A VINTAGE ORIGINAL 8X10 INCH PHOTO FROM 1969 DEPICTING BLACK UNITED STUDENTS BARRICADING THEMSELVES AT BUCHTEL HALL AT AKRON UNIVERSITY
The University of Akron is a public research university in Akron, Ohio. It is part of the University System of Ohio.[5] As a STEM-focused institution, it focuses on industries such as polymers, advanced materials, and engineering.[6]
The University of Akron offers about 200 undergraduate[7] and more than 100 graduate majors[8] and has an enrollment of approximately 20,000 students. The university's College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering is housed in a 12-story reflective glass building near downtown Akron on the western edge of the main campus. UA's Archives of the History of American Psychology[9] is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
The university has three branch campuses: Wayne College in Orrville, Ohio; the Medina County University Center, in Lafayette Township, Ohio; and UA Lakewood, in the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, Ohio. In addition, the university hosts nursing programs in affiliation with Lorain County Community College.[10]
Contents
1 History
1.1 Buchtel College
1.2 20th century
1.3 Recent expansion
2 Partnership
2.1 Polymers
3 Academics
3.1 Undergraduate
3.1.1 Williams Honors College
3.2 Graduate
3.3 Law
3.4 Academic divisions
3.5 National rankings
4 Research
5 Athletics
6 Greek life
7 Notable alumni
7.1 Politics
7.2 Athletics
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
History
John R. Buchtel, in front of Buchtel Hall
Buchtel College
In 1867, at the annual convention of the Universalist Church of the state of Ohio, the Committee on Education expressed an interest in founding a college compatible with Universalist religious principles. It was announced that the location would be given to those who could find an appropriate location and also supply $60,000 for the college. John R. Buchtel, a prominent Akron businessman and Universalist, promptly contributed $25,000 to the endowment fund and $6,000 to the building fund. This led other Akronites to donate, setting the goal and securing Akron as the location for Buchtel College, named after its greatest supporter. John R. Buchtel continued to be the college's most significant contributor, giving $500,000 over his lifetime, approximately equivalent to $16 million today. When the university opened in 1872 it was a single-building campus, housed in what is now known as "Old Buchtel." George Washington Crouse donated $10,000 of the $20,000 needed to build a new gymnasium, completed in 1888. It was named Crouse Gymnasium in his honor, and was known as "the finest gym west of the Alleghenies."[11]
Tragedy struck the small college on December 20, 1899, when Old Buchtel burned to the ground. Insurance only covered $65,000 of the estimated $100,000 in loss. While new campus buildings were being constructed, the Crouse Gymnasium was divided into seven classrooms and served as the college until a new Buchtel Hall was opened in 1901. The new Buchtel Hall, which itself was gutted by fire in 1971, survives to this day but had some blackening on the exterior up until a 2011 restoration.
20th century
In 1907, the college shed its Universalist affiliation and became a non-denominational institution, in order to be able to receive funds from the Carnegie Foundation, which would not give funds to religiously affiliated schools. In 1913, Buchtel College trustees transferred the institution and its assets to the city of Akron, and Buchtel College became the Municipal University of Akron. At this time, the enrollment was 198 students. Tax money levied for the school and Akron's growing population led to strong growth for the university. Over the next several decades the university continued to add new buildings to accommodate its growing student population, acquiring more land through purchases and donations. In 1963, Governor Jim Rhodes approved the university as a state-assisted institution. Enrollment in 1964 was 10,000 students. In 1967, it fully became a state university, providing its current name as The University of Akron. In 2015, 25,117 students were enrolled at the University of Akron.
Recent expansion
University of Akron's Student union at night
During the tenure of its 15th president, Luis M. Proenza, the University of Akron underwent a $627 million construction project, called "A New Landscape for Learning."[12] A new football stadium, InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field, was also constructed on campus. The new stadium opened for its first game on September 12, 2009.[13] The stadium replaced the Rubber Bowl, which is 3 miles (4.8 km) from campus and was built in 1940.
The university purchased the Quaker Square Crowne Plaza Hotel and shopping complex and uses it as a residence hall space. The university did a land-swap with the city of Akron so that the city may find a new downtown hotel. This means the University of Akron campus is made up of 82 buildings on 222 acres (0.90 km2) near downtown Akron with a total property value of $1.84 billion.[14][15]
In 2013 the university was visited by Steve Wozniak.[16]
In 2015, the university removed over 200 positions as the result of a $6 million budget deficit. Subsequently, in May 2016, Moody's Investors Service, downrated the university's bonds from stable to negative, because of low enrollment and high debts and pension burdens.[17] Moody's in 2018 upgraded the university's outlook to stable, citing improved enrollment, rising donations and steps to reduce expenses.[18]
Partnership
Polymers
The tire and rubber industry and the University of Akron have an overlapping history. Historically, several rubber corporations, such as Goodyear, Firestone, General Tire and Rubber Company, and Goodrich, had their headquarters in Akron. In 1909, the world's first courses in rubber chemistry were offered at the university. The university is also credited with featuring the first College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering in the world, which was founded in 1988.
