Southern Arkansas University
Encyclopedia
Southern Arkansas University (SAU) (formerly known as Southern State College, Magnolia A&M, and Third District Agricultural School) is a public four-year institution located in Magnolia
, the seat of Columbia County
in Arkansas
, United States
, not far from the Louisiana
state line.
Southern Arkansas University is located in Magnolia, which, as of the census
of 2000, has a population of 10,858. The city is situated in the southwestern part of the state 50 miles (80.5 km) of Texarkana on U.S. Routes 79
, 82
, and 371
.
In the fall of 1949, the Board of Trustees, exercising authority vested in it by the State Legislature, decided to develop the college at a four-year, degree-granting institution. The Board authorized the addition of third-year college level courses to being with the fall semester of 1950. Fourth-year courses were added in the fall semester of 1951. By Act Eleven (January 24, 1951), the State Legislature changed the name of the institution to Southern State College. In 1975, the institution was approved and accredited to offer a Master of Education Degree in selected areas. Following approval of the Board of Trustees, the name of the institution was changed to Southern Arkansas University by the Board of Higher Education on July 9, 1976, in accordance with Act 343 of the General Assembly of 1975.
Also in 1975, Southwest Technical Institute in Camden, Arkansas
, joined the SAU system as Southern Arkansas University Tech
.
Fincher Hall is the site of Residential College, a special program for freshmen which builds community and contact with faculty.
Southern Arkansas University is in the NCAA Division II as a member of the West Division of the Gulf South Conference
.
The university's athletic nicknames are Muleriders and Lady Muleriders. The Muleriders take their name from the legend that the football team in the early 1900s had to ride mules from the college's agricultural department to catch the nearest train 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the college in order to reach out-of-town football games. The teams are the only sports team in the US with the nickname and are often listed in top 10 lists of the most unusual or unique mascot names.
In each of 1953 and 1954, the then Southern State College Mulerider tennis team went undefeated winning the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference in both singles and doubles and was invited by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to represent their district in their National Tennis Championships in 1953.
In 2006, and 2009 The Mulerider baseball team won the Gulf South Conference championship. In 2009 the Mulerider Baseball team hosted the NCAA Division Two South Regional for the first time in school history.
In 2007, the Mulerider coed cheerleading squad competed at the NCA National Competition and placed 4th in Division II. In 2008, the cheerleading squad went back to nationals and took 5th in their division.
For thee we'll always stand,
Your eager sons and daughters
Form one united band.
Your glory and your fame will spread
Through all eternity,
We pledge to thee,
dear SAU,
Our Love and Loyalty.
'Riders, so strong and bold!
We've got the spirit --
Come on, let's hear it!
Shout out for good ol' SAU:
GO! GO! GO!
Go 'Riders, go along,
This is our favorite song!
For it's M-U-L-E-R-I-D-E-R
'Riders, the best of SAU!
Magnolia, Arkansas
Magnolia is a city in Columbia County, Arkansas, United States, that was founded in 1853. At the time of its incorporation in 1858, the city had a population of about 1,950. The city grew slowly as an agricultural and regional cotton market until the discovery of oil just east of the city in March,...
, the seat of Columbia County
Columbia County, Arkansas
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 24,552. The county seat is Magnolia. Columbia County was formed on December 17, 1852, and was named for Christopher Columbus...
in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, not far from the Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
state line.
Location
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, has a population of 10,858. The city is situated in the southwestern part of the state 50 miles (80.5 km) of Texarkana on U.S. Routes 79
U.S. Route 79
U.S. Route 79 is a north–south United States highway. The route is a northeast-southwest diagonal, with both east–west segments and north–south segments equally mixed. The highway's northern terminus is in Russellville, Kentucky, at an intersection with U.S. Highway 68 and KY 80...
