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University of Nevada, Reno
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The University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada) is a university located in Reno, Nevada, USA, and is known for its programs in agricultural research, journalism, animal biotechnology, and mining-related engineering and natural sciences. The university is fast becoming known for its journalism school, which has produced several Pulitzer Prize winners, and for its program in seismology, which is one of the most technologically advanced in North America. It is the land grant institution for the state of Nevada.
The university is also home to the University of Nevada School of Medicine, which was founded in 1969. The medical school specializes in family medicine.
History
Manzanita Lake in the Southwestern part of the campus.
The University of Nevada was originally founded in Elko, Nevada in 1874 as a small, makeshift prep school. In 1885, the state legislature voted to close the Elko institution and the fledgling institution was moved from Elko to its current home in Reno, where classes began two years later.
After several decades of struggling to implement requirements of federal Morrill land-grant legislation, the university made large strides toward becoming the modern institution it is today with the opening of the Desert Research Institute in 1960 and a medical school in 1967. The University of Nevada, Reno remained the only four-year academic institution in the state of Nevada until 1965, when the current-day University of Nevada, Las Vegas attained university status as Nevada Southern University.
There is now controversy over whether the university should be called UNR or Nevada. It stems from the sentiment of the Board of Regents that the university is not the sole University of Nevada in the state, and hence should always be identified by its full name, the University of Nevada, Reno. However, some claim that since it was the first university in the state, its historical name should be its official designation, as it is in many other multi-campus public university systems such as the University of Michigan. Several of the university's institutions retain the wording "University of Nevada", including the alumni association, the student government, the campus bookstore, and the athletics department (which refers to the school's teams simply as "Nevada").
Campus
An older picture showing part of the campus in the foreground
Campus is located just north of downtown Reno overlooking Truckee Meadows and the downtown casinos. Modeled in the style of Thomas Jefferson's Academical Village at the University of Virginia, many consider the campus to be one of the prettiest in the western United States.
The university's first building, Morrill Hall (completed in 1887), still stands on the historic "quad" at the campus' southern end. Lincoln Hall (all-male dormitory) and Manzanita Hall (all-female dormitory) were both completed in 1896, making them the oldest residence halls west of the Mississippi River.
Across the campus of the university exists the University of Nevada, Reno Arboretum, which was established in 1985, contains a collection of trees, shrubs, flowers, ornamentals and native flora, including over 60 genera and about 200 species of trees, many with several cultivars present. Thirty-six mature elm trees line the Quad.
The campus contains a statue of John William Mackay (namesake of Nevada's Mackay School of Mines, later renamed the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering), created by Mount Rushmore designer Gutzon Borglum.
Academics
The fountain located in the University of Nevada Honor Court
Bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs are offered through:
Colleges
Schools
In addition, the university maintains and sponsors several centers, institutes & facilities that help it carry forth it research and academic agendas.
Centers
Nevada is one of the few universities in the western hemisphere to sponsor a center dedicated to Basque studies (Including Basque language), due to the large Basque population in northern Nevada.
The university and surrounding community is served by several campus libraries. Between them, over a million books and bound periodicals are in circulation in addition to government documents, audio-visual materials, and various databases. The libraries are: Noble H. Getchell (main library), DeLaMare (engineering, computer science, mining, and geology), Life and Health Sciences, Physical Sciences, W. M. Keck Earth Sciences and Mining Research Information Center, Savitt Medical, and the Mary B. Ansari Map Library. Opening on August 11, 2008 is the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center, a $75.3 million project started in September 2005, which will replace the current Getchell library.
In addition, the university maintains and sponsors several centers, institutes & facilities that help it carry forth it research and academic agendas.
