Western Carolina University
Encyclopedia
Western Carolina University (WCU) is a coeducational public university
located in Cullowhee, North Carolina
, United States
. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina
system.
The fifth oldest institution of the sixteen four-year universities in the UNC system, the university was founded to educate the people of the western North Carolina mountains. The university has expanded its mission to serve the entire state and the nation and has grown to become a major cultural, scientific, and educational force in the state and region. WCU now serves more than 9,500 full time undergraduate and post graduate students, providing an education to students from 46 states and 39 countries.
Western Carolina University is located in Jackson County
, in the unincorporated
village
of Cullowhee, North Carolina
. The university operates satellite campuses in both Asheville
and Cherokee
with programs offered online and at various community colleges. The main campus is located in a valley of the Tuckasegee River between the Blue Ridge
and Great Smoky Mountains
, 52 miles (83.7 km) west of Asheville, North Carolina
and 5 miles south of Sylva, NC. The university lies close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
, the Blue Ridge Parkway
, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Reservation (officially known as the Qualla Boundary
) and some of the nation's most beautiful national forest
lands. At an elevation of 2100 feet (640.1 m), but located in a thermal valley, the campus enjoys the best of all four seasons but is shielded from most extreme temperatures by surrounding peaks. Cullowhee typically enjoys a rather mild winter season, in fact, Cullowhee can go some winters without snowfall or with just a trace.
While winters in the valley are generally mild, snow is not unusual in the higher elevations of Jackson County around Cashiers or Balsam
. In nearby Sapphire Valley, snowmaking machines maintain prime snow skiing conditions from mid-December through February. Locations in Jackson County are also within reasonable driving distance to ski slopes at Maggie Valley. The Blue Ridge Parkway is usually closed during winter weather, and has become popular with cross country skiiers during those times.
The many rivers, streams and forests surrounding Cullowhee, combined with the mild climate of Southern Appalachia, offer many opportunities for outdoor activities. Climbing, hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking, and camping are a few of the outdoor activities nearby. Cities within a three hour drive of campus include Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Greenville, South Carolina.
In 1888, the citizens of Cullowhee desired a better school for the community than was offered in public schools of that day, organized a board of trustees
and established a community school that came to be known as Cullowhee Academy. Founded in August 1889 as a semi-public secondary school and chartered as Cullowhee High School in 1891 (also called Cullowhee Academy), it served the Cullowhee community and boarding students from neighboring counties and other states. The founder, Robert Lee Madison, wanted to provide an education for the young people in the region and train teachers to spread education throughout the western part of the state. In 1893, through the efforts of Walter E. Moore,
representative from Jackson County, the North Carolina Legislature authorized an appropriation for the establishment of a normal department at the school "for the purpose of training teachers". This designation became the first publicly funded normal school
in North Carolina.
In 1905, the state assumed title to the school’s buildings and property and made it a state institution. That same year, the school’s name was changed to Cullowhee Normal & Industrial School. In 1925, the school’s name was changed to Cullowhee State Normal School. During its years as Cullowhee Normal, the stated purpose of the school was to train teachers for the North Carolina public schools. A coeducational institution, Cullowhee Normal trained over two thousand teachers by the mid-1920s.
Over the next forty years, the school expanded its curriculum and evolved into a junior college, and in 1929 it was chartered by the legislature as a four-year institution under the name Western Carolina Teachers College. Called "the Cullowhee experiment", Madison’s idea became a model for the other regional colleges in the state.
The demand for both liberal arts and other programs led to an expansion of the school's offerings. Postgraduate studies and the Master of Arts in Education degree were added to the curriculum in 1951. In 1953, the name "Western Carolina College" was adopted.
In 1967, the institution was designated a regional university by the North Carolina General Assembly
and given its current title, "Western Carolina University." On July 1, 1972, WCU became a member of the University of North Carolina
system.
1889 Semi-private school
1891 Cullowhee High School
1893 First state appropriation; Normal Department established; First graduating class
1905 Cullowhee Normal and Industrial School
1912 Junior College rank established; Secondary school discontinued
1913 First college-level (one-year) degree awarded
1925 Cullowhee State Normal School
1929 Western Carolina Teachers College; Senior College rank established
1931 First Baccalaureate degree awarded
1951 Graduate degree established
1952 First Master's degree awarded
1953 Western Carolina College
1967 Western Carolina University
1972 A constituent institution of the University of North Carolina
The university is led by Chancellor David O. Belcher, the chief administrative officer, along with Interim Provost Linda Seestedt-Stanford and several advisory groups. The institution operates under the guidance and policies of the Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University. WCU also falls under the administration of University of North Carolina system president Thomas W. Ross
.
cultures. The university's Mountain Heritage Center; Cherokee Center; Craft Revival Project; Cherokee Studies Program and WCU's partnership to preserve the Cherokee language both reflect that influence — and provides educational resources for the region.
