' Chapel and is the main dining hall on campus.
  • Sewanee has 19 traditional dormitories, each housing a mix of students from all class years.[36] Theme housing, consisting of small living units focused on a common interest such as a foreign language, is also available.[37] Ninety-nine percent of Sewanee students live in campus housing.[38]
  • The School of Theology is located on Tennessee Avenue near Gorgas and Quintard residence halls and houses the School of Theology, its faculty, its classrooms, and the Beecken Center, and administrative offices for the Education for Ministry program. Prior to 1981, the building housed the Sewanee (Military) Academy, now part of St. Andrew's-Sewanee School nearby.
  • Spencer Hall houses the chemistry, biology, and biochemistry departments, as well as components of environmental science. Its completion in late August 2008 provided an additional 49,000 square feet (4,600 m2) to the existing Woods Lab science building. Sustainable building practices and technology were incorporated into Spencer Hall.[39]
  • Snowden Hall houses the Department of Forestry and Geology and components of environmental science. A new 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) addition and remodeling of the building was completed in 2010, making this the university's first LEED Gold–certified building. 3,000 square feet (280 m2) of solar panels provide about a third of the building's electricity needs, and a bioswale filters runoff from the roof top.

Literary associations

The Sewanee Review, founded in 1892, is the oldest continuously published literary magazine in the United States, and has published many distinguished authors.[40] Its success has helped launch the Sewanee Writers' Conference, held each summer. The School of Letters, offering an M.A. in English and M.F.A. in Creative Writing, was established in 2006. The current editor is Adam Ross (author).[41]

Sewanee and its environs have been the (temporary or full-time) residence of authors such as Allen Tate, Andrew Lytle, William Alexander Percy, Walker Percy, Shelby Foote, Caroline Gordon, and Robert Lowell. In 1983 playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner Tennessee Williams left his literary rights to the University of the South. Royalties have helped build the Tennessee Williams Center, a performance venue and teaching facility, and to create the Tennessee Williams teaching fellowships, which bring well-known figures in the arts to the campus.

"Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum", the university's motto, is taken from the opening of Psalm 133: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."

Environmental sustainability

Since Fall 2008, the university has held an annual Sustainability Week, which featured speakers, feasts of local foods, and environmentally themed documentaries. The campus is also home to an environmental sustainability house, The Green House, and residence halls have environmental sustainability representatives. In 2007, the university became a signatory to the President's Climate Commitment. As of 2011, the university received a "B" on the College Sustainability Report Card.[42]

Institutional traditions

The school is rich in distinctive traditions, many of which are tied to Southern culture. For example, male students have historically worn coats and ties to classes—this tradition has generally been continued, though the coat and tie are often combined with casual pants and sometimes shorts. However, this tradition is currently in decline. Faculty and student members of the primary honor society and main branch of student government, the Order of Gown (changed after controversy surrounding the exclusivity of the title "order of the gownsmen"), may wear academic gowns to teach or attend class—one of the last vestiges of this historically English practice in North America.[17] Furthermore, the Order is charged with the maintenance of this and other traditions of the university.[47] Similarly, both genders enjoy drinking societies and secret societies and the ribbon societies continue to thrive. At major events, members of the former two groups display their distinctive ceremonial garb, kilts and capes. There are the Red Ribbon and Green Ribbon Societies for men (including membership in the faculty) and the Pink Ribbon and White Ribbon for women. While most drinking societies will accept sophomores, the Ribbons are for juniors and seniors. In addition to the more established societies, there are numerous drinking societies and secret societies that exist in the college. The vice-chancellor on formal occasions assumes the cappa clausa (cope) as the vice-chancellor at Cambridge University still does.

The university's honor code is one of the most cherished traditions since the university's inception. The honor code states that "I will not lie, cheat, or steal" along with a number of amended premises such as a toleration clause for academic offenses (it is a violation of the honor code to not report cheating), and other specifics meant to guide the student body. Each new student entering the university must sign the honor code at a formal service in All Saints Chapel. The honor code and system is administered by a student-run, student-elected honor council. Only the vice-chancellor may overturn a decision through an appeals process. Although the honor council was once governed by the Order of Gown, the honor council is now an independent body whose procedures and rules are their sole governance. The associate dean of the college is the faculty adviser to the council as well as the university's general counsel.

In the early 2000s, some alumni and students expressed a concern that the school was trying to downplay the university's traditions, particularly its historical and cultural ties with Southern culture.[17][18] As a result, some traditions came under special scrutiny.