Academics
Bierce Library, the main campus library.
The University of Akron offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees, ranging from certificate to doctoral programs. The largest college of the university is the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences. Bierce Library is the main campus library. It is named for Lucius Bierce, a Civil War era General, whose personal library constituted the first collection of the University Libraries.[19]
Undergraduate
The university offers about 200 undergraduate majors. In conjunction with the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), the university offers an Early Assurance Pathway to the NEOMED MD program.[20] The University of Akron is also the first and only university in the nation to offer a baccalaureate program in corrosion engineering.[21]
Williams Honors College
The University of Akron Honors College students earn degrees from any of the four-year accredited colleges in the university while receiving special advisement and having the opportunity to live in the Honors Complex, a resident hall exclusively for honors students. The University announced on February 3, 2016 that the college was renamed in honor of Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams.[22]
Graduate
The University of Akron currently offers more than 105 graduate degrees to approximately 4,000 graduate students.[23] The graduate schools at the University of Akron variously offer the Master's degree, PhD, J.D., and LL.M., among others. The Cleveland Clinic and University of Akron have formed the Integrated Bioscience Fellowship in Biomedicine. Fellowships will allow students to conduct cutting edge research at the University of Akron and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute while pursuing a PhD in Integrated Bioscience. Recipients of Fellowships will be able to work with faculty at both institutions.[24]
Law
The University of Akron School of Law was founded in 1921 as Akron Law School and became affiliated with the University in 1959, becoming fully accredited by the American Bar Association in 1961.[25] It has both day and evening full-time and part-time programs that lead to the J.D. and LL.M. The University of Akron School of Law is also one of only 22 institutions in America to offer the LL.M. in intellectual property, and one of two such programs in Ohio.[26]
Academic divisions
E. J. Thomas Hall on The University of Akron campus
Statue of Simon Perkins in front of the College of Business Administration
The University of Akron comprises the following colleges, schools, and campuses:
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
College of Business Administration
LeBron James Family Foundation College of Education
College of Engineering
College of Health Professions, including the School of Nursing
School of Law
College of Polymer Science & Polymer Engineering
Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Honors College
The Graduate School
University College
Wayne College
College of Applied Science and Technology (formerly Summit College, formerly the Community and Technical College)
National rankings
In 2013, the College of Business Administration's undergraduate business program was ranked by BusinessWeek magazine as being the 93rd best program in the United States, placing it in the top 6th percentile of all 1,600 such business programs in the country.[27]
Research
The Goodyear Polymer Center on the University of Akron campus
Research at The University of Akron involves all colleges and numerous multi-disciplinary centers and labs. UA is perhaps best known for the application of polymer and advanced materials expertise in the fields of manufacturing, medical devices and technology, air filtration, advanced energy, emerging green technologies, and microelectronic and optical devices. Prominent research centers include:
The National Center for Education and Research on Corrosion and Materials Performance (NCERCAMP). Originally funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, NCERCAMP is the only center of its kind providing multi-disciplinary approaches to help government and industry develop solutions for corrosion and materials performance challenges.[28] UA is also home to the nation's first corrosion engineering degree program in the country.[21]
The Conquer Chiari Research Center is focuses on Chiari malformation and improving the outcomes of patients.[29]
CenTiRe, the Center for Tire Research, is a National Science Foundation/University Cooperative Research Center and consortium of tire and tire-related industry members.[30]
State of Ohio Center of Excellence: Polymers and Advanced Functional Materials.
The Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics is a bipartisan research institute dedicated to increasing understanding of the political process with emphasis on political parties, grassroots activity, and ethical behavior.[31]
Athletics
The Akron Zips 2009 home opener against Morgan State.
Main article: Akron Zips
The University of Akron's athletic teams are known as the "Zips," originally short for "Zippers," overshoes with zippers made in the 1920s and 1930s. The university's mascot is "Zippy," a kangaroo.[32] Zippy is one of eight female college mascots in the United States. Zippy won the title of Capital One National Mascot of the Year in 2007.[33]
Akron facilities include InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field, the James A. Rhodes Arena, and the FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field.
In football, Akron's major rivalry is with Kent State University. In 2005, the Akron Zips football team won their first MAC championship, allowing them to compete for the Motor City Bowl, Akron's first Division I-A bowl game appearance where they lost to the University of Memphis.
