University of Rhode Island
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| University of Rhode Island | |
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| Motto: | Hope |
| Established: | 1892 |
| Type: | Public |
| Endowment: | $79.8 million USD [1] |
| President: | Robert Carothers |
| Faculty: | 675 |
| Students: | 19,095 |
| Undergraduates: | 14,546 |
| Postgraduates: | 4,549 |
| Location: | Flagship Campus: Kingston, RI, USA Commonwealth Campuses: Narragansett Providence West Greenwich |
| Campus: | Rural 1,250 acres (5.06 km²) |
| Colors: | Keaney Blue, Dark Blue and White |
| Nickname: | Rams  |
| Mascot: | Rhody the Ram |
| Affiliations: | Atlantic 10 Conference, Colonial Athletic Association (football) |
| Website: | www.uri.edu |
The University of Rhode Island, commonly abbreviated as URI, is the principal public research university in the State of Rhode Island, with its main campus in Kingston, Rhode Island, and three other campuses located throughout the state. URI has 14,546 undergraduates and 4,549 graduate students. It is a land grant, sea grant, and urban grant institution.
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[edit] History
The University was first chartered as the state's agricultural school in 1888 by Joseph Santilli. The site of the school was originally the Oliver Watson Farm, and the original farmhouse still lies on the campus today. In 1892, the school became the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The first class comprised only seventeen students, and they graduated two years later. In 1909, the school's name was again changed to Rhode Island State College and the school's programs expanded beyond its original mandate. In 1951, the college became the University of Rhode Island by an act of the General Assembly. The Board of Governors for Higher Education, appointed by the governor, became the governing body of the University in 1981. [1]
[edit] Athletics
The University of Rhode Island Department of Athletics and Recreation offers 22 intercollegiate sports (12 women and 10 for men) and 17 club sports programs. The university is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference, the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association, and the Colonial Athletic Association in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision for football. The wide range of athletic facilities include the Ryan Center, Keaney Gymnasium, Meade Stadium, Mackal Field House, Tootell Aquatic Center, Boss Ice Arena, URI Soccer Complex, Beck Field and URI Softball Field. Other facilities available for students include fitness rooms, indoor track, swimming and diving pools, twelve tennis courts, and two beach volleyball courts, among others.
The team colors are light blue (formerly officially referred to as "Keaney blue"), white and navy blue. The school's mascot is a ram. It was chosen in 1923 as tribute to the school's agricultural history. There has not been a live ram at the school since 1974, with "Rhody", a student in an anthropomorphic ram costume, roaming the sidelines in his place.[2]
[edit] Fight Song
Original University of Rhode Islandight Song Circa 1922
We're Rhode Island born
We're Rhode Island bred
And when we die
We'll be Rhode Island dead
So go go Rhode Island, Island go go Rhode Island, Island GO RHODE ISLAND U! R! I! The fight song features a physical aspect as well as a vocal. To begin the fight song, students start with a slow clap that eventually stops when the words begin. At the end, the "U-R-I!" is emphasized by making a fist with the right hand. Then placing said fist on the left shoulder on "U," the right shoulder on "R," and is completed by throwing it up in the air on "I!"
[edit] Student Organizations
- URI Student Alumni Association[3]: A Student run organization that organizes many events on campus, as well as maintaining the Rhody the Ram Mascot Program. The Student Alumni Association is partially funded by the URI Alumni Association, and partially through organizational activities. It's most popular events include Homecoming, Rhody Rally, Survival Kits and Oozeball.
Other Student organizations are funded by the URI Student Senate, which is in turn funded by fees levied on all students. Prominent organizations are:
- URI Student Senate — the undergraduate student government, does little to nothing for the university. [4]
- Student Entertainment Committee (SEC) — organizes large concerts and other campus-wide entertainment, including comedians, guest speakers, and special activities.
- WRIU — radio station
- The Good 5 Cent Cigar — campus newspaper
- URI Students for Social Change
- URI Student Action for Sustainability
- Local branches of national organizations such as: Hillel, Campus Crusade for Christ, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, NAACP, and the PRSSA.
- Kappa Psi, Beta Epsilon – Pharmaceutical Fraternity
- Fashion Merchandising Society (FMS) - Organization dedicated to providing all members (not just members of the Textiles department) with connections to the Fashion industry as well as topical information.
[edit] Traditions and trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- A rifled cannon, fired by Andrew Hartman in the 19th century, burst on the Quadrangle during the ceremonies surrounding the chartering of the college in 1892. The school placed the barrel of said cannon, known as "Ben Butler", in a permanent mount, guarding the Quad.