Western is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a comprehensive master’s degree granting institution (Masters/L) in the newly added elective “community engagement” category. WCU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the bachelor, masters, intermediate, and doctoral (in education) levels. The university holds 21 program accreditations and is a member of more than 30 state and national associations and organizations to which its professional programs are related. In 2009, the Corporation for National and Community Service recognized WCU by awarding the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for “exemplary commitment to service and civic engagement” on WCU’s campus and beyond.
As the sixth-largest producer of teachers in North Carolina, the College of Education and Allied Professions was the national winner of the Association of Teacher Educators' Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award in 2006. The college is also the 2007 co-winner of the Christa McAuliffe Excellence in Teacher Education Award presented by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The Christa McAuliffe Award nationally recognizes outstanding programs in teacher education at AASCU member institutions.
Western Carolina's Forensic Research Facility or "Body Farm" is just the second facility of its kind nationally. The decomposition research station is an extremely valuable resource for researchers and forensic anthropology students to study natural decomposition.
The residential Honors College was first of its kind in North Carolina. The College is a community of high-achieving students that strives to provide an intellectually inviting atmosphere that offers academic challenge and enrichment for outstanding students. Newly accepted students are invited to live in one of two exclusive residence halls on campus. The Honors College is one of a few in the state to offer a residential option and among a few nationwide to award graduates with a special honors diploma. The college began in 1998 with 77 students and has grown to approximately 1,400. For entering freshman, the Honor's College average weighted GPA is over 4.00 and the average SAT score is 1380. The College is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council. In August 2009, Balsam Hall, the first part of a $50.2 million Honors College residential community located at the center of campus opened, housing 426 students. Set to open for the Fall 2010 semester, Blue Ridge Hall will complete the community and add an additional 400 beds for Honors College students and Teaching Fellows.
In the spring of 2000, WCU was officially designated a National Merit sponsoring university, just the fourth institution of higher education in North Carolina, public or private, to receive that distinction The university grants scholarships to students who qualify as National Merit Finalists. The Western Meritorious Award for Finalists provides a four-year scholarship, which covers the equivalent amount of in-state tuition, fees, room, and board, to National Merit Finalists, who also receive a computer.
The 2010 edition of the U.S. News & World Report guide to “America’s Best Colleges” ranks Western Carolina University 10th among public universities in the South that offer master’s degrees. The 2009 edition of the Princeton Review “Best 296 Business Schools” ranks the College of Business among the nation’s best schools at which to earn a master’s degree in business administration. WCU’s program earned a top-four spot for schools offering the greatest opportunity for women and receiving high marks for small class sizes. Western Carolina's online master’s degree in project management has been ranked at the top nationally in both affordability and quality by GetEducated.com. In 2007, the Master of Entrepreneurship Program was selected as one of the five best online entrepreneurship programs by Fortune Small Business magazine.
The main campus in Cullowhee offers most of the amenities of a small town, including fourteen residence halls, one full-service cafeteria, two food courts with fast-food outlets, health services, counseling, a bookstore, library
, two indoor swimming pools, tennis courts, movie theater, jogging trail and quarter-mile track, and intramural fields.
The campus center is the Hinds University Center. The UC contains the university post office, a movie theater, video and commuter lounges, student organization HQs, meeting rooms and office space. Outside of the UC is the Alumni Tower, built in 1989, on 100th birthday of the university.
The campus residence buildings include one for graduate students and one for married students. Special residence accommodations include honors residence halls and The Village, home to residential Greek organizations. Three new residence facilities were recently completed and in April 2008, the university broke ground on a $50.2 million residence hall project. The new $18 million dollar 53000 square feet (4,923.9 m²) campus dining facility was opened in stages beginning in July 2009. Other newly constructed facilities include the Center for Applied Technology (which houses new engineering laboratories); an expanded student life center; new athletic facilities; and a new student support center. A recently constructed $13.5 million 73000 square feet (6,781.9 m²) Student Recreation Center, was completed over the 2008 Summer.
Construction has begun on a new $46.2 million Health and Gerontological Sciences Building. This facility is the first project on the Millennial Initiative property and the facility will house WCU’s educational and outreach programs in the College of Health and Human Sciences. The four-story facility will become home to the School of Nursing and to programs in social work, physical therapy, athletic training, clinical laboratory sciences, environmental health, health information administration, nutrition and dietetics, emergency medical care, recreational therapy, and communication sciences and disorders.
and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
and the graduate programs are affiliated with the Asheville Graduate Center.
was established in 1975 in cooperation with the tribal government of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. The center serves Cherokee and the surrounding communities and is available to all of the people of the region.
The following organizations are a part of WCU Student Media:
Radio, television and news by WCU students includes:
. Greeks are recognized for their academic successes through Greek scholarship and awards programs and honor societies such as the Order of Omega. According to figures from U.S. News & World Report
, 9% of male students are in fraternities, while 8% of female students are in sororities.