Greek life

The university saw the installation of its first fraternity in 1877 with the founding of the Tennessee Omega chapter of Alpha Tau Omega. In 1880, that chapter became the first of any fraternity in the South to have its own chapter house or lodge, which belonged to the fraternity until its closure in 2021.[48] As of 2022, slightly over half of Sewanee male students are members of fraternities, and slightly over two-thirds of female students belong to sororities.[49]

Mace controversy

The university mace, an unsolicited gift dedicated to early Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest, which prominently featured a Confederate battle flag, has been a point of interest in the debate over the university's identity, because of its association with Forrest and its implications for attitudes toward African Americans. Forrest had no connection with the university;[17] the mace had been commissioned in 1964 by Louise Claiborne-Armstrong, whose brother attended the university. (A portrait of her by Amanda Brewster Sewell is in the University Art Gallery.)

It was given to the university in 1965 and was carried by the president of the Order of Gownsmen at academic processions until it disappeared in 1997. Upon its rediscovery, various alumni offered to pay for the mace's repair but the university declined their offer.[17]

Festival of Lessons and Carols

Each year around the second week of Advent on the church calendar, the university choir, along with other members of the Sewanee community, holds the Festival of Lessons and Carols at All Saints' Chapel. Based on a service originally offered at Truro Cathedral in England in 1880, the service combines readings about the Christmas story from prophecy of a messiah to the fulfillment of the prophecy in the gospel texts. The service is also punctuated with traditional Anglican hymns and music. Sewanee has been holding this event for over 50 years.

Athletics

Sewanee was a charter member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1894. The Sewanee Tigers were pioneers in American intercollegiate athletics and possessed the Deep South's preeminent football program in the 1890s. The 1899 football team had perhaps the best season in college football history, winning all 12 of their games, 11 by shutout, and outscoring their opponents 322–10. Five of those wins, all shutouts, came in a six-day period while on a 2,500-mile (4,000 km) trip by train.[50] In 2012, the College Football Hall of Fame held a vote of the greatest historic teams of all time, where the 1899 Iron Men beat the 1961 Alabama Crimson Tide as the greatest team of all time.[51]

Sewanee was also a charter member of the Southeastern Conference upon its formation in 1932. By this time, however, its athletic program had declined precipitously and Sewanee never won a conference football game in the eight years it was an SEC member. The Tigers were shut out 26 times in their 37 SEC games, and were outscored by a combined total of 1163–84.[50]

When Vice Chancellor Benjamin Ficklin Finney, who had reportedly objected to Sewanee joining the SEC, left his position in 1938, the leading candidate was Alexander Guerry, a former president of the University of Chattanooga. According to a university historian, Guerry agreed to come to Sewanee only if the school stopped awarding athletic scholarships. In 1940, two years after Guerry's arrival, Sewanee withdrew from the SEC and subsequently deemphasized varsity athletics. Guerry's stance is sometimes credited as an early step toward the 1973 creation of NCAA Division III, which prohibits athletic scholarships.[50]

Sewanee went on to become a charter member of the College Athletic Conference in 1962. The conference, now the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC), consists of small, academically focused private liberal arts colleges such as Sewanee.[52]

Sewanee is now a member of the Southern Athletic Association (SAA),[53] offering 11 varsity sports for men and 13 for women. As is the case for all of its previous conferences, Sewanee is a charter member of its current conference—it was one of the seven SCAC members that announced their departure from that conference at the 2011 annual meeting of SCAC presidents.[52] The seven were joined by Berry College, another small private school in Georgia.[52]

Notable alumni and faculty

Sewanee has over 12,000 alumni from all 50 states and 40 countries and has produced 26 Rhodes Scholars, as well as 34 NCAA Postgraduate Fellows, 46 Watson Fellowships, and dozens of Fulbright Scholars. The School of Theology's alumni include bishops, including three of the last five presiding bishops of the Episcopal Church.[54]