Student government
The Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN) represents the undergraduate population at the university. ASUN has three branches: executive, legislative and judicial. The president of ASUN, executive vice president, and vice presidents for clubs and organizations and programming constitute the executive. The Executive Council consists of the aforementioned executive officers and the speaker of the student senate. The Senate is the legislative branch ASUN. Consisting of 22 senators elected from each of the university's colleges and schools, the Senate takes action on matters on behalf of the student body. The Senate's membership is apportioned by population in each college. The College of Liberal Arts (the largest), for instance, has seven seats in the Senate while the Reynolds School of Journalism has only one. The speaker of the Senate, also a senator, chairs all Senate meetings. The Judicial Council, composed of seven justices and two alternates, hears matters related to the ASUN Constitution and other matters that require peer review, such as alleged violation of university policies. Justices serve a two-year term. Elections are held on an annual basis for executive and legislative officers. GPA and completed credit requirements determine who is eligible for office. Credit requirements are graduated; the more senior the office in ASUN, the more credits must be completed in order to be eligible for office. ASUN is duly constituted under the laws of the state of Nevada, the university's Board of Regents policies and is bound by its own Constitution.
Athletics
- Further information: Nevada Wolf Pack Athletics
Though often known as UNR within the state, the university prefers to be called simply Nevada for athletics purposes; its sports teams are nicknamed the Wolf Pack (always two words). They participate in the NCAA's Division I (FBS for football) and in the Western Athletic Conference.
Men's basketball
- Further information: Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball
In March 2004, the Wolf Pack men's basketball team qualified for the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history. The team earned a repeat trip in 2005 and beat Texas in the first round before falling to eventual national runner-up Illinois. The team returned for 2006 as a #5 seed but was upset in the first round by former Big Sky Conference rival Montana. They began the 2006-07 season ranked #24. The Pack's major star during this recent period of success was Nick Fazekas. In 2007, Nevada was ranked #9 in men's basketball, which is the highest ranking that Nevada has ever held. Guards Ramon Sessions and Marcellus Kemp both flirted with leaving as juniors for the NBA draft, however Kemp decided to remain at Nevada.
Football
- Further information: Nevada Wolf Pack football
The football team plays at Mackay Stadium, The modern Mackay Stadium was completed in 1965 with a seating capacity of 7,500. The facility has been expanded several times in the last 15 years and now seats 29,993. The 2007 football team finished with a record of 6-7, losing its bowl game to the University of New Mexico 23-0. It was the third consecutive year that the team had made a bowl appearance, a first in school history. The team was lead by fist team All WAC center Dominic Green and running back Luke Lippincott who lead the conference in rushing yards in addition to WAC freshman of the year, quarterback Colin Kaepernick. [1]
Other notable sports
- Further information: Nevada Wolf Pack Athletics
Other notable successes have come in rifle shooting, baseball, soccer, women's softball, and swimming and diving.
Rivalries
Annually, Nevada's football team plays its primary rival, UNLV, for the Fremont Cannon in the Battle for Nevada. Nevada is currently enjoying an 19-15 lead in the series, after beating UNLV in 2008 49-27 in Las Vegas. Nevada's two out-of-state rivals, particularly in football, are Boise State and Fresno State.
Mascot
The Wolf Pack's mascot is an anthropomorphized wolf named Alphie, who took over the duties of cheering from his uncle, Wolfie, in 1999. In 2007, Alphie was joined by his younger brother, Wolfie Jr.
Conference affiliations
Nevada has been a member of the WAC since 2000.
Previous conference memberships include:
1954-1968 - Northern California Athletic Conference [2]
Student Media
Nevada's editorially independent, weekly student newspaper, The Nevada Sagebrush, has been in continuous publication since 1893, making it one of the oldest newspapers still in publication in the state of Nevada. It comes out every Tuesday morning, and employs more than 40 people, 25 full-time. Prior to 2004, the newspaper called itself simply the Sagebrush. It was recently a finalist for a Pacemaker at the 2006 and 2007 ACP student journalism awards. It has won the best of show award at the fall 2005, 2006 and 2007 ACP national conferences in its category (weekly broadsheet at a four-year university). It was nominated for an online ACP Pacemaker in 2008. It's new Web site, [www.nevadasagebrush.com], which launched in the fall of 2007, has also been recognized by the Center for Innovation in College Media for it breaking news packages, podcasts, videos and general innovation and Web presence. Many of The Nevada Sagebrush's former editors go on to work and take internships at newspapers and news organizations such as The Washington Post, The Oregonian, USA Today, The Miami Herald, The Arizona Republic and the Associated Press as well as dozens of local newspapers around the country.
