Texas Tech University

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Texas Tech University
Seal of Texas Tech University
Motto Strive for Honor (Unofficial)
Established February 10, 1923
Type State university with 12 colleges and schools
Endowment $461 million[1]
Chancellor Kent Hance (sole finalist as of 19 October 2006) [1]
President Jon Whitmore
Provost William Marcy
Faculty 2,179
Students 28,001 [2]
Undergraduates 23,002
Postgraduates 3,545
Doctoral students 1,454
Location Lubbock, Texas, USA
Campus Urban, 1,839 acres (7 km²)
Athletics Red Raiders (men's and women's teams other than women's basketball)

Lady Raiders (women's basketball)
Colors Scarlet and Black
           
Mascot Raider Red / The Masked Rider
Affiliations Big 12 Conference
Website http://www.ttu.edu
Texas Tech University Logo

Texas Tech University is a nationally recognized doctoral/research university located in Lubbock, Texas (USA). Established February 10, 1923 and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the flagship institution of the Texas Tech University System.

Contents

[edit] History

Though plans for opening a college in West Texas had been in the legislature for some time, it had long been thought that any such institution should be a branch of Texas A&M. However, in 1923 the decision was made to create a new college system entirely so as to serve the unique needs of the region.

On February 10, 1923, Governor Pat Neff signed the legislation creating Texas Technological College and the site committee began searching for a location. Original plans called for the new college to be located in Abilene, but that city was already home to three private colleges. [3] In August, the first ballot resulted in the selection of Lubbock and construction began. Texas Technological College opened for classes in 1925 with an enrollment of 914 students.

In the 1960s, it was decided that the phrase "technological college" was insufficient to define the scope of the institution, which had expanded the curriculum to far more than just technical subjects. Numerous name changes were proposed, including Texas State University and Texas Tech University. The board of directors preferred the name Texas Tech University, due to a desire to preserve the "Double T" emblem. The issue was so significant that students held rallies and marches to protest the renaming. One student stated in a letter to the University Daily, "Tech to me is a coined word and does not dignify this fine institution." Despite the students' objections, in 1969, the board voted unanimously in favor of the change.

Texas Tech maintains a number of libraries, both general-purpose and specific (such as the Architecture and Law libraries), the most notable of which are the Southwest Special Collections and the Viet Nam Archive, one of the world's largest and most comprehensive collections of information on the Viet Nam War. [4]

[edit] Academics

Texas Tech University offers 150 Bachelor's, 104 Master's and 59 Doctoral degree programs. It is divided into 12 colleges and schools:[5]

  • College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
  • College of Architecture
  • College of Arts & Sciences
  • Rawls College of Business
  • College of Education
  • College of Engineering
  • Graduate School
  • Honors College
  • College of Human Sciences
  • School of Law
  • College of Mass Communications
  • College of Visual & Performing Arts

The 1,839 acre Lubbock campus is home to Texas Tech's main academic university, law school and school of medicine, thus making it one of the few institutions to have all three units (university, law school, and medical school) on the same campus.

[edit] Athletics

Main article: Texas Tech Red Raiders
The "Double T"
Enlarge
The "Double T"

Texas Tech is a member of the Big 12 Conference and competes in Division I-A for athletics in all "major" sports. Men's teams are the Red Raiders, women's teams are the Lady Raiders.

The university was a dominant member of the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association from 1932 to 1956. Texas Tech became a member of the Southwest Athletic Conference in May of 1956 and remained so until the conference was disbanded in 1995.

Of the major sports, Texas Tech has had its greatest success in women's basketball. In 1993, the women's team won a national championship led by its star player Sheryl Swoopes and head coach Marsha Sharp.

In addition to the "major" collegiate sports, the university offers other sports such as rugby, lacrosse, fencing and soccer through campus intramural sports organizations.

The Masked Rider is the oldest of Texas Tech's mascots still in existence today. Originally called "Ghost Rider," it was an unofficial mascot starting around 1936 when an unknown student (or students) would circle the field on horseback at home football games, riding into the stadium and away. The Masked Rider became the official mascot with 1954's Gator Bowl and has led the team onto the field at nearly every football game since. The Masked Rider was the nation's first horse ridden mascot used in football games. The Florida State Seminoles and the USC Trojans are the most notable schools that use such a mascot today.

Tech's other current mascot, Raider Red, is more recent. Around the time of the 1971 football season, the Southwest Conference created a rule that forbade the bringing of live animal mascots to away games unless the host school permitted it. Since the Masked Rider's horse would fall under this rule an alternate mascot was created. Jim Gaspard, a member of the Saddle Tramps student spirit organization, created the original design for the Raider Red costume, basing it on a character created by Lubbock cartoonist and former mayor Dirk West. Though the Masked Rider's identity is public knowledge, it has always been tradition that Raider Red's student alter ego is kept secret until the end of his tenure. The student serving as Raider Red is a member of Saddle Tramps.

Legendary coach Bobby Knight has served as men's basketball coach since 2001. In early 2006, Marsha Sharp announced her resignation. Purdue's Kristy Curry was later named new head coach of the Lady Raiders.

[edit] Traditions

[edit] Carol Of Lights

The Texas Tech campus after the Carol of Lights.
The Texas Tech campus after the Carol of Lights.