See also

References

  1. ^ . The University of the South. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013.
  2. ^ . Archived from the original on November 9, 2015.
  3. ^ As of June 30, 2021. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2021 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY20 to FY21 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 18, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  4. ^ "Sewanee". The University of the South.
  5. ^ "VC transition announcement".
  6. ^ a b "College Navigator - The University of the South". nces.ed.gov.
  7. ^ Finder, Alan (November 30, 2005). "In Desire to Grow, Colleges in South Battle With Roots". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  8. ^ "Writing Style Guide". The University of the South. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  9. ^ "About Sewanee". Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  10. ^ Williamson, Samuel (2008). Sewanee Sesquicentennial History The Making Of The University Of The South.
  11. ^ Williamson, Sam (2008). Sewanee Sesquicentennial History The Making Of The University Of The South.
  12. ^ Steven Deyle (2013). Carry Me Back : The Domestic Slave Trade in American Life. Oxford University Press. Retrieved June 20, 2013., pp. 205-07.
  13. ^ Fairbanks, George Rainsford (1905). History of the University of the South, at Sewanee, Tennessee. Jacksonville, FL: H&WB Drew Company. p. 24.
  14. ^ "Ghosts of Lone Rock". Sewanee: The University of the South. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  15. ^ "U.S. Naval Administration in World War II". HyperWar Foundation. 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
  16. ^ The University of the South., Section 5.1.
  17. ^ a b c d e Finder, Alan. (2005).In Desire to Grow, Colleges in South Battle With Roots, The New York Times.
  18. ^ a b McWhirter, Cameron. (2005). Colleges suffer identity crisis, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. February 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ Finder, Alan (November 30, 2005). "In Desire to Grow, Colleges in South Battle With Roots". The New York Times. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  20. ^ "Identity Standards Manual" (PDF). The University of the South. February 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ Carmon, Brittain (November 20, 2018). "Eight women say Charlie Rose sexually harassed them — with nudity, groping and lewd calls". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  22. ^ Blain, Glenn (January 23, 2018). "SUNY revokes Charlie Rose's honorary degree". NY Daily News. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  23. ^ "Board of Regents chooses to maintain Rose's honorary degree". Sewanee Purple. February 15, 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  24. ^ "Board of Regents Discusses Revoking Charlie Rose's Honorary Degree". Sewanee Purple. February 12, 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  25. ^ "An open letter to the Board of Regents from the School of Theology tenured faculty". February 20, 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  26. ^ "Sewanee Revokes Charlie Rose's Honorary Degree after Months of Pressure to Take Action", Episcopal News Service, 22 March 2018,
  27. ^ a b Smith, Claire (24 September 2020). "Board of Regents re-evaluates Sewanee's history". The Sewanee Purple. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  28. ^ Jaschik, Scott (September 9, 2020). "Sewanee Board Rejects 'Veneration' of Confederacy". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  29. ^ "Statement by the Board of Regents". The University of the South (Press release). 8 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  30. ^ "Letter from Vice-Chancellor Brigety". The University of the South (Press release). 8 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  31. ^ "America's Most Beautiful College Campuses". Travel + Leisure.
  32. ^ "Library Collections". sewanee.edu. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  33. ^ "About: Ralston Listening Library". sewanee.edu. University of the South. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  34. ^ "On-Campus Dining". sewanee.edu. University of the South. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  35. ^ . Theology.sewanee.edu. Archived from the original on 2014-07-19. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  36. ^ DePersio, Greg (2022-07-27). "Sewanee Dorms Ranked From Best to Worst". College Jaguar. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  37. ^ "Current Theme Houses". The University of the South. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  38. ^ "The University of the South Common Data Set 2021-2022" (PDF). 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  39. ^ . sewanee.edu. 2008-10-07. Archived from the original on 2012-02-19. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  40. ^ "About". The Sewanee Review.
  41. ^ Alter, Alexandra (June 4, 2017). "New Life for a 125-Year-Old Literary Journal" – via NYTimes.com.
  42. ^ "The College Sustainability Report Card". Retrieved 2011-09-28.
  43. ^ "Best Colleges 2021: National Liberal Arts Colleges". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  44. ^ "2021 Liberal Arts Rankings". Washington Monthly. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  45. ^ "Forbes America's Top Colleges List 2022". Forbes. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  46. ^ "Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings 2022". The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  47. ^ . Sewanee.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-05-29. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  48. ^ The Sewanee Purple (2021).[1].
  49. ^ The University of the South Common Data Set 2021-2022.https://www.sewanee.edu/media/offices/institutional-research/cds/Sewanee_CDS_2021-2022.pdf.
  50. ^ a b c Dorsey, Patrick (September 23, 2011). "Sewanee, long-lost member of the SEC". Page 2. ESPN.com. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
  51. ^ Martin, Cam. "Sewanee puffs out chest with historic title - Sports Fans, Teams, Stadiums, Page 2 - Fandom Blog - ESPN Playbook - ESPN". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  52. ^ a b c (Press release). Sewanee: The University of the South. June 7, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  53. ^ (Press release). Sewanee: The University of the South. August 19, 2011. Archived from the original on January 23, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  54. ^ "About Sewanee". About.sewanee.edu. Retrieved 2012-07-31.