- Butterfield Dining and Residence Hall is referred to as "The Butt," a comical anatomical reference, or "Butters," a reference to the complimentary slang term popularized by hip-hop music.
- Roger Williams Dining Hall (now closed) is referred to as "Ro-Jo's", a reference to the old Howard Johnson's restaurants.
- Many off-campus students live "down the line" in Narragansett, neighborhoods such as Eastward Look, Scarborough Hills, Bonnet Shores, Narragansett Pier and Great Island. This refers to the defunct Narragansett Pier Railroad line connecting the West Kingston train station to the down the line villages of Peace Dale, Wakefield and Narragansett Pier.
- The University Library, the largest library in the State of Rhode Island, has over 1.2 million books and subscriptions to over 20,000 electronic journals.
[edit] Notable alumni
[edit] Politics
- Robert Weygand, Lieutenant Governor of RI 1993-1997, U.S. Representative from RI 1997-2001
- Charles J. Fogarty, (graduate degree) Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island 1999-2006
- Lincoln Almond, Former Governor of Rhode Island
[edit] Sports
- Ernie Calverley Former NBA player, Former URI Head Coach
- Tom Garrick, Former NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs,and L.A. Clippers, Current Head Coach for URI Women's team.
- Sly Williams, Former NBA player for New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, and Boston Celtics
- Cuttino Mobley, NBA player for the Los Angeles Clippers
- Lamar Odom, NBA player for the Los Angeles Lakers
- Steve Furness, Former NFL player for Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions
- Frank Ferrara, Former NFL defensive end for New York Giants, Hollywood stunt man
- Sasha Gotsmanov, MLS player for the Colorado Rapids
- Andy Williams, MLS player for Real Salt Lake
- Danleigh Borman, MLS player for Red Bull New York
- Todd Bozeman, Head Coach, Morgan State University men's basketball
- Jim Christian, Head Coach, Kent State University men's basketball
- Dana Quigley, PGA Tour golfer
- Patrick Horgan, PGA Tour golfer
- Paul Kenyon, Sports writer, Providence Journal
- Andy Gresh, Sports Analyst, Fox Sports, WSKO, ESPN Radio, Patriots Rock Radio Network
- Tim Gray, Sports Reporter, NBC Sports
- Chad Spenser, Pro Golfer
[edit] Arts and entertainment
- Jim O'Connor, TV host, Food Network
- J.T. Walsh, Actor
- Ross Kauffman, Co-Writer, director, producer, Born into Brothels
- Matt Gallant, Television personality
- Christiane Amanpour, Chief International Correspondent, CNN
[edit] Business
- Robert Crandall, Former President and Chairman of the Board, American Airlines
- Thomas Ryan, CEO of CVS Corporation
- Alfred Verrecchia, CEO Hasbro
- Rodger B. Dowdell, CEO American Power Conversion
- Crosley Jackson, CEO Evergreen Investments
- Bruce Sherman, Investor & CEO of Private Capital Management
- Michael D. Fascitelli, President & Trustee of Vornado Realty Trust
- Vincent Sarni, Former Chairman & CEO of PPG Industries
[edit] Science
- Robert Ballard, Oceanographer, discoverer of the RMS Titanic
- Paul Dellegatto, Chief Meteorologist for FOX13 in Tampa
[edit] Military
- Admiral Jeremy M. Boorda, 25th Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.
- General Leon J. LaPorte, United States Army four star general
[edit] Film
- Outside Providence shot its private school sequences at Green Hall, among other locations at the Kingston Campus.
- Hard Luck was shot on the W. Alton Jones Campus.
- Underdog shot some of its scenes at the Providence campus.
- The Clique Movie shot its private school sequences at Green Hall
- Hachiko: A Dog's Story shot pivotal scenes in Green Hall, starring Richard Gere
[edit] See also
- URI Botanical Gardens
- Joint Degrees in law at Roger Williams University School of Law
- Global U8 Consortium GU8
[edit] References
- ^ NACUBO Endowment Survey - Public NEWS Tables (2006). NACUBO. Retrieved on 2007-09-24.
[edit] External links
- University of Rhode Island
- Official URI Athletics
- 90.3 WRIU (URI's Non-Profit/Community Radio Station)
- The Good 5c Cigar - URI's Student Newspaper
- URI Students for Social Change
- URI College of Business Administration
- URI College of Pharmacy
- URI Institutional Research - URI Statistics and Information
- URI Computer Help Desk Wiki
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