Butler University is a private university in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university has over 60 major academic fields of study in six colleges: Lacy School of Business, College of Communication, College of Education, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Jordan College of the Arts. It comprises a 295-acre (119 ha) campus located approximately five miles (8.0 km) from downtown Indianapolis.
Video Butler University
History
On January 15, 1850, the Indiana State legislature adopted Ovid Butler's proposed charter for a new Christian university in Indianapolis. After five years in development, Butler University opened on November 1, 1855, as North Western Christian University at 13th Street and College Avenue on Indianapolis' near north side at the eastern edge of the present Old Northside Historic District. Attorney and university founder Ovid Butler provided the property.
The University's department of religion became a separate Christian Church seminary and "college of applied Christianity" in 1924; it was variously called the School of Religion and the College of Religion.
In 1930, Butler merged with the Teacher's College of Indianapolis, founded by Eliza Blaker, creating the university's second college. The third college, the College of Business Administration, was established in 1937, and the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences was established in 1945, following a merger that absorbed the Indianapolis College of Pharmacy. The Jordan College of Fine Arts, the university's fifth college, was established in 1951, following a merger with the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music. Butler's School of Religion, established in 1924, became independent in 1958 and is currently known as the Christian Theological Seminary.
Butler University was founded by members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), though it was never controlled by the church. The university charter called for "a non-sectarian institution free from the taint of slavery, offering instruction in every branch of liberal and professional education." The university was the first in Indiana and the third in the U.S. to admit both men and women. Butler was the first university in the United States to endow a chair designated specifically for a woman, the Demia Butler Chair (endowed in 1869). Catharine Merrill, the first person to hold the chair, became the second woman to be named a professor in an American university.
The university established the first professorship in English literature and the first Department of English in the state of Indiana.
Maps Butler University
Campuses
Irvington campus
The original location of the school was 13th Street and College Avenue on the near-northside of Indianapolis. In 1875, the university, renamed for Ovid Butler "in recognition of Ovid Butler's inspirational vision, determined leadership, and financial support," moved to a 25-acre (10 ha) campus in Irvington, which at the time was an independent suburb of Indianapolis. The campus consisted of several buildings, including an observatory, most of which were demolished in 1939. The Bona Thompson Library at the intersection of Downey and University avenues, designed by architects Henry H. Dupont and Jesse T. Johnson, is the only remaining building, although several buildings that housed faculty still remain, including the Benton House.
Fairview campus
Enrollment at Butler increased following the end of World War I, prompting the administration to examine the need for a larger campus. The new and current campus, designed in-part by noted architect George Sheridan, was formed on the site of Fairview Park, a former amusement park on the city's northwest side. Classes began on the campus in 1928.
Buildings
The first building on the Fairview campus was Arthur Jordan Memorial Hall, designed by Robert Frost Daggett and Thomas Hibben. The structure's Collegiate Gothic style of architecture, also used in the original William Tinsley-designed 13th Street and College Avenue building, set the tone for subsequent buildings erected on the campus over the next three decades. Also, in 1928, the Butler Fieldhouse (later renamed Hinkle Fieldhouse) was completed after being designed by architect Fermor Spencer Cannon. The building remained the largest indoor sports facility in the state until the mid-1960s. The Religion Building and Sweeney Chapel were completed in 1942. These structures, designed by Burns and James, were remodeled into Robertson Hall in 1966. The building now serves as the university's alumni and admissions offices.
Following World War II, construction began on the student center, Atherton Union (designed by McGuire and Shook). This building was remodeled in 1993 and includes an on-campus Starbucks. McGuire and Shook also designed Ross Hall, a dormitory originally designed for men but is now coed, and Schwitzer Hall, a women's dormitory. Art Lindbergh, with help from Daggett, designed the Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium, which was dedicated in 1955. This building houses Indiana's largest telescope.