As a member of the Southern Conference
, Western Carolina University participates in NCAA Division I athletics. Intercollegiate athletics include football, men and women's basketball, baseball, softball, women's soccer, men and women's golf, men and women's track and field (Indoor and Outdoor), cross country running, women's volleyball and tennis. Catamount football is a member of Division I FCS and plays at Whitmire Stadium. The Ramsey Center is home to men's and women's basketball, and women's volleyball. Baseball is played at Hennon Stadium, softball is played at the Catamount Softball Complex, and the Catamount Athletic Complex is home to women's soccer, tennis, and track and field.
On November 29, 1980, Western Carolina's Ronnie Carr made the first intercollegiate three point field goal in college basketball history versus Middle Tennessee State University
, a game WCU won 77-70. The ball he used is on display at the Basketball Hall of Fame
in Springfield, Mass. The shot was made from the left corner with 16:09 left in the first half (7:06 pm).
Western Carolina and Appalachian State
have a football rivalry in which they Battle for the Old Mountain Jug
on an annual basis. The Catamounts football team were runners-up in the Division I-AA National Football Championship Game in 1983.
The Pride of the Mountains is the largest college marching band in the Carolinas and Tennessee. The marching band includes around 380 members, making it one of the largest marching bands in the United States. The band is open to all Western Carolina students regardless of class or major, with approximately 60% of its members non-music majors.
The Pride of the Mountains Marching Band was the special guest at the 2008 Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, an honor given to only 1 college band in the United States each year. In 2009, the "Pride of the Mountains" marching band was selected as one of the five best collegiate marching bands in the nation by the College Band Directors National Association and featured in the book "Marching Bands and Drumlines: Secrets of Success from the Best of the Best” by Paul Buyer.
The band is the 2009 recipient of the Sudler Trophy awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation
. They have also been selected to participate in the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California and in the Rose Parade's BandFest.
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
located in Cullowhee, North Carolina
Cullowhee, North Carolina
Cullowhee is a census-designated place in Jackson County, North Carolina, United States. Cullowhee is best known for being the home of Western Carolina University . The population was 9,428 as of the 2010 census. The area known as Cullowhee has Western Carolina University, part of the UNC...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
system.
The fifth oldest institution of the sixteen four-year universities in the UNC system, the university was founded to educate the people of the western North Carolina mountains. The university has expanded its mission to serve the entire state and the nation and has grown to become a major cultural, scientific, and educational force in the state and region. WCU now serves more than 9,500 full time undergraduate and post graduate students, providing an education to students from 46 states and 39 countries.
Location
Jackson County, North Carolina
Jackson County is a county located in the southwest of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 40,271. Since 1913 its county seat has been Sylva, replacing Webster.-History:...
, in the unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Cullowhee, North Carolina
Cullowhee, North Carolina
Cullowhee is a census-designated place in Jackson County, North Carolina, United States. Cullowhee is best known for being the home of Western Carolina University . The population was 9,428 as of the 2010 census. The area known as Cullowhee has Western Carolina University, part of the UNC...
. The university operates satellite campuses in both Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
and Cherokee
Cherokee, North Carolina
Cherokee is a town in Swain County, North Carolina, USA, within the Qualla Boundary land trust. It is located in the Oconaluftee River Valley, near the intersection of U.S. Route 19 and U.S...
with programs offered online and at various community colleges. The main campus is located in a valley of the Tuckasegee River between the Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
and Great Smoky Mountains
Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains are a mountain range rising along the Tennessee–North Carolina border in the southeastern United States. They are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. The range is sometimes called the Smoky Mountains or the...
, 52 miles (83.7 km) west of Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
and 5 miles south of Sylva, NC. The university lies close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. The border between Tennessee and North...
, the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Reservation (officially known as the Qualla Boundary
Qualla Boundary
The Qualla Boundary is the territory where the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians reside in western North Carolina.-Location:...
) and some of the nation's most beautiful national forest
United States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
lands. At an elevation of 2100 feet (640.1 m), but located in a thermal valley, the campus enjoys the best of all four seasons but is shielded from most extreme temperatures by surrounding peaks. Cullowhee typically enjoys a rather mild winter season, in fact, Cullowhee can go some winters without snowfall or with just a trace.
While winters in the valley are generally mild, snow is not unusual in the higher elevations of Jackson County around Cashiers or Balsam
Balsam, North Carolina
Balsam is an unincorporated community located in the Scott Creek township of Jackson County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 49. There is one United States Post Office in the town...
. In nearby Sapphire Valley, snowmaking machines maintain prime snow skiing conditions from mid-December through February. Locations in Jackson County are also within reasonable driving distance to ski slopes at Maggie Valley. The Blue Ridge Parkway is usually closed during winter weather, and has become popular with cross country skiiers during those times.
The many rivers, streams and forests surrounding Cullowhee, combined with the mild climate of Southern Appalachia, offer many opportunities for outdoor activities. Climbing, hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking, and camping are a few of the outdoor activities nearby. Cities within a three hour drive of campus include Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Greenville, South Carolina.
