Eastern Michigan University
From Freepedia
Eastern Michigan University (EMU) is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School, it became the Michigan State Normal College in 1899, then Eastern Michigan College in 1956, and finally Eastern Michigan University in 1959. The university is governed by a eight-member Board of Regents, who are appointed by the Governor of Michigan for eight-year terms. The school belongs to the Mid-American Conference and was re-accredited by the North Central Association in 2001. Its mascot, since 1991, has been the Eastern Eagle.
Total student population averages about 25,000 of whom roughly 7,000 are graduate students. Currently, EMU comprises five colleges - Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Health & Human Services, and Technology - along with a Graduate School. Most programs are undergraduate or master's level although the university has doctoral programs in Educational Leadership and Technology. Its College of Education is one of the nation's largest colleges of education and produces more classroom teachers than any other school.
Eastern Michigan University has had twenty-one presidents since its founding. John Fallon III, Ph.D., began his tenure as EMU president on July 15, 2005, replacing outgoing interim president Craig Willis. Willis became the interim president in 2004 after the resignation of President Samuel L. Kirkpatrick whose tenure was cut short due to revelations of fiscal improprieties resulting from the construction of a new presidential house off the university's main campus.
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Facts related to EMU
- The Bruce T. Halle Library has one of the largest collections of children's literature in the United States.
- Legendary cartoonist Winsor McCay attended business classes at EMU when it was called the Michigan State Normal College.
- Noted as "the most elaborate pop hoax in history," the "Paul Is Dead" myth has generated more rumors and speculation for the Beatles than for any other group. It all started on Sunday, Oct 12, 1969, Russ Gibb, working on WKNR-FM heard from an Eastern Michigan University student about a series of clues that seemed to point to Paul's death. The story took on a life of its own, both on Keener and WKNR-FM and Russ received credit for making it a national story. The documentary 'Who Buried Paul McCartney?' by Wouter van Opdorp explores the origin of the Paul-is-dead story.
- EMU is home to one of the nation's foremost Forensics (competitive speech) teams, with 10 team national championships, and a host of individual national championships. They are also the only program in the country to place in the top ten at every national championship since they began in 1971, with a 34 year streak of excellence.
- EMU has also produced a number of successful performing artists (especially actors), including Dan Florek and Michael A. Garcia, both of whom are alums of the EMU Forensics Team. In his time on the team, Garcia won eight individual national championships, a record unbroken to this day. James R. Siterlet and Micheal T. McLoughlin (then known as "M. Thom McLoughlin") were nominated for the prestigious Irene Ryan Award competition while in the drama school at EMU. (Siterlet eventually became an academic while McLoughlin went on to become a lawyer and was a White House intern in Fall 2000.) Jeff Daniels attended the EMU drama school in Summer 1976, to participate in a special Bi-Centenniel Repertory programme; and his younger sister, Patti Daniels, graduated from the drama school in the early 1980's.
The Music of Eastern Michigan University
School Songs
- The Eastern Michigan University alma mater is "Our Pledge":
Eastern, sacred alma mater,
To your name we shall be true.
Ever marching on to victory,
We'll stand by to see you through.
Softly floating on the breeze
Verdant green with white of snow.
This our banner we shall carry
In our hearts, where e'er we go.
- The main Eastern Michigan University Fight Song is "Eagles Fight Song":
Eastern Eagles hats off to you
Fight, fight, fight for ole E-M-U
Look to the sky,
The Eagles will fly,
The bravest will defy
Rah! Rah! Rah
Hold that line for ole green and white
Sons and daughters show your might
So FIGHT! FIGHT! for ole E-M-U and vic-tor-ry
- The alternate Eastern Michigan University Fight Song is "Go Green":
Go Green, roll up the score
Go Green, let's get some more
Raise a cheer for old green and white
Let's show them we came here to fight...(--- -----)
Go Green, vic'try we'll claim
Go Green, let's win this game
We'll always fight (what) for (who?) old E-M-U
Come on and let's go Green!
- The words and music of "Our Pledge" was written by Edward Bowles and was arranged for the marching band by Thomas Tyra
- The Melody of "Eagles Fight Song" was written by Larry Livingston and arranged for marching band by Thomas Tyra. The percussion parts were written by Whitney Prince. The lyrics were revised by Dr.Max Plank after the Eastern Michigan University mascot was changed from the Hurons to the Eagles.