, 82
U.S. Route 82
U.S. Route 82 is an east–west United States highway in the southern United States. What started as a 1932 addition to the system across central Mississippi and southern Arkansas eventually became a 1,609 mile route extending from the White Sands of New Mexico to Georgia's Atlantic coast.The...
, and 371
U.S. Route 371
U.S. Route 371 is a north–south United States highway in the U.S. states of Arkansas and Louisiana. The highway's northern terminus is in De Queen, Arkansas at an intersection with U.S. Highway 70. It is co-signed for its last between Lockesburg, Arkansas and DeQueen with U.S. Highway 59...
.
History
Southern Arkansas University was established by an Act of the Arkansas Legislature in 1909 as a district agricultural high school for southwest Arkansas and was originally named Third District Agricultural School, often called by students and faculty "TDAS." Its first term began in January 1911, with its curriculum including only subjects at the secondary school level. In 1925, the State Legislature authorized the school to add two years of college work and to change its name to Agricultural and Mechanical College, Third District (Magnolia A&M). The school continued to offer both high school and junior college courses until 1937, at which time the high school courses were discontinued.In the fall of 1949, the Board of Trustees, exercising authority vested in it by the State Legislature, decided to develop the college at a four-year, degree-granting institution. The Board authorized the addition of third-year college level courses to being with the fall semester of 1950. Fourth-year courses were added in the fall semester of 1951. By Act Eleven (January 24, 1951), the State Legislature changed the name of the institution to Southern State College. In 1975, the institution was approved and accredited to offer a Master of Education Degree in selected areas. Following approval of the Board of Trustees, the name of the institution was changed to Southern Arkansas University by the Board of Higher Education on July 9, 1976, in accordance with Act 343 of the General Assembly of 1975.
Also in 1975, Southwest Technical Institute in Camden, Arkansas
Camden, Arkansas
Camden is a city in and the county seat of Ouachita County in the southern part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Long an area of American Indians villages, the French also made a permanent settlement here because of its advantageous location above the Ouachita River. According to 2007 Census...
, joined the SAU system as Southern Arkansas University Tech
Southern Arkansas University Tech
Southern Arkansas University Tech is a public community college, located in Camden, Arkansas.- History :SAU Tech was created on April 5, 1967, as Southwest Technical Institute by Act 534 of the Arkansas Legislature. The purpose of the institute was to provide a technically trained workforce for...
.
Residence Halls
The university operates eight residence halls:- Bussey Hall (Females Only)
- Fincher Hall (Freshmen Only)
- Greene Hall
- Harrod Hall
- Honors Hall (North and South)
- Talbot Hall (Males Only)
- Talley Hall
Fincher Hall is the site of Residential College, a special program for freshmen which builds community and contact with faculty.
Courses
Southern Arkansas University added a new graduate studies program in 2007, the Executive Master of Public Administration, headed by Dr. Pat Edgar. The new program offers many courses, including social justice courses, research methods in Public Administration, Legal Issues of Public Administration and Ethics. The new program was iniated to provide quality education for those who wish to serve in a leadership position in the public sector or in a non-profit agency. The first class of the Executive Master of Public Administration graduated in May 2008. "The value of the courses taught in this program is immeasurable. I have learned not only how to be a servant of the public, to better this world, but also to believe in myself and this country." -- Rebekah Lightfoot-Wolfe 2008 Graduate of the Executive Master of Public Administration Program, Southern Arkansas University School of Graduate StudiesAthletics
Gulf South Conference
The Gulf South Conference is a College Athletic Conference which operates in the southeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division II.-History:...
.
The university's athletic nicknames are Muleriders and Lady Muleriders. The Muleriders take their name from the legend that the football team in the early 1900s had to ride mules from the college's agricultural department to catch the nearest train 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the college in order to reach out-of-town football games. The teams are the only sports team in the US with the nickname and are often listed in top 10 lists of the most unusual or unique mascot names.
