Jackson State University

Jackson State University (also known as Jackson State or JSU) is a historically black university located in Jackson, Mississippi founded in 1877. Jackson State is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.

History

Founded as Natchez Seminary in 1877 by the American Baptist Home mission Society, the school was established as Natchez, Mississippi "for the moral, religious and intellectual improvement of Christian leaders of the colored people of Mississippi and the neighboring states." In November 1882, the school was moved to Jackson; in March 1899, the curriculum was expanded and the name was changed to Jackson College.

The state assumed support of the college in 1940, assigning to it the mission of training teachers. Subsequently, between 1953 and 1956, the curriculum was expanded to include a graduate program and bachelor's programs in the arts and sciences; the name was then changed to Jackson State College in 1956.

On 14 May 1970 two of the university's students were killed during anti Vietnam war protests by police in the Jackson state killings.

Further expansion of the curriculum and a notable building program preceded the elevation of Jackson State College to university status on March 15, 1974. In 1979, Jackson State was officially designated the Urban University of the State of Mississippi. Presently, Jackson State University, a public, coeducational institution, is supported by legislative appropriations supplemented by student fees and federal and private grants.

Academics

Departments

• College of Business
• College of Education and Human Development
• College of Liberal Arts
• College of Lifelong Learning
• College of Public Service
• College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Student activities

Athletics

Athletics logo

Jackson State's athletic teams are a member of the NCAA Division I-FCS(Football Championship Subdivision) Southwestern Athletic Conference, commonly known as the SWAC. All SWAC sports are DI with Football being FCS. Currently, the university fields men's and women's basketball, football, baseball, softball, men's and women's golf, women's volleyball, men's and women's tennis, soccer, and men and women's bowling teams. The university's mascot is the Tiger, and the teams are sometimes referred to as the "Blue Bengals."

The Tiger football team has a heralded history, winning and sharing 16 SWAC titles, including 2007. ^[1] Its most famous alumni includes NFL Hall of Famers Lem Barney, Jackie Slater and Walter Payton, and former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith.

The men's golf team has gained notoriety as it has become a SWAC powerhouse and perennial NCAA tournament participant under head coach Eddie Payton, older brother of Walter Payton.^{[citation needed]}

JSU's well-known rivals include Southern, Alcorn State, Texas Southern, Mississppi Valley State, and Tennesse State.

Student media

Jackson State is home to radio station WJSU-FM which plays jazz, gospel, news and public affairs programming. It also houses a low-powered television station, W23BC.

The J-Settes

A group photo of alumni & the 2007 Jsette line

The Prancing J-Settes is the official name of the Jackson State University dance line, an auxiliary group of the Jackson State University Marching Band that began in 1971.

Notable alumni

References

See also

• Jackson State University Botanical Garden

External links

• www.jsums.edu -- Official web site
• www.jsubound.ning.com -- Social network for prospective Jackson State University students to talk with recruiters and meet future classmates
• www.jsutigers.com -- Official athletics web site
• www.jsuflash.com -- The Blue & White Flash student newspaper]
• www.wjsu.org WJSU-FM official site
• tv23.jsums.edu W23BC official site
• sonicboomofthesouth.com -- official Marching Band web site]
• Jackson State University Riots May 14, 1970 in response to the Kent State shootings leaving 2 dead and many wounded