While the newspaper is not independent of the student government at UNR, 2008 marks the first year The Nevada Sagebrush has controlled the way its next editor is selected. The student senate's publications board, or some form of that body, has chosen the editor since 1910, but that process has now been internalized. The Nevada Sagebrush also relocated to a new office in 2008 in the Joe Crowley Student Union, which was completed in 2007. It's office is on the third floor in room 329.
There is also the student radio station WolfPackRadio that also broadcasts at the radio frequency of 1700AM within a 2 two mile (3 km) radius of the University. The station features student Dj's, shows and programs and artists from campus and independent sources usually within the Reno/Tahoe region.
Formerly Nevada's yearbook, The Artemisia, now called Insight Magazine, has evolved into the second major publication circulating UNR, presenting itself as a bi-monthly documentary photography magazine in contrast to the weekly, newspaper-style of The Sagebrush. It is put out both in print and online, the online version providing both support for the published stories and independent content.
Nevada's literary arts journal Brushfire was created by a group of students in 1950. It is released once a semester and publishes original poetry, literature and art by students and some faculty and community members. It is the oldest literary arts publication in the state.
In the spring of 2008, some students at the Reynolds School of Journalism have also begun work on a project known as Pack TV, although the status of that project is unknown.
There are other independent student publications on campus (although they have stopped publishing regularly since 2006) including The Nevada Blue and the Pack Patriot.
Greek Life
Interfraternity Council
Panhellenic Council
Multicultural Greek Council
Secret Societies
Former Fraternities & Sororities
- Alpha Tau Omega, suspended for two years, until 2010, "student conduct office found ATO guilty of hazing pledge members during recruitment last semester[1]"
- Pi Kappa Alpha, university charter revoked, new rushing member "Albert Santos drowned in Manzanita Lake [2]
Notable alumni & faculty
Notable Professors
- R. Jacob Baker, Is an inventor, author, and Professor at Boise State University
- James E. Church, best known for having developed the Mount Rose snow sampler (1906), the first instrument for measuring snow water content.
- Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D. - Foundation Professor, Clinical Psychology & developer of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy [3].
- Robert Metts, Ph.D. - Expertise in International Economics, Economic Development, Labor Economics; Presented at the United Nations on "Planning For Disability"
- James Richardson, Ph.D. - Sociologist, critics of "cultic brainwashing" theories
- James G. Scrugham - professor of mechanical engineering from 1903 to 1914 and dean from 1914 to 1917; he was a Representative, a Senator, and a Governor from the State of Nevada
- Esmail Zanjani, In 2007, led scientists at the School of Medicine and created a sheep that has 15% human cells and 85% animal cells, the world's first "human-sheep chimera", which has the body of a sheep but half-human organs [4].
- Prof. George Fernandez, Ph.D. - Professor of Applied Statistics, director of UNR Center for Research Design and Analysis, and the Author of Data Mining using SAS applications - CRC press
Pulitzer Prize Winners
- Ron Einstoss, 1955 - Awarded in 1966 for coverage of the Watts Riot
- Susan Forrest, 1982 - Awarded for general news reporting in 1988
- Kristen Go, 1998 - Awarded in 1998 for her coverage of the Columbine High School shootings
- Warren Lerude, 1961 - Awarded in 1977
- Edward Montgomery, 1934 - Awarded for distinguished local reporting in 1952
- Howard Sheerin, 1931 - Awarded for public service in 1956
Arts and media
Athletics
- Chris Ault, 1969 - Head Coach of Wolf Pack football team
- John Barnes - Los Alamitos High School (CA) head football coach, winningest coach in Orange County high school football history
- Doug Betters, 1977 - Professional football player and Pro Bowler, Miami Dolphins
- Nate Burleson, 2003 - Wide Receiver, Seattle Seahawks
- Ryan Church, 2000 - Major League Baseball player, New York Mets
- Andy Dominique, 1996–1997 - former Major League Baseball player
- Nick Fazekas, 2007 - Basketball player, Los Angeles Clippers
- Joseph Salvatore Gilbert - Boxer on reality tv show The Contender
- Jeff Horton, 1958 - NFL Asst. Coach St. Louis Rams
- Joe Inglett, 1997–2000 - Major League Baseball player, Toronto Blue Jays
- Trevor Insley, 1999 - NCAA Division I-A all-time receiving yards leader
- Edgar Jones, 1979 - Former professional basketball player, drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1979.