In each of 1953 and 1954, the then Southern State College Mulerider tennis team went undefeated winning the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference in both singles and doubles and was invited by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to represent their district in their National Tennis Championships in 1953.
In 2006, and 2009 The Mulerider baseball team won the Gulf South Conference championship. In 2009 the Mulerider Baseball team hosted the NCAA Division Two South Regional for the first time in school history.
In 2007, the Mulerider coed cheerleading squad competed at the NCA National Competition and placed 4th in Division II. In 2008, the cheerleading squad went back to nationals and took 5th in their division.
Football
Won the Gulf South championship in 1997Alma mater
We hail thee now, oh SAU,For thee we'll always stand,
Your eager sons and daughters
Form one united band.
Your glory and your fame will spread
Through all eternity,
We pledge to thee,
dear SAU,
Our Love and Loyalty.
Fight song
We are the Blue and Gold,'Riders, so strong and bold!
We've got the spirit --
Come on, let's hear it!
Shout out for good ol' SAU:
GO! GO! GO!
Go 'Riders, go along,
This is our favorite song!
For it's M-U-L-E-R-I-D-E-R
'Riders, the best of SAU!
National Panhellenic Conference Affiliates
- Alpha Sigma AlphaAlpha Sigma AlphaAlpha Sigma Alpha is a US national sorority founded on November 15, 1901 at the Virginia State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia...
(Epsilon Alpha chapter) - Phi MuPhi MuPhi Mu is the second oldest female fraternal organization established in the United States. It was founded at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The organization was founded as the Philomathean Society on January 4, 1852, and was announced publicly on March 4 of the same year...
(Epsilon Omicron chapter) - Sigma Sigma SigmaSigma Sigma SigmaSigma Sigma Sigma , also known as Tri Sigma, is a national American women’s sorority with membership of more than 100,000 members. Sigma Sigma Sigma is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference and hosts chapters on more than 110 college campuses and 89 alumnae chapters in communities all...
(Epsilon Zeta chapter)
National Pan-Hellenic Council Affiliates
- Alpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
(Iota Zeta chapter) - Delta Sigma ThetaDelta Sigma ThetaDelta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
(Lambda Mu chapter) - Sigma Gamma RhoSigma Gamma RhoSigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Butler University on November 12, 1922, by seven school teachers in Indianapolis, Indiana...
(Mu Eta chapter) - Zeta Phi BetaZeta Phi BetaZeta Phi Beta is an international, historically black Greek-lettered sorority and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.Zeta Phi Beta is organized into 800+ chapters, in eight intercontinental regions including the USA, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean...
(Iota Xi chapter)
North-American Interfraternity Conference Affiliates
- Alpha Gamma RhoAlpha Gamma RhoAlpha Gamma Rho is a social-professional fraternity in the United States, with 75 university chapters including chapter in Mindanao State University, Philippines...
(SAU colony) - Phi Lambda ChiPhi Lambda ChiPhi Lambda Chi ' is a North-American Interfraternity Conference member fraternity founded in 1925.-History:The Lamb Society was organized in 1920 as an organization for high school boys...
(Nu chapter) - Sigma PiSigma PiSigma Pi is an international college secret and social fraternity founded in 1897 at Vincennes University. Sigma Pi International fraternity currently has 127 chapters and 4 colonies in the United States and Canada and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee...
(Epsilon Kappa chapter)
National Pan-Hellenic Council Affiliates
- Alpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
(Kappa Iota chapter) - Kappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
(Lambda Kappa chapter) - Omega Psi PhiOmega Psi PhiOmega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
(Delta Eta chapter) - Phi Beta SigmaPhi Beta SigmaPhi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I...
(Theta Nu chapter)
Other
- Kappa Kappa PsiKappa Kappa PsiKappa Kappa Psi is a fraternity for college and university band members. It was founded on November 27, 1919 at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. William Scroggs, now regarded as the "Founder," together with "Mr. Kappa Kappa Psi" A...