Acclaimed architect Minoru Yamasaki, who designed the World Trade Center, designed Irwin Library, which opened in 1963 and serves as the university's main library. Also, in the early 1960s, Lilly Hall and Clowes Memorial Hall were constructed following the move of the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music to the campus. Clowes Hall, which opened in 1963, was co-designed by Indianapolis architect Evans Woollen III (founder of Woollen, Molzan and Partners) and John M. Johansen (of New Canaan, Connecticut). Ten years following the construction of Clowes Hall and Irwin Library, the science complex of Gallahue Hall and the Holcomb Research Institute (now known as Holcomb Building) were built, completing the "U" shaped complex of academic buildings. The Holcomb Building now houses the College of Business, Ruth Lilly Science Library, and Information Technology.
The Residential College ("ResCo"), designed by James and Associates, was the university's last major construction project of the twentieth century. Completed in 1990 the building serves as a cafeteria and a dormitory. In 2001, the Fairbanks Center for Communication and Technology was opened to house the school's communication programs of communication studies, journalism, and media arts as well as computer science. The Fairbanks Center houses two multi-purpose studios for video, television, and music production, as well as three professional music and audio recording studios. Early 2004 saw the addition of the Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall onto Robertson Hall. The 140-seat concert venue serves as a showplace for student, faculty, and guest recitals.
Butler built the 85,000-square-foot (7,900 m2) Health and Recreation Complex (HRC) in 2005. Opening in 2006, the HRC offers a jogging track around a two-court gymnasium, an aquatic complex, free-weight room, cardio and selectorized weight machine area, fitness assessment and massage therapy room, a sauna, two multipurpose rooms, and locker rooms. Outside of the dedicated fitness space, the building houses a health center, counseling and consultation services, conference room, juice bar, and student lounge.
The Apartment Village also opened in 2006 as housing for juniors and seniors. Each apartment contains four private bedrooms with a single bed, dresser, and desk with a chair; two bathrooms; a full kitchen, including dishwasher, disposal, microwave and a four-stool dining counter; air-conditioning; cable television; and Ethernet and wireless access in each room. The Village has a centrally located community center, The Dawghouse, which includes a convenience store, career and computer resource lab, game room, laundry facilities and staffed resource desk.
On May 8, 2008, Butler broke ground on a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2), four story addition to the Pharmacy and Health Sciences Building. This building, designed by Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf, is home to faculty offices, classrooms, and laboratories to support Butler's Pharmacy and Physician Assistant (PA) programs.
In 2013, the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts opened. It features a 450-seat performance hall and sustainable "green" parking improvements.
Other important sites on campus include Holcomb Gardens, 20-acre (8.1 ha) gardens containing a statue of Persephone, a pond, and a local canal; Clowes Memorial Hall; Hinkle Fieldhouse; Irwin Library, designed by Minoru Yamasaki; and Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium, home to the largest telescope in Indiana.
Facilities has overall responsibility for planning, maintaining and building Butler's campus.
Academics
Over 60 major academic fields of study, 8 pre-professional programs, and 19 graduate programs are offered in six academic colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Butler ranks 2nd for Midwest Regional Universities in U.S. News & World Report's 2013 Best Colleges. The university emphasizes practicality of knowledge and offers individual attention to its students with its small class size and no teaching assistants. Butler University increased its focus on faculty and student research with the Butler Institute for Research and Scholarship (BIRS), bolstered by a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment. The University also provides student research opportunities, such as the Butler Summer Institute, a 10-week program in which Butler students are granted funding to perform independent research with a faculty member.
The university is organized into the following schools and colleges:
- Andre B. Lacy School of Business
- College of Communication
- College of Education
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Jordan College of the Arts
Athletics
Butler's athletic teams, known as the Bulldogs, compete in Division I of the NCAA. On July 1, 2012, the Bulldogs left the Horizon League, their conference home since 1979, for the Atlantic 10 Conference. Since the A-10 does not sponsor football, the Butler football team plays in the FCS's Pioneer League. The women's golf team at Butler joined the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, as the A-10 sponsors the sport only for men.