External links

  • Official website
  • Sewanee Athletics website

Coordinates: 35°12′11″N 85°55′11″W / 35.20306°N 85.91972°W / 35.20306; -85.91972

sewanee, university, south, sewanee, academy, sewanee, military, academy, andrew, sewanee, school, university, south, familiarly, known, sewanee, ɑː, private, episcopal, liberal, arts, college, sewanee, tennessee, owned, southern, dioceses, episcopal, church, . For Sewanee Academy or Sewanee Military Academy see St Andrew s Sewanee School The University of the South familiarly known as Sewanee s e ˈ w ɑː n i 7 8 is a private Episcopal liberal arts college in Sewanee Tennessee It is owned by 28 southern dioceses of the Episcopal Church and its School of Theology is an official seminary of the church The university s School of Letters offers graduate degrees in American Literature and Creative Writing The campus officially called The Domain or affectionately The Mountain consists of 13 000 acres 53 km2 9 of scenic mountain property atop the Cumberland Plateau with the developed portion occupying about 1 000 acres 4 0 km2 The University of the SouthLatin Universitas MeridianaMottoEcce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum Latin from Psalm 133 Motto in EnglishBehold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity 1 TypePrivateEstablished1857 166 years ago 1857 Religious affiliationEpiscopal ChurchAcademic affiliationsCICNAICU 2 Annapolis GroupOberlin GroupCLACACSEndowment 519 1 million 2021 3 ChancellorRobert Skirving 4 Vice ChancellorNancy Berner acting 5 Undergraduates1 695 6 Postgraduates73 6 LocationSewanee Tennessee U S CampusRural 13 000 acres 5 300 ha Colors Purple and goldNicknameTigersSporting affiliationsNCAA Division III SAAWebsitesewanee wbr edu Contents 1 History 1 1 2004 name change 1 2 2018 Charlie Rose controversy 1 3 Ties to slavery and the Roberson Project 2 Campus 3 Literary associations 4 Environmental sustainability 5 Institutional traditions 5 1 Greek life 5 2 Mace controversy 6 Festival of Lessons and Carols 7 Athletics 8 Notable alumni and faculty 9 See also 10 References 11 External linksHistory EditSee also List of Confederate monuments and memorials Sewanee 1871 Poster for Sewanee Beginning in the 1830s Bishop James Otey of Tennessee led an effort to found an Episcopal seminary in the Deep South Following the Mexican War the Episcopal Church saw tremendous growth in the region and a real need for an institution to train natives for natives as Otey put it arose 10 Up to that point only the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria Virginia existed south of the Mason Dixon Line and other denominations were already establishing schools in the region The location was chosen primarily because of the proximity to the major railway hub of Chattanooga Tennessee and the existing railroad spur up the mountain the Mountain Goat which ran from 1858 until April 1985 11 Bishop Leonidas Polk commented that due to the access to railroads one could reach any point in the South from Sewanee within thirty six to forty eight hours On July 4 1857 delegates from ten Southern dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States Alabama Arkansas Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee and Texas were led up Monteagle Mountain by Polk for the founding of their denominational college for the region The goal was to create a Southern university free of Northern influences As Otey put it the new university will materially aid the South to resist and repel a fanatical domination which seeks to rule over us 12 The majority of the land for the university was donated by the Sewanee Mining Company on the condition that a university be put in operation within ten years 13 The company s early profits were derived from the labor of mainly African American convict leasing 14 The six ton marble cornerstone laid on October 10 1860 and consecrated by Polk was blown up in 1863 by Union soldiers many of the pieces were collected and kept as keepsakes by the soldiers A few were donated back to the university and a large fragment was eventually installed in a wall of All Saints Chapel Several figures later prominent in the Confederacy notably Polk Bishop Stephen Elliott Jr and Bishop James Hervey Otey were significant founders of the university Generals Edmund Kirby Smith Josiah Gorgas and Francis A Shoup were prominent in the university s postbellum revival and continuance Because of the damage and disruptions during the Civil War construction came to a temporary halt Polk died in action during the Atlanta campaign He is remembered through his portrait Sword Over the Gown painted by Eliphalet F Andrews in 1900 After the original was vandalized in 1998 a copy by Connie Erickson was unveiled on June 1 2003 In 1866 building was resumed and this date is sometimes used as the re founding of the university and the year from which it has maintained continuous operations though official materials and anniversary celebrations still use 1857 The university s first convocation was held on September 18 1868 with nine students and four faculty members present Presiding was the Rt Rev Charles Todd Quintard vice chancellor chief academic officer of the university second Bishop of Tennessee and Chaplain of the Confederacy compiler of the Confederate Soldiers Pocket Manual of Devotions 1863 He attended the first Lambeth Conference in England 1868 and received financial support from clergy and laity of the Church of England for rebuilding the school Quintard is known as the Re Founder of the University of the South During World War II the University of the South was one of 131 tertiary institutions nationally that took part in the V 12 Navy College Training Program which offered students a path to a Navy commission 15 Schools of dentistry engineering law medicine and nursing once existed and a secondary school was