Alfred University is a small, comprehensive university in the Village of
Alfred in western New York State, USA, an hour
south of Rochester and two hours southeast of Buffalo. Alfred has an undergraduate population of around 2,000, and approximately 300 graduate
students.
Though the institution boasts five separate schools and colleges, the institution's reputation is grounded in the arts and
engineering. On April 14, 2005, the University announced it had
received a gift of $35 million from alumnus Marlin Miller '54, and his wife, Ginger, to further support arts education. The gift
is the largest ever in the university's history and is one of the largest endowment gifts made to a U.S. institution to support
arts education. Ten million dollars is earmarked for a new theatre at the Miller Performing Arts Center, previously funded by the
Millers, and $25 million will go towards the endowment.
Background
Aerial view of Alfred University taken in April 2006
Alfred was founded in 1836 as the Select School by Seventh Day Baptists as a non-sectarian institution. Unusually
for the time, the school was co-educational. It was also racially integrated, and enrolled
its first African-American student and two Native American students in the 1850s, becoming the
second college in the nation to do so.
The origin of the name "Alfred" is uncertain. Residents of the town and students at the two schools believe that the town
received its name in honor of Alfred the Great, king of the Saxons, although the first
documented occurrence of this connection was in 1881, 73 years after the first record of the name
being used. State records which could verify the connection between the Saxon king and the university were lost in a fire in
1911.[3] Regardless of
whether the connection is historically accurate, Alfred University has embraced King Alfred as a symbol of the school's values, and a statue of the king stands in the center of the campus quad.
Alfred is a member of the Rochester Area Colleges consortium along with
Alfred State College, the University of
Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, Saint John Fisher College, Roberts Wesleyan
College, Nazareth College, Monroe Community College, SUNY
Brockport, and SUNY Geneseo.
Alfred University, together with Corning Incorporated and the State of New York created the Ceramic Corridor, a high-tech incubator project
designed to take advantage of the emerging ceramics industry and to create new jobs. This unique industrial development program
is the only one in the United States concentrating on one single aspect of technology - high-tech ceramics - and it is the only
major industrial development project centered in a rural area in the U.S.
Extending to the 20th and 21st centuries, Alfred has continued its progressive history of defending equal rights for members
of the community. In 1971, Alfred became only the 4th municipality in the U.S. to ban employment discrimination based on
sexuality. In the mid 1990s, the university became one of the first to strip credit for ROTC programs, which exhibit prejudice on
basis of sexual orientation. Prior to the dissolution of the AU Greek System, the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity chapter at Alfred
University led an overwhelmingly successful effort to ban discrimination based on religion, age, disability, and sexual
orientation in the constitution of the 210 chapter international fraternity in 2002.[4]. That action triggered several other national fraternities and sororities to
follow suit.
Colleges and schools
The Steinheim Building houses the Career Development Center.
Alfred University offers over 60 majors and areas of concentration at its four colleges and schools.
- Private colleges and schools
- The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- The College of Business
- The Inamori School of Engineering
- The Graduate School
- Statutory colleges
- New York State College of Ceramics
Facilities
The Miller Performing Arts Center
Alfred is especially well-known for its programs in ceramic art, ceramic engineering, glass engineering, and has a strong
astronomy program due in part to the presence on campus of the 7-telescope Stull
Observatory.
There are two libraries on Alfred's campus, the Herrick Memorial Library, which primarily serves the private colleges, and the Scholes Library, which primarily serves the New York State College of Ceramics. The
Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art has
a collection of 8,000 ceramic objects, including both ancient and modern ceramic art and craft.
The Bromley-Daggett Equestrian Center, located at the Maris Cuneo Equine Park, was constructed in 2005. It hosts equine
classes, an intramural equestrian club, varsity and JV teams for both English and
Western disciplines, clinics, and horse shows. Stalls are available for boarding by
university students. The facility has an indoor arena of 16000 ft² and lighted outdoor
arenas of 28800 ft² and 10800 ft²; the entire property consists of 400 acres of land.
The Miller Performing Arts Center was dedicated in 1995.[5]
Admissions at Alfred University
Alfred University admissions offices are located in Alumni Hall, which resides on the list of National Historic Places. The
former church, with cathedral ceilings, and offices far up into the cupola is a beautiful example of 19th century American
architecture in Alfred. In the 1990s, Alumni Hall was saved through a tremendous restoration effort. Alfred University was once
associated with the Seventh Day Baptist Church, and included a school of theology. While the religious connection no longer
exists, the architecture of Alumni Hall and other buildings on campus reflect this heritage.