On March 20, 2013, it was officially announced that Butler would leave the Atlantic 10 Conference and became a founding member of the reconfigured Big East Conference July 1, 2013.
In the past decade, Butler teams have captured 26 conference championships (in four different leagues). The Bulldogs have made appearances in NCAA National Championship Tournaments in men's and women's basketball, men's soccer, volleyball, men's cross country, lacrosse, and baseball. Butler won the James J. McCafferty trophy, awarded annually by the Horizon League for all-sports excellence based on conference championship points, seven times, including three-straight from 1996-97 to 1998-99 and back-to-back years in 2001-02 and 2002-03, 2006-07, and 2009-10.
Men's basketball
The Butler program was one of the most successful "mid-major" basketball programs from 2000 to 2011, having won at least 20 games and reached postseason play eight of the last ten seasons, including six NCAA Tournament appearances. Butler also holds two national championships in men's basketball from the pre-tournament era: one from 1924 (earned via the AAU national tournament), and one from 1929 (selected by the Veteran Athletes of Philadelphia).
In 2010 and 2011, Butler qualified for consecutive national championship games. In 2010, Butler advanced to the national championship game, losing to Duke. With a total enrollment of only 4,500 students, Butler is the smallest school to play for a national championship since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. In 2011, the Bulldogs advanced to the championship game but finished as runners-up again, this time losing to Connecticut.
Butler has the best winning percentage and most wins of all Division I men's basketball programs in the state of Indiana over the last decade (21.6 wins per year through 2006). Until the 2015 Round of 32 loss in overtime to the Irish, Butler had won the previous six meetings with in-state rival Notre Dame and two of the last four against Indiana. Butler defeated both Notre Dame and Indiana during the 2006-07 regular season, while also defeating in-state rival Purdue to move to 2-0 against the Boilermakers this decade. Butler has also been the defending champion of the Hoosier Classic men's basketball tournament since the 2001-02 season, and has advanced to postseason play nine of the last eleven years (7 NCAAs, 2 NITs). Butler has been to nine NCAA Tournaments and three NIT's since 1997.
Football
Over the course of 81 seasons from 1932 to 2013, Bulldog football teams have won 34 conference championships. This includes seven straight Indiana Collegiate Conference titles from 1934 to 1940, league titles in 1946, 1947, 1952, and 1953, and seven straight from 1958 to 1964, all under Tony Hinkle. Following the move from the College Division to NCAA Division II, Butler won 4 straight conference championships from 1972 to 1975, and in 1977, all under the guidance of Bill Sylvester, Sr. Butler went on to win league titles in 1983, 1985, and three straight from 1987 to 1989, under coach Bill Lynch. The Bulldogs also went to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1983 and 1988. Butler and fellow HCC member schools joined with the Great Lakes Valley Conference to form the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (now the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference). Butler football dominance continued in this new conference with MIFC Conference Championships in both 1991 and 1992. These championships included a trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1991 pairing Butler against eventual Division II champion Pittsburg State.
Following the 1992 season, Butler and member school Valparaiso moved up to NCAA Division I-AA (now Division I FCS) to join with Dayton, Drake, Evansville, and San Diego to form the Pioneer Football League. Butler won another conference championship in 1994. In this era, "the Dawgs" were led by Arnold Mickens who broke numerous NCAA Division I rushing records, including eight straight 200-yard (180 m) performances during the campaign. In 2009, Butler won its 32nd league title by winning the Pioneer Football League championship under Coach Jeff Voris. The Bulldogs set a school record with 11 wins and went on to the Gridiron Classic, winning over Central Connecticut State 28-23. The Bulldogs latest championships came in 2012 and 2013 when the Bulldogs won seven league victories each season to secure the share of the PFL Championships. This is the Bulldogs' fourth PFL Championship and the third in the last five years. Butler also earned a berth to the 2013 Division I FCS playoffs, the PFL's first automatic bid for the Division I football championships.