To celebrate the holiday season Texas Tech holds an annual event called the Carol of Lights. The event starts off with the Texas Tech University Combined Choirs performing selections of classic holiday songs at the Science Quadrangle. When the lighting ceremony commences, Students as well as those who came for the show stand in awe as over 25,000 red, white, and orange lights illuminate the 13 buildings surrounding memorial circle.

This tradition started in 1959 when Harold Hinn came up with the idea and provided the funds to cover the science quadrangle and the administration building with lights. Unfortunately students were away on Christmas break and did not see the display. The next year the Residence Hall Association created the Christmas Sing, which is now known as the Carol of Lights. Today, the Carol of Lights is one of Texas Tech's favorite traditions.

[edit] Masked Rider

The Masked Rider is the oldest and most popular mascot of Texas Tech University. The Masked Rider started as a dare in 1936 and, at the time, was called "the ghost rider," since no one knew the rider's identity. These ghost riders circled the field at home football games and then rode off.

The Masked Rider did not become an official mascot until 1954, when Joe Kirk Fulton led the team out onto the field at the Gator Bowl. Fulton, mounted on a black horse, wore Levi's jeans, a red shirt, and a black cape. The sensational entrance awed the crowd.

Today the Masked Rider, with his or her guns up, leads the team out onto the field for all of the home games. The Masked Rider, adorned in a distinctive gaucho hat like the ones worn by members of the marching band, is one of the most visible figures at Tech.

Amy Bell, an Animal & Food Sciences major from Kermit, Texas, is the 2006-07 Masked Rider.

[edit] Victory Bells

In 1936 victory bells were given to Texas Tech as a class gift. The bells rang for the first time at the 1936 class's graduation. It is said that after the win over TCU, the following year, the bells rang through out the night. The bells kept Lubbock residents up all night. Thereafter, the bell ringing was limited to 30 minutes. After Texas Tech victories and special occasions the bells are rang by the Saddle Tramps. The Victory Bells - one large and one small, which combine to weigh 1,200 pounds - hang in the east tower of the Administration Building.

[edit] Will Rogers and Soapsuds

One of the best-known landmarks on campus is the statue of Will Rogers and his horse Soapsuds. This memorial was dedicated on 16 February 1950 by longtime friend of Rogers, Amon G. Carter. Carter believed Texas Tech was the perfect setting for the statue and that it would fit into the traditions and scenery of West Texas.

The statue stands at 9 feet 11 inches (3 m) tall and weighs 3,200 pounds (1,450 kg); its estimated cost was US$25,000. On the base of the statue, the inscription reads "Lovable Old Will Rogers on his favorite horse, 'Soapsuds,' riding into the Western sunset."

Today Texas Tech tradition and legend surrounds the statue. According to one legend, the initial plan to face Will Rogers due west (so that he could be riding off into the sunset) was rejected as it would cause Soapsuds' posterior to be facing due east (toward downtown Lubbock; this was perceived as an insult to the Lubbock business community which has been highly supportive of the university). It would also have placed the horse's rear facing the main entrance to the university. To solve this problem, the statue was turned 23 degrees to the northwest, so Soapsuds' rear would face southeast (in the general direction of College Station, Texas, home of Texas A&M University, one of the school's biggest rivals). Before every home football game the Saddle Tramps wrap the statue with red crepe paper. Will Rogers and Soapsuds have also been wrapped in black crepe paper to mourn national tragedies.

[edit] Alma Mater

"The Matador Song" dates from 1931. The lyrics were written by Tech student R.C. Marshall and the music was composed by Tech Band Director Harry LeMaire. The words and melody have remained unchanged through time.

When performed by the Texas Tech Marching Band outdoors the song is preceded by a dazzling preparatory fanfare, a musical signal for students and alumni to stand and sing the Alma Mater.

Fight Matadors, for Tech.
 Songs of love we'll sing to thee.
 Bear our banners far and wide,
 Ever to be our pride.
 Fearless champions ever be,
 Stand on heights of victory.
 Strive for honor, evermore,
 Long live the Matadors!

[edit] Facilities

[edit] Research Centers

[edit] Student publications and media

The university also maintains the KTXT-FM 88.1 student radio station focusing on alternative, indie rock, industrial and hip hop, as well as the National Public Radio station KOHM 89.1 which focuses on classical music. In addition, the university owns and operates Public Broadcasting Service station KTXT-TV (television). The Daily Toreador [6] is Texas Tech's student-run newspaper. It was named The University Daily until 2005. The Perversity Weekly is a satire newspaper that is published by students independent of the university. La Ventana is the title of Texas Tech's yearbook.

[edit] Notable faculty and alumni

Main article: List of Texas Tech University people

[edit] Notable organizations

  • Phi Beta Kappa Society Chapter - In 2006 Texas Tech University joined the ranks of America’s top schools after the Triennial Council of the Phi Beta Kappa Society voted that the university could shelter a new chapter. Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honors society with chapters at 276 U.S. universities.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "2005 NACUBO Endowment Study". National Association of College and University Business Officers.

[edit] Notes

  • ↑  Source: "Total Enrollment - Fall 2005". [7]

[edit] External links


Texas Tech University System
Texas Tech University
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