Notable alumni and faculty
Notable alumni include:
- George P. Darrow, United States Congressman from Pennsylvania
- Librarian Melvil Dewey, creator of the Dewey Decimal System, who attended in 1870 but did not graduate
- Biomedical engineer Samuel Hulbert, pioneer in ceramic devices and president of
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
- Nathan Lyons '57, founder,
Director Emeritus of Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester,
NY
- Actor and comedian Robert Klein
- Author Peter Jenkins, whose book "A Walk Across America" begins in Alfred
- Robert Littell, who has written several spy novels
- Award-winning ceramic artist Robert Archambeau
- Illustrator Taylor Lee of Winchell Cuts The Cheese and the Clueless Groom's Guide
In business:
- Robert H. Benmosche '66, Chairman, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
- Peter Cuneo '67, Chairman of Cuneo and Co., and Marvel Enterprises, Inc
- Jeffery S. Maurer '69, CEO, Lehman Brothers Trust Company
- Robert R. McComsey '66, Founding Shareholder, Neuberger Berman, LLC
- Joel P. Moskowitz '61, President & Chairman of the Board, Ceradyne, Inc.
- Arthur L. Powell '43, President of Kravco, Inc.
Notable faculty include:
- Artist Robert C. Turner, an influential ceramics artist and teacher who founded the
ceramics program at Black Mountain College. Along with Val Cushing, Wayne Higby,
and Daniel Rhodes, Turner was a key member of the Alfred ceramics faculty in the 50's-70's, which is considered by some to be the
"golden age" of the Alfred ceramics program.
- Artist Wayne Higby, considered to be one of the defining ceramic artists of the 80's.
Known for his work in Raku ceramics, Higby attained considerable attention with his large bowl forms that toyed with the notion
of vessel and landscape imagery.
- Poet Ben Howard, author of six books of poetry.
- Artist and printmaker Joe Scheer.
- Photographer/ Printmaker John Wood.
History & Trivia
Alfred University is not to be confused with the SUNY College of Technology at
Alfred. Although completely autonomous, both institutions have their origins in the Alfred Select School, and were heavily
shaped by Booth E. Davis. In 1908 Davis petitioned the NY State legislature to fund the NY State College of Agriculture at Alfred
University.
In 1941 Alfred State College became an autonomous Junior College due to increased enrollment and increasing needs, which
Alfred University could not accommodate, and in 1948 became a member of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Students
of both schools still share a few Alfred peculiarities including: a physical education requirement for most programs, a short
break in October dubbed "minibreak", sharing of clubs and organizations (excluding Greek lettered organizations), and
cross-registration of classes not offered at the other institution.
The statue of King Alfred stands at the center of AU's quad, and is often decorated by students. In this picture, he is wearing
one of the purple shirts worn by student Orientation Guides (OGs) during the 2006 freshman orientation.
Main Street and part of AU during Hot Dog Day
The school's mascot is the Saxon, a knight in shining armor.
Since the year 871 is when King Alfred the Great succeeded his brother, Ethelred I as King of Wessex and Mercia (see Alfred the Great's childhood), the phone exchange of Alfred
University is 871 (i.e., all Alfred U numbers take the form 1-607-871-xxxx).
Hot Dog Day is held in early April of each year since 1972
at Alfred to raise money for local charities and community-based civic organizations. It is a joint project with Alfred State College coordinated by students and staff from both schools. Typical events include a
carnival, small amusement park rides, mud olympics, concerts, a parade, and the consumption of hot dogs. In recent years
approximately $7,000 to $8,000 has been raised for charities including the local fire departments, public library, and day care
centers. This weekend is typically regarded as the weekend responsible for the highest amount of alcohol consumption for both
Alfred University and Alfred State College, similar to a St. Patrick's Day sort of holiday for the rest of the country.
Alfred's Davis Memorial Carillon,
erected in 1937 as a tribute to longtime president Boothe C. Davis, can
often be heard while on campus. The bells of the carillon, purchased from Antwerp, were thought to be the oldest bells in the western hemisphere. Research later (2004) showed that the bells were of a more recent vintage, and that Alfred had been the victim of a fraud. On the
brighter side, the non-historic nature of the bells allows the university to replace those which have a poor quality tone.
Concerts continue four times a week when school is in session, and during the summer months at least once a week. Besides the
resident carilloneur, guest carilloneurs have in the past frequently visited and played during the summer.
The Black Knight, a relic that has various historical theories of background, has been a part of Alfred University folklore
for some time. The relic itself is said to be from the late 1800s, and is supposed to be a model of King Alfred, who fought
against the pagans in Saxony. The Black Knight itself was stolen by unknown students in the early 1900s, only to be returned in
the 1920s without reason. The Knight was then stored hidden in Kanakadea Hall for nearly 80 years until the year 2001, when it
was transferred to a highly secure glass case in the new Powell Campus Center. However, in 2003 the Knight was once again
mysteriously stolen from the secure glass enclosure without the triple alarm being tripped...another kink in the Black Knight's
history.[citation needed] While as of March 2007 the
Black Knight has not been returned to Alfred University, the latest rumors tell of the Knight being in or around San Diego,
California, and being stolen by a group of several organized Alfred Ceramic Engineers. However, these rumors have yet to be
confirmed.
