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 area of South Kingston, and three other campuses located throughout the state, including Providence's Feinstein Campus, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West Greenwich. URI has 14,546 undergraduates and 4,549 graduate students. The average incoming freshmen for the fall of 2008 had a GPA of 3.36 and a combined SAT score of 1659. It is a land grant, sea grant, and urban grant institution. There are many well recognized areas of study at the university including the Colleges of Pharmacy and Nursing, and the Graduate School of Oceanography. In 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked it in its list of best colleges and gave it a selective rating. [edit] History The University was first chartered as the state's agricultural school and agricultural experiment station in 1888. The site of the school was originally the Oliver Watson Farm, and the original farmhouse still lies on the campus today and maintained as a small museum. 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 agricultural education mandate. In 1951, the college became the University of Rhode Island by an act of the General Assembly with the addition of the College of Arts and Sciences and the offering of doctoral degrees. The Board of Governors for Higher Education, appointed by the governor, became the governing body of the University in 1981. The current president is David Dooley.[1] [edit] Academics Located in a traditional New England town, URI offers students a land, sea and urban experience. The university has over 100 majors available within seven different colleges. The most popular degrees at URI are communications studies, psychology, nursing and human development & family studies. URI has great pharmacy and engineering programs which are not offered at any colleges in the state, with professors coming from top schools including Harvard and MIT. The university also has an internationally recognized International Engineering Program. [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 (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 Island fight 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 stops before the shouting of URI. 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  Quadrangle on an early September evening at University of Rhode Island. Most 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.
- 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
- Renaissance Yearbook — campus yearbook
- 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.
- Public Relations Society (PRS)- Organization that hosts its own events and helps other on-campus organizations with adverstising, marketing and good public relations.
- Student Action for Sustainability (SAS) - Organization behind the "green" movement on campus, Earth Day celebrations, campus clean-ups, and upcoming Campus Sustainability Day in the fall.
- Student Alliance for the Welfare of Africa (SAWA)-Organization behind educating students on issues concerning Africa and its inhabitants. One of the goals is to help abolish common stereotypes of African culture.
- URI Dance Company- An organization that currently has 400 members and offers students the opportunity to experience the art of dance.
[edit] Greek Life The University of Rhode Island also has an award-winning Greek System. The community was recognized by the Northeast Greek Leadership Association in February 2008 for excellence in Academic Achievement, Council Management, Membership Recruitment, Multicultural Initiatives, Public Relations, Risk Management and Panhellenic Continuous Open Bidding.[2] The Greek Community consists of 11 fraternities and 9 sororities. There are also 4 national organizations that have colonized over the past year. Fraternities: Chi Phi, Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Chi, Lambda Chi Alpha, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Gamma Delta, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Pi, Tau Epsilon Phi, Zeta Beta Tau Phi Kappa Psi Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Phi, Chi Omega, Delta Zeta, Phi Sigma Sigma, Sigma Delta Tau, Sigma Kappa, and Zeta Tau Alpha Colonies: Sigma Chi, Theta Chi, Local Sorority: Gamma Xi Delta The Greek Community is governed by the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council. Both organization, along with Greek Life administration are housed on campus in the Christopher House. [edit] Traditions and trivia - 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) was 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 Carothers Library, the largest library in the State of Rhode Island, has over 1.3 million books and subscriptions to over 30,000 electronic journals.
[edit] Notable alumni [edit] Politics [edit] Sports - Jimmy Baron – Played in the NBA Summer League for the Utah Jazz. He is currently playing basketball in Turkey. He is the all-time three-point shooter in the University of Rhode Island and Atlantic 10 history.
- Kahiem Seawright - Former forward for URI. He is currently playing professional basketball for CB Tarragona in Spain.
- Tavorris Bell – Former basketball player at URI who scored 1,147 career points and was a teammate of Lamar Odom. He was a featured streetball player in the AND1 Mixtape Tour Volume 2 video.
- Parfait Bitee – Former point guard for URI. He also played on the Cameroonian men's national basketball team that won the silver medal at the FIBA Africa Championship 2007
- Dawan Robinson - NBA player (point guard) for the Los Angeles Clippers.