In soccer, the Akron Zips men's soccer team, ranked number one throughout the 2009 regular season, went undefeated, making it to the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship. The following season they secured the 2010 "College Cup" against the University of Louisville. This was the first NCAA national team championship won by the University of Akron.[34]
In 2009, the men's basketball team won the MAC Tournament title, defeating Buffalo in Cleveland at the Quicken Loans Arena 65–53, thus qualifying Akron for its first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 1986 and first as a MAC member.[35] In 2010, the team reached the MAC Tournament Championship game for the fourth straight year, but lost in overtime.[36] The Zips played in the postseason CBI tournament where they lost to Wisconsin–Green Bay 70–66.[37]
Greek life
The University of Akron is home to more than twenty fraternities and sororities.
The Kappa Kappa Gamma Women's Sorority is the oldest continuous sorority chapter on the campus, and was locally founded in 1877.[38]
The Lone Star Fraternity (Pi Kappa Epsilon) is the oldest local fraternity in the United States, and the only chapter in existence. Lone Star Fraternity was founded by W.V.N. Yates on February 22, 1882. The 135th anniversary was celebrated in 2017.
Alpha Delta Pi was founded on the University of Akron's campus as "Sigma Delta Theta" in 1920 and at the time it was the oldest local sorority on campus. Sigma Delta Theta later became the Beta Tau chapter of Alpha Delta Pi in 1938.[39]
In regards to the fraternities on campus, the Ohio Epsilon chapter of Phi Delta Theta currently serves as the oldest continuous Greek Letter Organization on campus, having been founded in 1875.[40]
Notable alumni
Main article: List of University of Akron people
Politics
Former Akron mayor and Ohio Congressman Thomas C. Sawyer attended undergraduate and graduate school there.
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit federal judge Deborah L. Cook received her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from the university.
Former Ohio congresswoman Betty Sutton received her Juris Doctor from the university as well.
Former Republican National Committee chairman Ray C. Bliss graduated from Akron in 1935. The university's Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics is named for him.
Current Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan earned BA in education from the university.
Athletics
Former Akron Zips football players Chase Blackburn, Charlie Frye, Domenik Hixon, Dwight Smith, and Jason Taylor have each gone on to find success in the National Football League. Blackburn and Hixon were members of the 2008 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, while Smith won a Super Bowl Ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003. Taylor was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 and was named the NFL's Man of the Year in 2007.
Former Akron Zips baseball players Mike Birkbeck and Mark Malaska have gone on to find success in Major League Baseball. Birkbeck played for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1986 to 1989 and the New York Mets in 1992 and 1995. Malaska played for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2003 and was a member of the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. Former Zips baseball player Keith Dambrot went on to become a distinguished college basketball coach.
Former Akron Zips Soccer Players in the MLS (23) include Colorado Rapids (1): Dillon Serna (2012); Columbus Crew (2): Chad Barson (2009–12), Wil Trapp (2011-12); D.C. United (2): Perry Kitchen (2010), Chris Korb (2008–10); Houston Dynamo (1): Kofi Sarkodie (2008–10); Montreal Impact (2): Evan Bush (2005–08), Sinisa Ubiparipovic (2004-06); New England Revolution (1): Scott Caldwell (2009–12); New York Red Bulls (1): Eric Stevenson (2009–13); Philadelphia Union (2): Robbie Derschang (2012–13), Aodhan Quinn (2011-13); Portland Timbers (6): Bryan Gallego (2011–13), David Meves (2009–12), Darlington Nagbe (2008–10), Michael Nanchoff (2007–10), Steve Zakuani (2007–08), Ben Zemanski (2006-09); Seattle Sounders (2): Blair Gavin (2007–09), DeAndre Yedlin (2011-12); Sporting Kansas City (2): Reinaldo Brenes (2010–13), Teal Bunbury (2008-09); Vancouver Whitecaps (1): Darren Mattocks (2010–11).[41]
Former Akron Zips Track and Field Athlete, Shawn Barber, went professional in 2015, signing with Nike,[42] after winning the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Men's Pole Vault.
Former Akron Zips Cheerleader Alexis Kaufman, more known as Alexa Bliss signed with WWE in 2013 entering their developmental promotion of NXT and joining the WWE SmackDown roster. In July 2016 she was drafted to WWE Smackdown where she soon became the first ever 2 time WWE SmackDown Women's Championship holder, and the first woman to win such title. She was drafted to WWE Raw in April 2017 where she soon became the WWE Raw Women's Championship under the current format. Alexa is the first woman to hold both the WWE Raw Women's Championship and the WWE Smackdown Women's Championship. She also hold the record as the youngest holder of the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship. Bliss is currently one half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions alongside Nikki Cross winning the titles in August 2019. Currently she has held a combined total of six championships with the WWE. She is also both the second and youngest woman to be named a WWE Triple Crown (professional wrestling).