Hoosier Helmet Trophy
The Hoosier Helmet Trophy was established as the trophy helmet for the rivalry football game played between Butler and Valparaiso University. The Hoosier Helmet was created prior to the 2006 season to commemorate the football rivalry that has existed since 1921. The helmet trophy was created to further intensify the rivalry between these two teams. A group of Butler players, along with their head coach, Jeff Voris, came up with the idea. After Valparaiso head coach Stacey Adams agreed to play for the helmet, Butler equipment manager John Harding put the trophy together.
The white helmet is mounted on a hardwood plaque and features each team's logo on respective sides of the helmet. A gold plate is added each year to commemorate the winner and score of the contest. Currently, Butler holds a 7-1 series lead when playing for the Hoosier Helmet. Both Butler and Valparaiso compete in the NCAA FCS (formerly division 1-AA), non-scholarship Pioneer Football League.
Men's soccer
Butler's men's soccer qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2009, 2010, 2016, and 2017, reaching the round of 16 in 1995, 1998, and 2017. Butler won the Big East tournament title in 2016 and the Horizon League (formerly the MCC) tournament titles in 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, and 2010. They also won or shared the regular season title seven times, including 1994, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The 1998 squad enjoyed national rankings as high as No. 8 in the country, and the 2010 squad finished the regular season as the only undefeated team nationally and were ranked as high as No. 6 in the country.
Cross country
Some of Butler's most notable athletic accomplishments have come in cross country. Butler has won 13 straight Horizon League Championships in men's cross country and 8 of the last 9 women's championships. The men's team has placed as high as 4th in the nation in recent years, earning a team trophy at the NCAA Division I championships in 2004. Both teams have frequently qualified for nationals in recent years, placing individuals as high as 3rd (Mark Tucker, 2003). All-Americans from the Butler cross country team include Julius Mwangi, Justin Young, Fraser Thompson (A Rhodes Scholar), Mark Tucker, Olly Laws, and Andrew Baker, Katie Clark and Mara Olson. Former coach Joe Franklin was named NCAA Division I Coach of the Year for leading the Bulldogs to their 2004 4th-place finish. In 2013, the women's cross country team added another trophy finish by placing 3rd in the country at the NCAA cross country championships. With the recent move into the Big East Conference, Butler has aligned itself with some of the most notable programs in the country.
Student life
Students at Butler University participate in more than 150 student organizations and dozens of club and intramural sports, and many multi-cultural programs and services. More than 94 percent of students are involved in campus activities.
Greek organizations
Greek life is a popular option at Butler with over 35 percent of undergraduates becoming members of social fraternities or sororities. Fraternities and sororities have long been a part of student life at Butler, with the first fraternity established in 1859, and the first sorority established in 1874. Today, representatives from each of the four active fraternities make up the Interfraternity Council (IFC), which coordinates men's recruitment and works with the Panhellenic Council to plan all-campus events. The Panhellenic Council has representatives from each of Butler's seven active sororities and women's fraternities.