part of the institution into the second half of the 20th century However for financial reasons it was eventually decided to focus on the college and the School of Theology In June 2006 Sewanee opened its School of Letters a second graduate school The School of Letters offers a Master of Arts in American Literature and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing 2004 name change Edit For the period 2004 to about 2016 the institution combined its two historical names in all university publications that were not official documents and styled itself as Sewanee The University of the South Version three of the university s style guide a document reflecting the official policies of the university with respect to its public image following the name change stated in part First it must be understood that the official and legal name of this institution is The University of the South In the past though unorganized use of this official name and the university s familiar name Sewanee has been confusing to those unfamiliar with the institution In addition college guides and Web sites that have become so crucial in young people s college searches may list the institution under as many as four different entries beginning with The University South or Sewanee To avoid confusion and to honor the history and character of the institution a consistent reference to the name of the institution is critical So for extended audiences unfamiliar with the institution the naming convention Sewanee The University of the South should be used on a first reference Subsequent references may be to Sewanee or the University 16 When this naming system was proposed in 2004 it was misinterpreted by some alumni to reflect a change in the official name of the university A minor scandal ensued with more conservative commentators insinuating that the change was intended to distance the university from its historic association with Southern culture 17 18 Some alumni were also angered by a report commissioned by the university last year 2004 by a marketing firm from Chicago that said that the word South often had negative connotations for students around the country the weaker the connection between the South and the university s name the better the consultants said 19 As of February 2016 the university has reverted to using the University of the South as its official name on all correspondence Version six of the university s style guide now instructs university employees to use the University of the South on first reference though it may be accompanied by the modifying familiarly known as Sewanee 20 2018 Charlie Rose controversy Edit In the wake of several women coming forward with allegations of sexual harassment against television personality Charlie Rose 21 many educational institutions revoked honorary degrees bestowed on him 22 Sewanee s board of regents initially declined to do so citing a desire to not condemn the individual 23 However due to particular backlash originating from student members of the board of trustees 24 and faculty in the university s school of theology 25 the board of regents reversed their original decision and rescinded Rose s honorary doctorate 26 Ties to slavery and the Roberson Project Edit In September 2020 the board released a statement acknowledging for the first time that the university was long entangled with and played a role in slavery racial segregation and white supremacy 27 It added that the university categorically rejects its past veneration of the Confederacy and of the Lost Cause and wholeheartedly commits itself to an urgent process of institutional reckoning 28 29 The university announced that it will utilize the findings of its Roberson Project on Slavery Race and Reconciliation which began in 2017 to guide their current discussions and path forward 27 30 Campus Edit All Saints Chapel The Sewanee campus overlooks the Tennessee Valley and consists of 13 000 acres on the Cumberland Plateau It includes many buildings constructed of various materials faced with local stone most done in the Gothic style In September 2011 it was named by Travel Leisure as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States 31 All Saints Chapel was originally designed by Ralph Adams Cram and began construction in 1904 replacing the smaller wooden St Augustine s Chapel which stood nearby but the Panic of 1907 left the university without the funds to complete it It was completed in 1959 to a design by Vice Chancellor Edward McCrady McCrady was also responsible for the connection of the buildings of the original quadrangle with cloisters During his tenure as vice chancellor the Jessie Ball duPont Library was constructed McCrady was determined to fill the plain windows of All Saints Chapel with stained glass though many remained without for several years After his death a new stained glass window which includes his image was dedicated in his memory The final window was installed in 2004 nearly 100 years after construction began on the chapel St Luke s Chapel designed by the architect Charles C Haight and built in 1904 is one of three chapels on the campus All Saints Chapel of The Apostles St Luke s St Luke s is located next to St Luke s Hall 1887 which formerly housed the School of Theology The Chapel itself is used in various capacities over the academic year including hosting services in the Taize style of worship The Fowler Center is located on Texas Avenue and is the recreation center for the university It houses swimming pools basketball courts tennis courts a running track and weight rooms and group exercise rooms Many of the trophies from Sewanee s athletic history are also located in this building Bishop s Commons is located near the Jessie Ball duPont Library and serves as the student union building The Sewanee Outing Program is housed there along with The Student Post office