History
and established a community school that came to be known as Cullowhee Academy. Founded in August 1889 as a semi-public secondary school and chartered as Cullowhee High School in 1891 (also called Cullowhee Academy), it served the Cullowhee community and boarding students from neighboring counties and other states. The founder, Robert Lee Madison, wanted to provide an education for the young people in the region and train teachers to spread education throughout the western part of the state. In 1893, through the efforts of Walter E. Moore,
representative from Jackson County, the North Carolina Legislature authorized an appropriation for the establishment of a normal department at the school "for the purpose of training teachers". This designation became the first publicly funded normal school
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
in North Carolina.
In 1905, the state assumed title to the school’s buildings and property and made it a state institution. That same year, the school’s name was changed to Cullowhee Normal & Industrial School. In 1925, the school’s name was changed to Cullowhee State Normal School. During its years as Cullowhee Normal, the stated purpose of the school was to train teachers for the North Carolina public schools. A coeducational institution, Cullowhee Normal trained over two thousand teachers by the mid-1920s.
Over the next forty years, the school expanded its curriculum and evolved into a junior college, and in 1929 it was chartered by the legislature as a four-year institution under the name Western Carolina Teachers College. Called "the Cullowhee experiment", Madison’s idea became a model for the other regional colleges in the state.
The demand for both liberal arts and other programs led to an expansion of the school's offerings. Postgraduate studies and the Master of Arts in Education degree were added to the curriculum in 1951. In 1953, the name "Western Carolina College" was adopted.
In 1967, the institution was designated a regional university by the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
and given its current title, "Western Carolina University." On July 1, 1972, WCU became a member of the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
system.
Precis of the university's history
Year - Name and Levels1889 Semi-private school
1891 Cullowhee High School
1893 First state appropriation; Normal Department established; First graduating class
1905 Cullowhee Normal and Industrial School
1912 Junior College rank established; Secondary school discontinued
1913 First college-level (one-year) degree awarded
1925 Cullowhee State Normal School
1929 Western Carolina Teachers College; Senior College rank established
1931 First Baccalaureate degree awarded
1951 Graduate degree established
1952 First Master's degree awarded
1953 Western Carolina College
1967 Western Carolina University
1972 A constituent institution of the University of North Carolina
Administration
Thomas W. Ross
Thomas Warren Ross, Sr. is the president of the University of North Carolina system. He succeeded Erskine Bowles on January 1, 2011. Formerly, he was president of Davidson College, a private North Carolina liberal arts college from August 1, 2007 to January 1, 2011.Ross, a native of Greensboro,...
.
Presidents
|
Chancellors
|
Provost
|
Academic structure
The university's academic structure is composed of five undergraduate colleges, the Kimmel School, the Honors College and Graduate School:Academic programs
With its main campus located on the site of an ancient Cherokee Indian village and adjacent to the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains, Western Carolina has a commitment to the rich traditions of both the Appalachian and CherokeeCherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
cultures. The university's Mountain Heritage Center; Cherokee Center; Craft Revival Project; Cherokee Studies Program and WCU's partnership to preserve the Cherokee language both reflect that influence — and provides educational resources for the region.
Western is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a comprehensive master’s degree granting institution (Masters/L) in the newly added elective “community engagement” category. WCU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the bachelor, masters, intermediate, and doctoral (in education) levels. The university holds 21 program accreditations and is a member of more than 30 state and national associations and organizations to which its professional programs are related. In 2009, the Corporation for National and Community Service recognized WCU by awarding the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for “exemplary commitment to service and civic engagement” on WCU’s campus and beyond.
As the sixth-largest producer of teachers in North Carolina, the College of Education and Allied Professions was the national winner of the Association of Teacher Educators' Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award in 2006. The college is also the 2007 co-winner of the Christa McAuliffe Excellence in Teacher Education Award presented by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The Christa McAuliffe Award nationally recognizes outstanding programs in teacher education at AASCU member institutions.
Western Carolina's Forensic Research Facility or "Body Farm" is just the second facility of its kind nationally. The decomposition research station is an extremely valuable resource for researchers and forensic anthropology students to study natural decomposition.
The residential Honors College was first of its kind in North Carolina. The College is a community of high-achieving students that strives to provide an intellectually inviting atmosphere that offers academic challenge and enrichment for outstanding students. Newly accepted students are invited to live in one of two exclusive residence halls on campus. The Honors College is one of a few in the state to offer a residential option and among a few nationwide to award graduates with a special honors diploma. The college began in 1998 with 77 students and has grown to approximately 1,400. For entering freshman, the Honor's College average weighted GPA is over 4.00 and the average SAT score is 1380. The College is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council. In August 2009, Balsam Hall, the first part of a $50.2 million Honors College residential community located at the center of campus opened, housing 426 students. Set to open for the Fall 2010 semester, Blue Ridge Hall will complete the community and add an additional 400 beds for Honors College students and Teaching Fellows.
