Northeastern State University
| File:Nsutower.png | |
| Motto | N/A |
|---|---|
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1851 |
| President | Dr. Larry Williams |
| Acting President | Kim Cherry[1] |
| Students | 6,915 |
| Address | 600 N. Grand Ave. , , , Tahlequah, OK 74464 |
| Website | http://www.nsuok.edu/ |
| Logo is a trademark of Northeastern State University | |
Northeastern State University (NSU) is located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, with branches in Broken Arrow and Muskogee. The university was founded in 1851 under the name Cherokee National Female Seminary. NSU is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of Oklahoma as well as one of the oldest institutions of higher learning west of the Mississippi River. It boasts the only College of Optometry in Oklahoma, and the largest enrollment of Native American students of any public institution of higher education.
NSU offers 69 undergraduate degrees, 18 graduate degrees, and 13 preprofessional programs in five colleges (Business & Technology, Liberal Arts, Education, Optometry, and Health & Science Professions). The student-to-faculty ratio is 26 to 1. There is also a distance learning program, where students who cannot attend the university due to work or family obligations can complete courses via the Internet or videoconferencing.
Athletics
NSU's athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division II. The men's teams are known as the Redmen, while the women's teams are known as the Lady Reds. However, NSU announced on May 23, 2006 that they would be dropping "Redmen" in favor of a new mascot to represent the school [2]. From fall 2007, the athletic teams will be known as the Riverhawks, a mascot announced on Nov. 14, 2006 [3]. Although the "Redmen" name was not deemed to be hostile or abusive towards Native Americans by the NCAA, restrictions connected to the use of American Indian nicknames could have affected future NSU athletic competitions, had NSU not taken the initiative to comply before the Redmen name became an issue.
The men's basketball team won the Division II championship in 2003. Other teams include women's basketball, football, softball, baseball and men's and women's soccer, golf and tennis.
Jazz Lab
One of the unique opportunities for students at the Tahlequah campus is the Jazz Lab. Created in 1993, the building serves as a place where talented musicians can practice performing and listeners can enjoy the music. In addition to a performance venue, the Jazz Lab is also the site of the jazz program offices and classes. The university has two student jazz ensembles, as well as several different combo groups, ranging in style from fusion, to latin, to big band era. Recently the university has been awarded a music major degree specializing in jazz.
Campus Life
Favorite hangouts and restaurants of NSU students include the Iguana Cafe, El Zarape, Sam & Ella's Chicken Palace (Pizza), The Town Branch Eatery & Pub, Flo's Cafe (located on campus in the Florence Willson Hall), and Vidalia's. The night life includes Neds, Club Effx, and Roxy's Roost on the Illinois River (Oklahoma).
Campus Organizations such as RHA (Residence Halls Association), NAB (Northeastern Activities Board), and NSGA (Northeastern Student Government Association) provide alternate activities, usually free of charge for students to enjoy on campus. RHA caters to on-campus residents and hosts such annual events as "Welcome Week Luau," Freshman Move-in Day, Mardi Gras, and "Resident Round-up".
Greek Life
Sororities
- Delta Zeta 1923, recolonized 1956
- Sigma Sigma Sigma 1929
- Alpha Sigma Alpha 1937
- Alpha Sigma Tau 1982 (closed)
- Alpha Omicron Pi 1997
- Zeta Theta Omicron 2005
- Alpha Pi Omega 2006
Fraternities
- Lambda Chi Alpha
- Pi Kappa Alpha
- Tau Kappa Epsilon
- Kappa Sigma
- Phi Lambda Chi
- Alpha Phi Alpha
- Phi Sigma Kappa
- Phi Sigma Nu
Club Sports
Notable Alumni
American Idol 4 winner and country music superstar Carrie Underwood graduated from NSU magna cum laude with a degree in mass communications with a concentration in journalism and was selected as Miss NSU runner-up in 2004. She was also a two-year member (2003 & 2004) of Downtown Country, NSU's Branson-style show directed by Kelli Doolen Farmer.
Graduate student Muriel Saunders gained national fame for becoming Homecoming queen at 78-years-old as voted on by the student body in fall 2005.
Distinguished Alumnus Award
- 1964: Guy Lookabaugh
- 1965: Maurine Smith
- 1966: D.M. Wadley
- 1967: Valgene Littlefield
- 1968: Phillip Bohart
- 1969: Jack Dobbins
- 1970: O.W. Jones, Jr.
- 1971: William Bright
- 1972: Bertha Parker
- 1973: James O. Davis
- 1974: Vaud A. Travis, Sr.
- 1975: Rennard Strickland
- 1976: Capt. Frank Manson, U.S.N.R.
- 1977: John Kenneth Selby
- 1978: J. Roy Dodds
- 1979: Errol McKoy
- 1980: Grace Hudlin
- 1981: Jack Kaufman
- 1982: Jack Kisner
- 1983: G.L. Hollabaugh
- 1984: Jack Graves
- 1985: Gene Branscum
- 1986: Bob Cunningham
- 1987: L.P. Woods, Jr.
- 1988: Capt. John D. MacDonald
- 1989: Dr. Warren Gwartney
- 1990: G.G. Morgan
- 1991: Betty (Ross) Gruenberg
- 1992: Sandy Garrett
- 1993: Oren Terrill
- 1994: Mary Golda Ross
- 1995: Larry D. Fleming
- 1996: Shawntel Smith
- 1997: Dr. Victor Robards
- 1998: Charles Faudree
- 1999: G. Ellis Gable
- 1999: Billie Letts
- 1999: Dr. Diane Willis
- 1999: Dennis Letts
- 2000: Joan Hill
- 2001: Dr. William Bright
- 2001: Betty Durham Price
- 2002: Larry Coker
- 2002: Dr. Harold Battenfield
- 2003: Senator Herb Rozell
- 2003: Jack Castleberry
- 2004: Bill & Doris Hinds
- 2004: Gregg Wadley
- 2004: Drew Edmondson
- 2005: Larry Adair
- 2005: John Carletti
External links
- Northeastern State University (Official NSU site)
- NSU Athletics (Official NSU Athletics site)
- Northeastern State University Alumni
- The Northeastern - Online Student Newspaper
- Residence Halls Association