commonly referred to as The SPO The Tiger Bay Pub is also located in this building The duPont Library first opened in 1965 It hosts around 750 000 printed volumes 32 Special features of the duPont Library include the Theology Library the William Ralston Listening Library amp Archive containing a state of the art listening space and over 15 000 compact discs 33 and the Cup and Gown Cafe 34 The Chapel of the Apostles was designed by the Arkansas architectural firm of E Fay Jones and Maurice J Jennings for the School of Theology and was dedicated and consecrated in October 2000 35 Primarily used as the worship center for the School of Theology the chapel hosts services Monday through Friday during sessions The Daily Office is prayed daily along with celebrations of the Eucharist McClurg Hall McClurg Dining Hall is located adjacent to All Saints Chapel and is the main dining hall on campus Sewanee has 19 traditional dormitories each housing a mix of students from all class years 36 Theme housing consisting of small living units focused on a common interest such as a foreign language is also available 37 Ninety nine percent of Sewanee students live in campus housing 38 The School of Theology is located on Tennessee Avenue near Gorgas and Quintard residence halls and houses the School of Theology its faculty its classrooms and the Beecken Center and administrative offices for the Education for Ministry program Prior to 1981 the building housed the Sewanee Military Academy now part of St Andrew s Sewanee School nearby Spencer Hall houses the chemistry biology and biochemistry departments as well as components of environmental science Its completion in late August 2008 provided an additional 49 000 square feet 4 600 m2 to the existing Woods Lab science building Sustainable building practices and technology were incorporated into Spencer Hall 39 Snowden Hall houses the Department of Forestry and Geology and components of environmental science A new 10 000 square foot 930 m2 addition and remodeling of the building was completed in 2010 making this the university s first LEED Gold certified building 3 000 square feet 280 m2 of solar panels provide about a third of the building s electricity needs and a bioswale filters runoff from the roof top Literary associations EditThe Sewanee Review founded in 1892 is the oldest continuously published literary magazine in the United States and has published many distinguished authors 40 Its success has helped launch the Sewanee Writers Conference held each summer The School of Letters offering an M A in English and M F A in Creative Writing was established in 2006 The current editor is Adam Ross author 41 Sewanee and its environs have been the temporary or full time residence of authors such as Allen Tate Andrew Lytle William Alexander Percy Walker Percy Shelby Foote Caroline Gordon and Robert Lowell In 1983 playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner Tennessee Williams left his literary rights to the University of the South Royalties have helped build the Tennessee Williams Center a performance venue and teaching facility and to create the Tennessee Williams teaching fellowships which bring well known figures in the arts to the campus Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum the university s motto is taken from the opening of Psalm 133 Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity Environmental sustainability EditSince Fall 2008 the university has held an annual Sustainability Week which featured speakers feasts of local foods and environmentally themed documentaries The campus is also home to an environmental sustainability house The Green House and residence halls have environmental sustainability representatives In 2007 the university became a signatory to the President s Climate Commitment As of 2011 the university received a B on the College Sustainability Report Card 42 Institutional traditions EditAcademic rankingsLiberal arts collegesU S News amp World Report 43 47Washington Monthly 44 105NationalForbes 45 154THE WSJ 46 141The school is rich in distinctive traditions many of which are tied to Southern culture For example male students have historically worn coats and ties to classes this tradition has generally been continued though the coat and tie are often combined with casual pants and sometimes shorts However this tradition is currently in decline Faculty and student members of the primary honor society and main branch of student government the Order of Gown changed after controversy surrounding the exclusivity of the title order of the gownsmen may wear academic gowns to teach or attend class one of the last vestiges of this historically English practice in North America 17 Furthermore the Order is charged with the maintenance of this and other traditions of the university 47 Similarly both genders enjoy drinking societies and secret societies and the ribbon societies continue to thrive At major events members of the former two groups display their distinctive ceremonial garb kilts and capes There are the Red Ribbon and Green Ribbon Societies for men including membership in the faculty and the Pink Ribbon and White Ribbon for women While most drinking societies will accept sophomores the Ribbons are for juniors and seniors In addition to the more established societies there are numerous drinking societies and secret societies that exist in the college The vice chancellor on formal occasions assumes the cappa clausa cope as the vice chancellor at Cambridge University still does The university s honor code is one of the most cherished traditions since the university s inception The honor code states that I will not lie cheat or steal along with a number of amended premises such as a toleration clause for academic offenses it is a violation of the honor code to not report cheating and other specifics meant