In the spring of 2000, WCU was officially designated a National Merit sponsoring university, just the fourth institution of higher education in North Carolina, public or private, to receive that distinction The university grants scholarships to students who qualify as National Merit Finalists. The Western Meritorious Award for Finalists provides a four-year scholarship, which covers the equivalent amount of in-state tuition, fees, room, and board, to National Merit Finalists, who also receive a computer.
The 2010 edition of the U.S. News & World Report guide to “America’s Best Colleges” ranks Western Carolina University 10th among public universities in the South that offer master’s degrees. The 2009 edition of the Princeton Review “Best 296 Business Schools” ranks the College of Business among the nation’s best schools at which to earn a master’s degree in business administration. WCU’s program earned a top-four spot for schools offering the greatest opportunity for women and receiving high marks for small class sizes. Western Carolina's online master’s degree in project management has been ranked at the top nationally in both affordability and quality by GetEducated.com. In 2007, the Master of Entrepreneurship Program was selected as one of the five best online entrepreneurship programs by Fortune Small Business magazine.
Centers, institutes, and affiliates
Community focus, scholarly research, business development, preservation of the Cherokee & Appalachian Mountain cultures, and the advancement of technology & public policy are the guiding principals of Western Carolina's Centers, Institutes & Affiliates.Main campus
Hunter Library
Hunter Library is the university library at Western Carolina University and is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. The library, which is a medium-sized facility, was built in 1953 on the former football field and was enlarged in 1967 and again in 1983. The building is named after Hiram Tyram...
, two indoor swimming pools, tennis courts, movie theater, jogging trail and quarter-mile track, and intramural fields.
The campus center is the Hinds University Center. The UC contains the university post office, a movie theater, video and commuter lounges, student organization HQs, meeting rooms and office space. Outside of the UC is the Alumni Tower, built in 1989, on 100th birthday of the university.
The campus residence buildings include one for graduate students and one for married students. Special residence accommodations include honors residence halls and The Village, home to residential Greek organizations. Three new residence facilities were recently completed and in April 2008, the university broke ground on a $50.2 million residence hall project. The new $18 million dollar 53000 square feet (4,923.9 m²) campus dining facility was opened in stages beginning in July 2009. Other newly constructed facilities include the Center for Applied Technology (which houses new engineering laboratories); an expanded student life center; new athletic facilities; and a new student support center. A recently constructed $13.5 million 73000 square feet (6,781.9 m²) Student Recreation Center, was completed over the 2008 Summer.
Construction has begun on a new $46.2 million Health and Gerontological Sciences Building. This facility is the first project on the Millennial Initiative property and the facility will house WCU’s educational and outreach programs in the College of Health and Human Sciences. The four-story facility will become home to the School of Nursing and to programs in social work, physical therapy, athletic training, clinical laboratory sciences, environmental health, health information administration, nutrition and dietetics, emergency medical care, recreational therapy, and communication sciences and disorders.
Asheville
WCU uses the educational facilities and resources of the University of North Carolina at AshevilleUniversity of North Carolina at Asheville
The University of North Carolina at Asheville is a co-educational, four year, public liberal arts university. The university is also known as UNC Asheville. Located in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina, UNCA is the only designated liberal arts institution in the University of North...
and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is a public two-year community college established in 1959 in Asheville, North Carolina. The college is one of the oldest in the North Carolina Community College System and serves primarily Buncombe and Madison counties. As of the 2004-2005 school...
and the graduate programs are affiliated with the Asheville Graduate Center.
Cherokee
The Western Carolina University Center in Cherokee, North CarolinaCherokee, North Carolina
Cherokee is a town in Swain County, North Carolina, USA, within the Qualla Boundary land trust. It is located in the Oconaluftee River Valley, near the intersection of U.S. Route 19 and U.S...
was established in 1975 in cooperation with the tribal government of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. The center serves Cherokee and the surrounding communities and is available to all of the people of the region.
WCU Student Media
Housed in the Student Media Center (Old Student Union) on the hill area of campus are WCU's Student Media Organizations, which are open to all students and are produced by students.The following organizations are a part of WCU Student Media:
- Western Carolinian Newspaper: A bi-weekly newspaper focusing on news and events relevant to the campus and surrounding community. Includes News, Features, Sports, and Arts & Entertainment sections. Available in print in the local area and on-line at www.westerncarolinian.com.
- TV 62: The student-run campus television station, offering original programing to the campus on channel 62.
- WCAT: Cable & Internet radio station offering an eclectic mix of music chose by student DJs, as well as original talk shows and artist interviews.
- The Nomad: WCU's Literature & Art magazine, published once a year in the Spring semester.
- The Gadfly: WCU's Journal of Social Criticism and Philosophy. Satirical pieces philosophically critiquing society-at-large in a humorous manner. Published once a semester.
University Media
The university produces the following publications:- Western Carolina Magazine: A seasonal publication primarily for alumni and friends of WCU, Western Carolina Magazine contains features on university people and programs, alumni updates, and news and events.