- "Go Green" was written by Thomas Tyra.
The Eastern Michigan University Marching Band
- The Eastern Michigan Marching Band was first formed in 1924 by Thomas Tyra.
- The Eastern Michigan University Marching Band play both "Go Green" and the "Eagles Fight Song" for pregame at their football games.
- After every game and every rehearsal the marching band sings "Our Pledge".
- The marching band is directed by Scott Boerma and Mark Waymire. The half time music played by the band is arranged by Scott Boerma and Ryan MacKenzie Lewis. The stand tunes are arranged by Ryan MacKenzie Lewis and James Ratzlaff.
Some campus visitors
Events at the Ypsilanti campus — down the street from the University of Michigan — have hosted Michael Moore, Cornel West, ex-President Bill Clinton, comedian Bill Maher, poet Maya Angelou, Sister Helen Prejean and Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie on campus. This year (2005-2006) special guests include comedians Dave Chappelle and Lily Tomlin, documentarian Morgan Spurlock, and rock band My Chemical Romance.
Enrollment, 2005
- Undergraduate: 19,000
- Graduate: 4,862
- Total university: 23,862
Ethnicity (non-foreign nationals)
- African-American: 16%
- Asian: 3%
- Latino-American / Hispanic: 2%
- Native American: 1%
- White: 70%
- Undeclared: 8%
Gender
Geographic distribution
Participation
- Fraternities or sororities: 4%
- A club or organization: 75%
- Sports (including intramural): 50%
Academic profile (freshmen class of 2005)
College jobs
- Part-time employment (on or off campus): 70%
EMU Athletics
- Conference: Mid-American (MAC)
- Nickname: Eagles
- Colors: green and white
- NCAA division 1
- Number of sports at EMU: 21
Recent MAC championships
- 2003: Men's baseball
- 1995–2003: Men's track
- 2000–2005: Men's swimming and diving
- 2004: Women's Basketball
- 2003: Women's soccer
- 2003: Women's outdoor track
- 2000: Women's indoor track
- 2001: Women's tennis
NCAA individual champions
Men's Cross Country:
- 2001 Boaz Cheboiywo
Men's Track and Field:
- 2004 Jordan Desilets, 3000 meter steeplechase
- 2002 Boaz Cheboiywo, 10,000 meter outdoor track
- 1975 Halsey Crawford, 100 yards
- 1999 Clement Chukwu, 400 meters
- 1985 Earl Jones, 800 meters
- 1932 Eugene Beatty, 400 meter hurdles
Women's Track and Field:
- 1995 Sevatheda Fynes, 200 meters
Olympians
- 2004 Athens Games: USA- Jamie Nieto (High Jump, 4th)
- 2000 Sydney Games: Nigeria- Nduka Awazie (4x400 meter relay, Silver)
- 1996 Atlanta Games: USA- Paul McMullen (1500 meters, 9th)
- 1984 Los Angeles Games: USA- Earl Jones (800 meters, Bronze), Trinidad and Tobago- Hasely Crawford (100 meters)
- 1980 Moscow Games: Trinidad and Tobago- Hasely Crawford (100 meters)
- 1976 Montreal Games: Trinidad and Tobago- Hasely Crawford (100 meters, Gold)
- 1972 Munich Games: Trinidad and Tobago- Hasely Crawford (100 meters)
- 1964 Tokyo Games: USA- Hayes Jones (110 High Hurdles, Gold)
- 1960 Rome Games: USA- Hayes Jones (110 High Hurdles, Bronze)
EMU Athletic Facts
- Highest NCAA Team Finish: 2003 Men's Cross Country (3rd), 1975 Men's Cross Country 6th
- Most MAC Championships in a sport: 25, Men's Swimming and Diving 1979,1981-1996,1998,2000-2005
External links
| Mid-American Conference: EAST: Akron | Bowling Green | Buffalo | Kent State | Miami | Ohio | Temple (football only) WEST: Ball State | Central Michigan | Eastern Michigan | Northern Illinois | Toledo | Western Michigan | Image:MidAmericanConference 100.png | |
| Public universities in Michigan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Central • Eastern • Ferris State • Grand Valley • Lake State • Michigan State Michigan Tech • Northern • Oakland • Saginaw Valley • U-M Ann Arbor U-M Dearborn • U-M Flint • Wayne State • Western | ||