to guide the student body Each new student entering the university must sign the honor code at a formal service in All Saints Chapel The honor code and system is administered by a student run student elected honor council Only the vice chancellor may overturn a decision through an appeals process Although the honor council was once governed by the Order of Gown the honor council is now an independent body whose procedures and rules are their sole governance The associate dean of the college is the faculty adviser to the council as well as the university s general counsel In the early 2000s some alumni and students expressed a concern that the school was trying to downplay the university s traditions particularly its historical and cultural ties with Southern culture 17 18 As a result some traditions came under special scrutiny Greek life Edit The university saw the installation of its first fraternity in 1877 with the founding of the Tennessee Omega chapter of Alpha Tau Omega In 1880 that chapter became the first of any fraternity in the South to have its own chapter house or lodge which belonged to the fraternity until its closure in 2021 48 As of 2022 slightly over half of Sewanee male students are members of fraternities and slightly over two thirds of female students belong to sororities 49 Mace controversy Edit The university mace an unsolicited gift dedicated to early Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest which prominently featured a Confederate battle flag has been a point of interest in the debate over the university s identity because of its association with Forrest and its implications for attitudes toward African Americans Forrest had no connection with the university 17 the mace had been commissioned in 1964 by Louise Claiborne Armstrong whose brother attended the university A portrait of her by Amanda Brewster Sewell is in the University Art Gallery It was given to the university in 1965 and was carried by the president of the Order of Gownsmen at academic processions until it disappeared in 1997 Upon its rediscovery various alumni offered to pay for the mace s repair but the university declined their offer 17 Festival of Lessons and Carols EditEach year around the second week of Advent on the church calendar the university choir along with other members of the Sewanee community holds the Festival of Lessons and Carols at All Saints Chapel Based on a service originally offered at Truro Cathedral in England in 1880 the service combines readings about the Christmas story from prophecy of a messiah to the fulfillment of the prophecy in the gospel texts The service is also punctuated with traditional Anglican hymns and music Sewanee has been holding this event for over 50 years Athletics EditFurther information Sewanee Tigers football Sewanee was a charter member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1894 The Sewanee Tigers were pioneers in American intercollegiate athletics and possessed the Deep South s preeminent football program in the 1890s The 1899 football team had perhaps the best season in college football history winning all 12 of their games 11 by shutout and outscoring their opponents 322 10 Five of those wins all shutouts came in a six day period while on a 2 500 mile 4 000 km trip by train 50 In 2012 the College Football Hall of Fame held a vote of the greatest historic teams of all time where the 1899 Iron Men beat the 1961 Alabama Crimson Tide as the greatest team of all time 51 Sewanee was also a charter member of the Southeastern Conference upon its formation in 1932 By this time however its athletic program had declined precipitously and Sewanee never won a conference football game in the eight years it was an SEC member The Tigers were shut out 26 times in their 37 SEC games and were outscored by a combined total of 1163 84 50 When Vice Chancellor Benjamin Ficklin Finney who had reportedly objected to Sewanee joining the SEC left his position in 1938 the leading candidate was Alexander Guerry a former president of the University of Chattanooga According to a university historian Guerry agreed to come to Sewanee only if the school stopped awarding athletic scholarships In 1940 two years after Guerry s arrival Sewanee withdrew from the SEC and subsequently deemphasized varsity athletics Guerry s stance is sometimes credited as an early step toward the 1973 creation of NCAA Division III which prohibits athletic scholarships 50 Sewanee went on to become a charter member of the College Athletic Conference in 1962 The conference now the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference SCAC consists of small academically focused private liberal arts colleges such as Sewanee 52 Sewanee is now a member of the Southern Athletic Association SAA 53 offering 11 varsity sports for men and 13 for women As is the case for all of its previous conferences Sewanee is a charter member of its current conference it was one of the seven SCAC members that announced their departure from that conference at the 2011 annual meeting of SCAC presidents 52 The seven were joined by Berry College another small private school in Georgia 52 Notable alumni and faculty EditMain article List of Sewanee The University of the South people Sewanee has over 12 000 alumni from all 50 states and 40 countries and has produced 26 Rhodes Scholars as well as 34 NCAA Postgraduate Fellows 46 Watson Fellowships and dozens of Fulbright Scholars The School of Theology s alumni include bishops including three of the last five presiding bishops of the Episcopal Church 54 See also EditCordell Lorenz Observatory Sewanee Perimeter TrailReferences Edit Sewanee Glossary The University of the South Archived from the original on May 11 2013 NAICU Membership Archived from the original on November 9 2015 As of June 30 2021 U S and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2021 