Alma Mater
<poem> Nestled away 'mid the Empire State hills, 'Neath the watch-care of sentinel pines, Where the murmuring song of
the brook hums along, And a favoring sun ever shines; In a valley so fair where the forest trees share Dominion o'er hillside and
glen, Stands the pioneer college of Western New York Alfred, we hail thee again.
CHORUS Hail to thee Alfred, thou guide of our youth, Sweet benign mother, all hail! Sing out thy anthems of duty and truth;
May thy clear ringing music ne'er fail.
Verse 2: She was founded in toil, cemented with blood, And nurtured thro' yearnings and tears, Her treasure the hearts of
brave heroes who stood Undaunted throughout trying years; Each stone was a prayer and her battlements there Have mem'ries of
purposes strong, Staunch daughters and sons are her monuments fair, And they lift up the grateful song.
Verse 3: Others may boast of prestige and size, Of numbers and treasures and fame But Alfred's pride lies in the manhood's
clear eyes, And womanhood's high stainless name. O Alfred, dear Alfred, thy fame will abide With Kenyon and Allen and Main, With
Davis and Titsworth, now Norwood and Walters, today, Her honor and power maintain. </poem>
(words and music by Lester C. Randolph, arranged by Ray W. Wingate)
Note: The Alma Mater has been revised several times, the last being in 1987. Today, only the first verse and the chorus are
sung.[6]
Fight song: On, Saxon Warriors
<poem> On, Saxon Warriors, On to victory! Purple and gold proclaim Alfred's royalty (Ra! Ra! Ra!) On, Saxon Warriors,
O'er every adversity, Fight, fight for Alfred, A-L-F R-E-D! </poem>
Greek social organizations at Alfred
Fraternities and sororities were established at Alfred University for nearly 100 years prior to 2002, when they were discontinued, partially in response to the death of Zeta Beta
Tau (ZBT) fraternity member Benjamin Klein under suspicious circumstances and charges of gross negligence on behalf of the
fraternity.[7][8]
Prior to Klein's death, in 1978, student Chuck Stenzel
died in a hazing-related incident at Alfred's Klan Alpine fraternity. After Stenzel's death, his mother, Eileen Stevens, created a lobbying organization to increase awareness of hazing and promote anti-hazing laws, as documented in Hank Nuwer's book "Broken
Pledges" and a later TV movie of the same name (in which Alfred was not named for legal reasons). Stevens later served as an
advisor to Alfred on hazing-related issues, and received an honorary doctorate from the school in 1999.
During the summer of 2002, Greek social
organizations lost recognition after an in-depth analysis of the Alfred University Greek system by an eight-member task
force appointed by the Board of Trustees. More than 50% of the task force were themselves members of a fraternity or sorority
while in college, and 82% of the Board of Trustees are Alfred University alumni.[8]
At the time of closing in 2002, the Greek system at Alfred University included national and international fraternities
Lambda Chi Alpha, since 1909, Sigma Alpha Mu,
Kappa Sigma, Alpha Chi Rho, Delta Sigma Phi, and Zeta Beta Tau; as well as local fraternities
Kappa Psi Upsilon, and Klan Alpine. The sororities included
Delta Zeta, Theta Theta Chi, Alpha
Kappa Omicron, and Sigma Chi Nu. The overall Greek community made significant
contributions to Alfred University, Alfred, NY, and the surrounding communities, such as annual food drives that raised more than
2000 lbs of food each fall for the Hornell food bank. Many of the societies have highly active alumni associations, some of which
gather at Alfred University reunions, or at independent functions.
Alpha Phi Omega is still recognized, as are academic fraternities, because they do
not fall under the same category of restrictions as social fraternities.
References
- ^ Alfred University (2004-05-11). Alfred University Board of
Trustees extends Edmondson's contract. Press release. Retrieved on 2007-08-12.
- ^ a b c
Alfred University. College Board Profiles. College Board. Retrieved on
2007-08-12.
- ^ Strong, Susan (1997). Alfred's Town
Name. Herrick Library Special Collections and Archives. Retrieved on 2007-08-12.
- ^ Windmeyer, Shane L. (1998). Brotherhood: Gay Life in College Fraternities. Alyson
Publications.
- ^ Alfred University (2003-02-05). Miller Performing Arts Center
wins international recognition. Press release. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
- ^ McFadden, Laurie (2000). Alma Mater.
Herrick Library Special Collections and Archives. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
- ^ Alfred University (2002-02-18). Alfred University implements
new requirements for Greek organizations. Press release. Retrieved on 2007-08-12.
- ^ a b Alfred University (2002-05-20). Alfred University trustees
vote to eliminate fraternities and sororities. Press release. Retrieved on
2007-08-12.
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