Former Akron councilman, University of Akron student leader, mayoral candidate and city of Akron human relations director Reginald “Reggie” K. Brooks died in Tampa on July 3. He was 70. He died of complications from Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disease of the nervous system.
Known for being outspoken and active in civil rights, Mr. Brooks sported a large afro and heavy beard and had a dominant presence at 6-foot-3. Family and friends said he was an avid reader, was committed to the community and didn’t hesitate to speak his mind.
Mr. Brooks admitted as much in a November 1983 Beacon Journal article. “I’ve never learned how to bite my tongue,” he said. “I like to challenge. I work better under pressure. Routine bores the hell out of me.”
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Aug. 9 at the Rhoden Memorial Funeral Home, 1101 Palmetto Ave.
“He definitely had a transformation, going from a politician to an educator to someone who was enjoying life in his retirement years -- woodworking, cherishing his grandkids, and loving the outdoors,” said his son, Reggie Jr. “Dad had started woodworking as a hobby about five years ago, making benches and chairs -- and last year soap box derby cars for his grandchildren. He raced in the derby when he was a kid. He was always flying out to see all of his [eight] grandkids.”
Mr. Brooks, an Akron native, was community-oriented and an independent thinker. He got the endorsement of Police Chief Robert Prease to set up a scholarship fund for Akron police officers to take a credit course in human relations, using part of his University of Akron teaching salary. As the city’s human relations director, he was involved with many negotiations squashing racial disturbances. He also was an executive board member of the American Federation of Teachers and union representative for United Rubber Workers Local 2 at Goodyear.
As an activist he headed a voter registration drive in 1974, and in 1969 helped coordinate the Black United Students organization at the University of Akron to take over Buchtel Hall over demands for a black studies program and black culture center.
Mr. Brooks was the first black to run for mayor. He was a Democrat, but ran as an independent. Family members said he received many death threats when he ran, and the FBI suggested he leave town. He refused.
“What people failed to realize is that you can be pro-black without being anti-white -- so people had their own concept of Reggie, thinking he must be a dangerous militant because he stood up for what he believed,” said Malik Abdul Zahir, a member of Black United Students with Mr. Brooks in the late 1960s whose mosque provided security for him during his mayoral bid. “I think he paid for that and was ostracized in different ways.”
His best friend, James Mitchell of Copley, said his friend always spoke his mind.
“If he didn’t like something or had an adverse opinion, he didn’t mind giving it,” he said. “But he was a kind person. He had an outgoing personality and would do anything he could for you. He could also tell a good joke. I called him the joke master. He was funny when he needed to be and serious when he should be.”
Leaving Akron
People said it was out of character when Mr. Brooks left his hometown of Akron in 1984. He did it quietly. At the time, he was Akron’s human relations director and oversaw the Human Relations Commission, a 15-member citizens advisory group created in the 1960s to ease racial tensions in the city. He helped revive the commission, which, like his job, had not been in existence since 1978. In 1981, then-mayor Roy Ray selected him for the position after defeating him and Ray Kapper. Mr. Brooks finished third on the civil service examination out of 35 applicants, and was the highest-scoring black and only black eligible for the appointment under civil service rules. At the time, Ray only had one black in his Cabinet.
“Mr. Brooks brings to this job the ability to relate to minority groups and help address some of the problems of minority and the community,” Ray said when he made his appointment.
His son, Reggie Jr., said his father was distraught when he resigned from his Akron post.
“He really had a big problem with the nonchalant attitudes of blacks, and felt the sense of community was lacking. He grew up at a time that the community had a great sense of pride and a lot of black leadership, but saw Akron deteriorate from where it had been,” he said. “Ironically, he and his wife were talking about moving back to Akron sometime next year.”
‘Loved the community’
City planning Director Marco Sommerville, who headed the NAACP when Mr. Brooks left the state, said his exit was another blow to the city with his loss of leadership.
“He was a very passionate person, he loved the community, particularly the African-American community,” said Sommerville. “He had a strong background in education, and looked at education as a way for anyone disadvantaged to gain an advantage. He was a hard worker, I worked at Goodyear with him. He also worked hard as a two-term councilman [Ward 4] and teacher.”
A graduate of the University of Akron, Mr. Brooks also earned a master’s degree in urban studies and postgraduate work in economics at UA. He was the first graduate student to be awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship in 1971.
When he left Akron, he moved first to Dallas and then to Pennsylvania as director of minority student services in the College of Education at Penn State University. He also held teaching positions in Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
Mr. Brooks is survived by his wife, Beverly Mitchell Brooks; sons Reggie Jr. of Tampa and Rodney of Chicago; and daughter Kelli Franks of Atlanta.