- Johnny Ezersky – Former NBA player for the Providence Steamrollers, the Baltimore Bullets, and the Boston Celtics
- Sean Colson – Former NBA player for the Atlanta Hawks and the Houston Rockets
- Ron Rothstein – Former coach in the NBA for the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons. He was the first coach of the Miami Heat.
- George Mearns – Former NBA player for the Providence Steamrollers
- Earl Shannon – Former NBA player for the Providence Steamrollers
- Bob Shea – Former NBA player for the Providence Steamrollers
- Claude English – Former NBA player for the Portland Trail Blazers
- Steve Chubin – Former NBA player for the Indiana Pacers
- Armand Cure – Former NBA player for the Providence Steamrollers
- Bill Von Weyhe – Former NBA player for the Boston Celtics
- Stanley Stutz - Former NBA player for the New York Knicks
- Dennis McGovern – Former NBA player for the New York Knicks
- Horace "Pappy" Owens – former NBA player for the New Jersey Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers.
- Chester Jaworski – basketball player. Led the nation in scoring in his senior season. He also won national player of the year award in his senior season.
- Ernie Calverley – Former NBA player with the Providence Steamrollers, former URI Head Coach
- Tom Garrick, Former NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs,and Los Angeles Clippers, Former[3] Head Coach for URI Women's team.
- Tyson Wheeler, Former NBA player for the Toronto Raptors
- Cuttino Mobley, Former NBA player for the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, and the New York Knicks
- Lamar Odom, NBA player for the Los Angeles Lakers
- Frank Keaney, Former URI mens basketball coach. The inventor of URI's team color Keaney Blue. He is also in the Basketball Hall of Fame
- Will Daniels, NBA player for the Chicago Bulls. He is currently playing basketball in Greece.
- Tom Penders former college basketball coach. Coached at URI and led them to their first-ever sweet 16 appearance. He is also 30th all-time in division 1 wins as a coach. He also has the 2nd most seasons as a head coach. He is 13th all-time in 20 win seasons. He has coached at more schools than any other coach.
- Jim Baron, Current coach at URI. He has the 59th most wins of active coaches. He is a 5-time Atlantic 20 coach of the year. He is also the father of former URI player Jimmy Baron who is the Atlantic 10 all-time 3-point shooter.
- Todd Bozeman, Head Coach, Morgan State University men's basketball
- Jim Christian, Head Coach, Kent State University men's basketball
- Steve Furness, Former NFL player for Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions
- Wendall Williams, Former NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers
- Frank Ferrara, Former NFL defensive end for New York Giants, Hollywood stunt man
- Geoff Cameron, MLS player for Houston Dynamo, 2009 MLS All-Star
- Sasha Gotsmanov, MLS player for the Colorado Rapids
- Andy Williams, MLS player for Real Salt Lake, formerly for Columbus Crew
- Danleigh Borman, MLS player for Red Bull New York
- Dana Quigley, PGA Tour golfer
- P. H. Horgan III, 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
- John King, national correspondent for CNN
- Masta Ace, Rapper
[edit] Business - Robert Crandall, Former President and Chairman of the Board, American Airlines
- Thomas Ryan, CEO of CVS Corporation
- Alfred Verrecchia '67, '72, President and CEO, Hasbro, Inc
- Rodger B. Dowdell, CEO American Power Conversion
- Bruce Sherman, Investor and CEO of Private Capital Management
- Michael D. Fascitelli, President and Trustee of Vornado Realty Trust
- Vincent Sarni, Former Chairman & CEO of PPG Industries
- John Geddes '74, Managing Editor, New York Times
- Nancy McKinstry '80, President & CEO, Wolters Kluwer, Amsterdam
[edit] Science - Robert Ballard '75 PhD, '86 Hon., Oceanographer, discoverer of the RMS Titanic, Professor and Director of URI's Institute for Archaeological Oceanography,
- Brian J. McCartin '76 BS, '77 MS, Mathematician, recipient of the 2010 Chauvenet Prize, Professor of Applied Mathematics, Kettering University,
[edit] Military [edit] See also [edit] References [edit] External links Coordinates: 41°28′51″N 71°31′33″W / 41.48071°N 71.52580°W / 41.48071; -71.52580 |