- The Reporter: A bi-monthly newsletter for the faculty and staff of WCU, The Reporter features news, events, and campus community updates.
- MountainRise: an open, peer-reviewed, international electronic journal published twice a year by the Coulter Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning at Western Carolina University for the purpose of being an international vehicle for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL).
- All-Western Carolina: The All-Western Carolina radio program airs during half-time of Catamount Sports Network broadcasts and highlights WCU’s academic all-stars and happenings on campus.
Radio, television and news by WCU students includes:
- WWCU-FM: WWCU-FM, Power 90.5, is the broadcast service of WCU and broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as Jackson County's only FM radio station.
- Channel 62: Channel 62 is WCU’s closed-circuit television station with offices located in the A.K. Hinds University Center. Channel 62 is an organization that allows students to showcase their short films, as well as announce events on campus and highlight recent sporting events.
- Western Carolinian: A bi-monthly print and electronic publication, the Western Carolinian is written, edited and produced by WCU students. This student-run newspaper strives to keep the members of the WCU campus informed.
- The NOMAD: Student staff members work together to produce and distribute WCU’s student literary magazine The Nomad.
- The Tuckasegee Valley Historical Review: The Tuckasegee Valley Historical Review is an annually published graduate history journal. The review publishes articles by WCU graduate students in history with a primarily local focus.
- WCU on iTunes U Faculty and students are podcasting using WCU on iTunes U service from Apple Inc. This media repository was publicly listed on the iTunes U Colleges and Universities listings in August 2009.
Greek life
WCU is home to a wide range of Greek fraternities and sororities, as well as several councils and societies. The Greek community offers many social opportunities to enrich college life. Greeks get personal guidance in planning their curriculum and choosing classes and instructors, and assistance with registration and financial aid. Chapter study sessions, educational programs, tutoring, and study partners and teams offer support for developing and maintaining study skillsStudy Skills
Study skills or study strategies are approaches applied to learning. They are generally critical to success in school, are considered essential for acquiring good grades, and are useful for learning throughout one's life....
. Greeks are recognized for their academic successes through Greek scholarship and awards programs and honor societies such as the Order of Omega. According to figures from U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
, 9% of male students are in fraternities, while 8% of female students are in sororities.
Sororities
Greek Councils & Societies Interfraternity Council Order of Omega Order of Omega The Order of Omega is an undergraduate Greek society recognizing "fraternity men and women who have attained a high standard of leadership in inter-fraternity activities." It functions as an adjunct to traditional fraternal organizations, rather than a social or professional group in se... |
Fraternities
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Black Fraternities & Sororities
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Athletics
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
, Western Carolina University participates in NCAA Division I athletics. Intercollegiate athletics include football, men and women's basketball, baseball, softball, women's soccer, men and women's golf, men and women's track and field (Indoor and Outdoor), cross country running, women's volleyball and tennis. Catamount football is a member of Division I FCS and plays at Whitmire Stadium. The Ramsey Center is home to men's and women's basketball, and women's volleyball. Baseball is played at Hennon Stadium, softball is played at the Catamount Softball Complex, and the Catamount Athletic Complex is home to women's soccer, tennis, and track and field.
On November 29, 1980, Western Carolina's Ronnie Carr made the first intercollegiate three point field goal in college basketball history versus Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University, commonly abbreviated as MTSU, is a public university located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States....
, a game WCU won 77-70. The ball he used is on display at the Basketball Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
in Springfield, Mass. The shot was made from the left corner with 16:09 left in the first half (7:06 pm).
Western Carolina and Appalachian State
Appalachian State Mountaineers football
The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team is the college football team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers have competed in the Southern Conference since 1972, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National...
have a football rivalry in which they Battle for the Old Mountain Jug
Battle for the Old Mountain Jug
The Battle for the Old Mountain Jug is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team of Appalachian State University and the Western Carolina Catamounts football team of Western Carolina University.- Series history :The Mountaineers...
on an annual basis. The Catamounts football team were runners-up in the Division I-AA National Football Championship Game in 1983.
Pride of the Mountains
The Pride of the Mountains Marching Band was the special guest at the 2008 Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, an honor given to only 1 college band in the United States each year. In 2009, the "Pride of the Mountains" marching band was selected as one of the five best collegiate marching bands in the nation by the College Band Directors National Association and featured in the book "Marching Bands and Drumlines: Secrets of Success from the Best of the Best” by Paul Buyer.
The band is the 2009 recipient of the Sudler Trophy awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation
John Philip Sousa Foundation
The John Philip Sousa Foundation is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the promotion of band music internationally. The foundation administers a number of projects and awards supporting high quality band performance, conducting, and composition....
. They have also been selected to participate in the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California and in the Rose Parade's BandFest.
Notable alumni
- Andrew C. BrockAndrew C. BrockAndrew C. Brock is a fifth-term Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state’s thirty-fourth Senate district, including constituents in Davie and Rowan counties. He is also the Republican deputy whip in the Senate....