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY20 to FY21 Report National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA February 18 2022 Retrieved March 1 2022 Sewanee The University of the South VC transition announcement a b College Navigator The University of the South nces ed gov Finder Alan November 30 2005 In Desire to Grow Colleges in South Battle With Roots The New York Times Retrieved July 8 2020 Writing Style Guide The University of the South Retrieved 2022 11 11 About Sewanee Retrieved December 27 2013 Williamson Samuel 2008 Sewanee Sesquicentennial History The Making Of The University Of The South Williamson Sam 2008 Sewanee Sesquicentennial History The Making Of The University Of The South Steven Deyle 2013 Carry Me Back The Domestic Slave Trade in American Life Oxford University Press Retrieved June 20 2013 pp 205 07 Fairbanks George Rainsford 1905 History of the University of the South at Sewanee Tennessee Jacksonville FL H amp WB Drew Company p 24 Ghosts of Lone Rock Sewanee The University of the South Retrieved 2022 09 19 U S Naval Administration in World War II HyperWar Foundation 2011 Retrieved September 29 2011 The University of the South Graphics Identity Standards Manual Section 5 1 a b c d e Finder Alan 2005 In Desire to Grow Colleges in South Battle With Roots The New York Times a b McWhirter Cameron 2005 Colleges suffer identity crisis The Atlanta Journal Constitution Archived February 28 2006 at the Wayback Machine Finder Alan November 30 2005 In Desire to Grow Colleges in South Battle With Roots The New York Times Retrieved January 2 2018 Identity Standards Manual PDF The University of the South February 2016 Retrieved November 11 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Carmon Brittain November 20 2018 Eight women say Charlie Rose sexually harassed them with nudity groping and lewd calls The Washington Post Retrieved 23 February 2018 Blain Glenn January 23 2018 SUNY revokes Charlie Rose s honorary degree NY Daily News Retrieved 23 February 2018 Board of Regents chooses to maintain Rose s honorary degree Sewanee Purple February 15 2018 Retrieved 23 February 2018 Board of Regents Discusses Revoking Charlie Rose s Honorary Degree Sewanee Purple February 12 2018 Retrieved 15 October 2018 An open letter to the Board of Regents from the School of Theology tenured faculty February 20 2018 Retrieved 23 February 2018 Sewanee Revokes Charlie Rose s Honorary Degree after Months of Pressure to Take Action Episcopal News Service 22 March 2018 a b Smith Claire 24 September 2020 Board of Regents re evaluates Sewanee s history The Sewanee Purple Retrieved 30 September 2020 Jaschik Scott September 9 2020 Sewanee Board Rejects Veneration of Confederacy Inside Higher Ed Retrieved 30 September 2020 Statement by the Board of Regents The University of the South Press release 8 September 2020 Retrieved 30 September 2020 Letter from Vice Chancellor Brigety The University of the South Press release 8 September 2020 Retrieved 30 September 2020 America s Most Beautiful College Campuses Travel Leisure Library Collections sewanee edu Retrieved 2 November 2022 About Ralston Listening Library sewanee edu University of the South Retrieved 2 November 2022 On Campus Dining sewanee edu University of the South Retrieved 2 November 2022 Chapel of the Apostles The School of Theology Sewanee The University of the South Theology sewanee edu Archived from the original on 2014 07 19 Retrieved 2014 08 15 DePersio Greg 2022 07 27 Sewanee Dorms Ranked From Best to Worst College Jaguar Retrieved 2022 08 04 Current Theme Houses The University of the South Retrieved 2022 08 04 The University of the South Common Data Set 2021 2022 PDF 2022 Retrieved 2022 08 04 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link sewanee edu sewanee edu 2008 10 07 Archived from the original on 2012 02 19 Retrieved 2012 07 31 About The Sewanee Review Alter Alexandra June 4 2017 New Life for a 125 Year Old Literary Journal via NYTimes com The College Sustainability Report Card Retrieved 2011 09 28 Best Colleges 2021 National Liberal Arts Colleges U S News amp World Report Retrieved September 24 2020 2021 Liberal Arts Rankings Washington Monthly Retrieved September 9 2021 Forbes America s Top Colleges List 2022 Forbes Retrieved September 13 2022 Wall Street Journal Times Higher Education College Rankings 2022 The Wall Street Journal Times Higher Education Retrieved July 26 2022 About The Order of Gown Sewanee edu Archived from the original on 2010 05 29 Retrieved 2012 07 31 The Sewanee Purple 2021 1 The University of the South Common Data Set 2021 2022 https www sewanee edu media offices institutional research cds Sewanee CDS 2021 2022 pdf a b c Dorsey Patrick September 23 2011 Sewanee long lost member of the SEC Page 2 ESPN com Retrieved September 29 2011 Martin Cam Sewanee puffs out chest with historic title Sports Fans Teams Stadiums Page 2 Fandom Blog ESPN Playbook ESPN Espn go com Retrieved 2014 08 15 a b c Eight southeastern colleges including Sewanee form new athletic conference Press release Sewanee The University of the South June 7 2011 Archived from the original on April 2 2012 Retrieved July 10 2012 Eight Division III colleges form newly named Southern Athletic Association Press release Sewanee The University of the South August 19 2011 Archived from the original on January 23 2012 Retrieved July 10 2012 About Sewanee About sewanee edu Retrieved 2012 07 31 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sewanee The University of the South Official website Sewanee Athletics websiteCoordinates 35 12 11 N 85 55 11 W 35 20306 N 85 91972 W 35 20306 85 91972 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sewanee The University of the South amp oldid 1127100485, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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