- Kevin Kouzmanoff, 2003 - Major League Baseball player, San Diego Padres
- Mills Lane, 1963 - NCAA boxing champion, boxing referee, lawyer, judge
- Brock Marion, 1989-92 - Professional football player, Detroit Lions
- Corky Miller, 1997–1998 - Major League Baseball player, Atlanta Braves
- Marion Motley, 1940-42 - Professional Football Hall of Famer
- Charles Mann, 1980-82 - Former professional football player and Pro Bowler, Washington Redskins
- David Neill - set the NCAA freshman record for most touchdown passes in a season
- Lyle Overbay, 1996–1999 - Major League Baseball player, Toronto Blue Jays
- Chad Qualls, 1999–2000 - Major League Baseball player, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Darrell Rasner, 2000–2002 - Major League Baseball player, New York Yankees
- Jeff Rowe, 2007, Professional football player, a rookie quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL
- Ramon Sessions, 2007, Professional basketball players, Milwaukee Bucks, April 2008 NBA Rookie of the Month
- Chris Singleton, 1992–1993, former Major League Baseball player, current ESPN commentator
- Kirk Snyder, 2004 - Basketball player, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Karen Stoffer, ? - NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer
- Kirk Triplett - Professional PGA Tour golfer
- Charles Wright - Professional wrestler (gimmicks included The Godfather, Kama, and Papa Shango)
- Tony Zendejas, 1983 - Professional Football Player
Politics and public service
- Francis Allen - Republican Nevada State Assemblywomen representing Clark County district 4; arrested on May 18, 2008 on one count of battery with a deadly weapon, one count of domestic violence and one count of battery domestic violence for allegedly stabbing her husband
- Bernie Anderson - Current member of the Nevada State Assembly representing AD 31 (Washoe County)
- Helen Delich Bentley - Former Congresswoman from Maryland
- Emmet D. Boyle, 1898 - Former governor of Nevada
- Ernest S. Brown, 1926 - U.S. Senator from Nevada
- Richard Bryan, 1959 - Former governor of Nevada and US Senator
- Alan Bible, 1930? - U.S. Senator from Nevada (1954-1974)
- Catherine Cortez Masto, 1986 - Current Attorney General for the State of Nevada
- Frankie Sue Del Papa, 1971 - First Female Nevada State Attorney General and First Female Secretary of State
- Jim Gibbons - Governor of Nevada
- Daniel Klaich, 1972 - Executive Vice Chancellor for the Nevada System of Highter Education
- Sheila Leslie, 1979 - M.A. in Spanish Language and Literature; Current member of the Nevada State Assembly representing AD 27 (Washoe County)
- Pat McCarran, attended but not graduated - Democratic United States Senator from Nevada from 1933 until 1954, noted for his strong anti-Communist stance.
- Sig Rogich, Political adviser to President Regan and Bush, Former US Ambassador to Iceland.
- Brian Sandoval, 1986 - U.S. District Court judge.
Other notables
- John W. Nunn, ? - CEO and owner of WWW (World Wild Wrestling) corporation.
- Ron Toomer, 1961 - Developed the first upside-down roller coaster, the Corkscrew.
- William Zamboni, ? - Pioneer in plastic surgery and limb reattachments.
- Rajan Zed: Hindu chaplain, first to deliver Hindu opening prayer in United States Senate.
Interesting Facts
The University of Nevada's classically-styled campus has served as the setting for many movies, including:
See also
References
- ^ http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2008/02/19/ato-found-guilty-of-hazing/
- ^ http://zephyr.unr.edu/zephyr/spring05/story2/PiKappaPhi
- ^ NevadaNews - University of Nevada, Reno
- ^ Press TV - Iranian scientist creates sheep with half-human organs
External links
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