- NC Senator - Bob Colvin NCHSAA Hall of Fame Football Coach—Former WCU Athlete
- Andy Barber Athlete, actor, philanthropist
- Gerald AustinGerald AustinDr. Gerald "Gerry" Austin is a retired American football official, who worked in the National Football League from the 1982 season through the 2007 season. He wore uniform number 34, which is now worn by Clete Blakeman. Austin has officiated in three Super Bowls, one as a side judge and two as a...
- NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
referee - James A. Beaty, Jr.James A. Beaty, Jr.James A. Beaty, Jr. is a United States federal judge serving on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, and a former nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit....
- current U.S. District Judge and former nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit - John Allen Bennett
- Dean BiasucciDean BiasucciDean Biasucci was a placekicker in the National Football League for the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams. He is the second all time leading scorer for the Colts, collecting 783 points from 1984 to 1994...
- Athlete, actor; former placekicker, Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
(NFL) - Sean Bridgers - Actor, HBO Original Series “DeadwoodDeadwood (TV series)Deadwood is an American Western drama television series created, produced and largely written by David Milch. The series aired on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006, spanning three 12-episode seasons. The show is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before...
” (2004), Sweet Home AlabamaSweet Home Alabama (film)Sweet Home Alabama is a 2002 American romantic comedy film directed by Andy Tennant and stars Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, and Patrick Dempsey. The film was released on September 27, 2002.-Plot:...
(2002), Once Upon a Time… When We Were Colored (1995), and NellNell (film)Nell is a 1994 drama film starring Jodie Foster as a young woman who has to face other people for the first time after being raised by her mother in an isolated cabin. The film was directed by Michael Apted, and was based on Mark Handley's play Idioglossia. The original music score is composed by...
(1994). - Chuck Broadway - National dirt racing champion and Iraq War Veteran
- Art Byrd - Athlete; First football All-America selection at WCU, 1945
- Ronnie Carr - Basketball Player, made the first three-point field goal in College BasketballCollege basketballCollege basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
history on November 28, 1980 - Kevin CasselsThe Pharmer's AlmanacThe Pharmer's Almanac was the first printed compendium of information about the rock band Phish, put together as a fun business venture by a small group of fans who solicited help from hundreds of contributors...
and Tommy Dennison - Musicians with the rock band Mother Vinegar - Joe Firstman-musician, former musical director for Carson Daly's house band on Last Call with Carson Daly on NBC
- Ernest A. FitzgeraldErnest A. FitzgeraldErnest A. Fitzgerald was a retired American Bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1984.-Birth and family:...
(1947) - a BishopBishopA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist ChurchThe United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley... - Jerry Gains (1970–75) Associated Press and American Football Coaches Association All-America selection in 1974, also earned All-America honors in baseball and track & field while at WCU
- Mel GibsonMel Gibson (basketball)Melvin L. "Mel" Gibson is a retired American professional basketball player. The 6'3" and 180 lb former Western Carolina University guard played a single season in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1963-64 in which he appeared in nine games and recorded a total of 13 points.He played for the...
- former basketball player for the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... - Judy GreenJudy Green (volleyball coach)Judy Green is an American volleyball coach. She is the former head coach of the volleyball team at the University of Alabama , and was formerly the head coach at the University of Montevallo from 1986-1995...
- head volleyball coach for the University of AlabamaUniversity of AlabamaThe University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States.... - Rich HallRich HallRichard "Rich" Hall is an American comedian, writer and musician.-Early life and career:Hall was born in Alexandria, Virginia and grew up in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He is part Cherokee Indian...
(Comedian) - Jarvis HayesJarvis HayesJarvis James Hayes is an American professional basketball player. A 6'8", 220 lbs. small forward from the University of Georgia and Western Carolina University, Hayes was selected by the Washington Wizards with the 10th overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft. Throughout his NBA career, Hayes has...
- Current NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player for the New Jersey NetsNew Jersey NetsThe New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, later transferred to the University of GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
after a year - Larry Hendricks- President/CEO, Boyles Furniture
- Brad HooverBrad HooverBradley R. Hoover is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2000...
- Fullback for the Carolina PanthersCarolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
(NFL). - Paul JohnsonPaul Johnson (American football coach)Paul Johnson is an American football coach. He is currently the head coach at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a position he has held since the 2008 season. Previously, Johnson served as the head coach at Georgia Southern University from 1997 to 2001 and at the United States Naval Academy...
- Class of 1974 - Head Football Coach at Georgia Tech, Johnson received one of the coaching profession’s most prestigious honors the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year AwardBobby Dodd Coach of the Year AwardThe Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award is an annual college football award given to the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision head coach whose team excels on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. The award is named for Bobby Dodd, longtime head football coach at Georgia Tech and was...
in 2004. - Tony JonesTony Jones (football player)Tony Edward Jones is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League who played from 1988-2000. He started Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII with the Denver Broncos. He was inducted into the Franklin County Sports Hall of Fame as a charter member on July 17,...