(Delta Chi chapter) - Alpha Phi OmegaAlpha Phi OmegaAlpha Phi Omega is the largest collegiate fraternity in the United States, with chapters at over 350 campuses, an active membership of approximately 17,000 students, and over 350,000 alumni members...
(Alpha Epsilon Omega chapter) (co-ed service) - Alpha Psi OmegaAlpha Psi OmegaAlpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society is an American recognition honor society recognizing participants in collegiate theatre. The Alpha Cast was founded at Fairmont State College on August 12, 1925 by professor Paul F...
(Mu Phi chapter) - Phi Mu Alpha SinfoniaPhi Mu Alpha SinfoniaPhi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music...
(Eta Gamma chapter)
Notable alumni
- Jordan BabineauxJordan BabineauxJordan Jude Babineaux is an American football safety for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2004 out of Southern Arkansas University....
- NFL football player for Tennessee TitansTennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... - Bruce BennettBruce Bennett (Arkansas politician)Bruce Bennett was a Democratic politician from El Dorado, Arkansas, who served as his state's attorney general from 1957–1960 and from 1963–1966...
, Arkansas attorney general (1957–1960 and 1963–1966) - Steve ForbesSteve ForbesMalcolm Stevenson "Steve" Forbes, Jr. is an American editor, publisher, and businessman. He is the editor-in-chief of business magazine Forbes as well as president and chief executive officer of its publisher, Forbes Inc. He was a Republican candidate in the U.S. Presidential primaries in 1996...
- Assistant basketball coach for the University of Tennessee VolunteersTennessee VolunteersThe Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the National Collegiate Athletic Association college sports teams at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mike Hamilton is the most recent Men's Athletic Director, but resigned on June 7, 2011, and Joan Cronan is the current Women's... - Harry ThomasonHarry ThomasonHarry Z. Thomason, , is an American film and television producer and director, best known for the television series Designing Women. Thomason and his wife, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, are close friends of President Bill Clinton and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and played a major...
- film & television producer/director of TV series: "Fall Guy","Designing Women" - Dan KyleDan KyleDaniel Guin Kyle, known as Dan Kyle , is a businessman from Baton Rouge Louisiana, who served as his state's legislative auditor from 1989–2003, when he stepped down to run unsuccessfully for insurance commissioner. An active Republican, Kyle uncovered many instances of misappropriations in state...
- Louisiana politician - Tracy LawrenceTracy LawrenceTracy Lawrence is an American country music artist. He started at a country music restaurant called "Live At Libby's" where owner Libby Knight would help local talent find their way into country music...
- Award winning country musicCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
performer - Nik LewisNik LewisNikolas "Nik" Lewis is a professional Canadian football wide receiver for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League....
- CFL All-Star football player for the Calgary StampedersCalgary StampedersThe Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium... - Lynn LoweLynn LoweAylmer Lynn Lowe, known as A. Lynn Lowe , was a farmer and politician from Garland in Miller County in southwestern Arkansas, who was a major figure in the Arkansas Republican Party...
- RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
state party chairman, 1974–1980; Republican gubernatorial nominee, 1978 - Myra McLarey- Author and former Harvard professor who currently resides in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, TennesseeNashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. She co-wrote her latest novel Road to Eden's Ridge under the pin name M.L. Rose - Fred PerryFred Perry (football player)Fred Perry is a Canadian football defensive end who is currently a free agent. Perry most recently played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers where his success was limited due to injury.-College career:...
- CFL All-Star football player for Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895... - Tommy TubervilleTommy TubervilleThomas Hawley Tuberville is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Texas Tech University, a position he has held since the 2010 season...
- Head football coach at Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
. Former head football coach at Auburn UniversityAuburn UniversityAuburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
& Ole Miss - Horace M. WadeHorace M. WadeHorace Milton Wade was a former General in the United States Air Force and a former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.-Early life:...
- General in the United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...