- (football) Started Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII with the Denver Broncos - Andrew JordanAndrew Jordan (football player)Andrew Jordan, Jr. is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League for eight seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Western Carolina University and was drafted in the sixth round...
- In the NFL for eight seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Gerald Kiser- President/CEO, La-Z-Boy Furniture
- Keith LeClairKeith LeClairKeith LeClair was both a star athlete and later head baseball coach at Western Carolina University . During his playing days, LeClair played for current Clemson head baseball coach Jack Leggett at Western Carolina. He was an All-Southern Conference selection in 1988 while earning SoCon Tournament...
- Both an athlete and coach at Western Carolina University (Player-1985-88 & Coach-1992-97) - Henry LoganHenry Logan (basketball)Henry Lee Logan was an American basketball player. Logan was a 6'0" guard. He played high school basketball at Stephens-Lee High School in Asheville, North Carolina....
- Athlete, in 1964 became North Carolina’s first African-American collegiate athlete, and the first to play basketball for a “white” public institution in 1964 - Ralph LundyRalph LundyRalph Lundy is the head men's soccer coach at College of Charleston. He has served as the head coach for the Cougars since 1986, posting a 265-187-27 record. His overall coaching record stands at 395-258-40, placing him fifth among all active coaches. He has led the Cougars to 16 winning seasons,...
- Men's soccer coach at the College of CharlestonCollege of CharlestonThe College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...
. He ranks fifth in victories among Division I coaches. - Kevin MartinKevin Martin (basketball)Kevin Dallas Martin, Jr. , is an American professional basketball player currently with the Houston Rockets in the NBA. He is known for his knack for scoring, deceptive quickness and unorthodox style of shooting.-High school and college:...
- Starting Shooting Guard for the Houston RocketsHouston RocketsThe Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
. He was drafted No. 26 in the 2004 NBA Draft by SacramentoSacramentoSacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
and is currently 7th in the NBA in scoring and leads the NBA in Free Throws MADE PER GAME and Free Throw ATTEMPTS PER GAME as of March 30, 2009. (NBA) - Will McIntyre - Produced All Over the Map: Travel Photographs and the Stories Behind Them with his wife and fellow student at WCU, Deni McIntyre, now known as “two of the greatest living travel photographers.” All Over the Map was named Photography Book of the Year by the prestigious Independent Publishers Association in 2001. McIntyre has shot more than 100 stories for People magazine.
- Nick McNeilPercy WatsonPercy C. Thomas Watson was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Rotherham Town and Small Heath. Born in Barnsley, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire, Watson played in the Second Division for both Rotherham Town and Small Heath during the 1893–94...
- WWE professional wrestler. NIck wrestles under the ring name of '"Showtime!' Percy Watson". He appears on WWE NXTWWE NXTWWE NXT is a sports entertainment television program produced by WWE that debuted on February 23, 2010. Described as a hybrid between reality television and WWE's scripted live event shows, the premise of the show follows select talent contracted to WWE's developmental territory Florida...
. Nick previously played football in the NFL and was a former WCU football All-Conference Defensive End. - David PattenDavid PattenDavid Patten is a former American football wide receiver. He was signed by the Albany Firebirds as a street free agent in 1996. He played college football at Western Carolina....
- NFL wide receiver, three-time Super Bowl Champion New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. Currently with the Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Dave PemberDave PemberDave Pember is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Pember was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft. He played with team at the Major League level in 2002....
- MLB player - Rachel ReillyRachel Reilly (Big Brother)Rachel Eileen Reilly is an American television personality and reality show contestant. Reilly appeared in two seasons of the American edition of the television series Big Brother, winning its thirteenth season in 2011.-Early life:...
- Contestant on Big Brother 12 and Winner of Big Brother 13 - Lt. Colonel Harry ast memberJoe Rhinehart - Taught at West Point. Authored the five-starred book The Iron Triangle: A Saga of Vietnam. Highly decorated in VietnamVietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, receiving three silver stars and three bronze stars for valor and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry - Clyde SimmonsClyde SimmonsClyde Simmons, Jr. is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League who played for the Philadelphia Eagles , Arizona Cardinals , Jacksonville Jaguars , Cincinnati Bengals , and the Chicago Bears . He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1991 and 1992...
- Defensive end for the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Katie Spear- executive assistant to Martha Stewart at Martha Stewart Omnimedia
- Matt StillwellMatt StillwellMatt Stillwell is an American country music artist. In late 2008, he released his debut single, "Shine", which debuted at #59 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The single served as the title track to his third album released on September 30, 2008.-Studio albums:-Extended...
- Nashville Recording Artist - Wayne TollesonWayne TollesonJimmy Wayne Tolleson is a former Major League Baseball player. A switch hitter who threw right-handed, Tolleson was listed at 5'9" tall and 160 pounds during his playing career.-Western Carolina University:...
- Athlete; former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player. - Willie Williams - NFL Defensive Back for Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...