Interfraternity Council chapters
- Delta Tau Delta--Beta Zeta Chapter (est. 1878)
- Phi Delta Theta--Indiana Gamma Chapter (est. 1859)
- Sigma Chi--Rho Chapter (est. 1865)
- Sigma Nu--Epsilon Mu Chapter (est. 1926)
- Beta Theta Pi - Alpha Psi Colony (est. 2017)
Panhellenic Council chapters
- Alpha Chi Omega--Alpha Chi Chapter (est. 1925)
- Alpha Phi--Epsilon Beta Chapter (est. 1967)
- Delta Delta Delta--Delta Lambda Chapter (est. 1914, closed 1995, re-est. 2005)
- Delta Gamma--Alpha Tau Chapter (est. 1925)
- Kappa Kappa Gamma--Mu Chapter (est. 1878)
- Kappa Alpha Theta--Gamma Chapter (est. 1874, closed 1886, re-est. 1906)
- Pi Beta Phi--Indiana Gamma Chapter (est. 1897)
Closed chapters
- Zeta Tau Alpha--Alpha Delta Chapter (1920-1956)
- Alpha Delta Theta--Epsilon Chapter (1923-1933)
- Delta Zeta--Alpha Nu Chapter (1924-1935)
- Alpha Delta Pi--Alpha Phi Chapter (1925-1933)
- Alpha Omicron Pi--Beta Theta Chapter (1927-1940)
- Alpha Sigma Alpha (1928-1933)
- Sigma Sigma Sigma--Alpha Eta Chapter (1928-1933)
- Pi Kappa Sigma--Alpha Iota Chapter (1929-1937)
- Kappa Delta--Alpha Omega Chapter (1931-1935)
- Tau Kappa Epsilon--Gamma Psi Chapter (1951-2012)
- Phi Kappa Psi--Indiana Zeta Chapter (1971-2014)
- Lambda Chi Alpha--Alpha Alpha Chapter (1915-2017)
National Panhellenic Council chapters
On February 14, 1920, the Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha was established in Indianapolis. On Sunday, November 12, 1922, the Alpha Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho was founded at Butler. In Indianapolis, most NPHC undergraduate chapters are citywide chapters, meaning that the chapter is composed of students from more than one university. However, the Alpha Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. is composed only of Butler students.
- Alpha Kappa Alpha--Kappa Chapter* (est. 1920)
- Sigma Gamma Rho--Alpha Chapter (est. 1922)**
** Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded November 12, 1922, at Butler University by seven school teachers. The sorority has its beginnings on the Irvington campus of Butler University. A commemorative stained glass window is located just outside the tower room at the south end of Atherton Union, as well as decorative bricks on the right side of Atherton.
Service, honorary and professional fraternities
- Alpha Kappa Psi, National Professional Business Society, Lambda Upsilon Chapter
- Alpha Phi Omega, National Coed Service Fraternity
- Alpha Psi Omega, Theatre Honorary Society, Omicron Epsilon Chapter
- Kappa Delta Pi, National Honorary Society in Education
- Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Society, Alpha Beta Chapter (est. 1929)
- Kappa Psi, National Professional Society in Pharmacy
- Lambda Kappa Sigma, International Fraternity of Women in Pharmacy
- Lambda Pi Eta, National Communication Honorary Society, Upsilon Delta Chapter (est. 2007)
- Mu Phi Epsilon, Professional Music Education Society
- Order of Omega, National Greek Leadership Society, Nu Upsilon Chapter (est. 1993)
- Pi Sigma Alpha, National Political Science Honorary Society, Sigma Gamma Chapter
- Sigma Alpha Iota, International Women's Music Fraternity
- Sigma Delta Pi, National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, Delta Upsilon Chapter
- Sigma Pi Sigma, Physics Honorary Society
- Sigma Rho Delta, National Dance Society, Alpha Chapter (est. 1967)
- Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Society, Epsilon Chapter (est. 1946)
- Upsilon Pi Epsilon, Computer and Information Honorary Society (est. 2001)
- Phi Beta Kappa Society, Academic Honor Society (est. 2009)
- Phi Delta Chi, National Professional Pharmacy Society, Alpha Phi Chapter (est. 1955)
- Phi Eta Sigma, National Honorary Society for Freshmen
- Phi Lambda Sigma, National Pharmacy Honorary Society, Pi Chapter
- Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, National Music Fraternity, Alpha Sigma Chapter
- Rho Chi, Professional Honorary Society for Students and Professors of Pharmacy, Alpha Phi Chapter (est. 1953)
- Psi Chi, International Honor Society in Psychology (est. 1997)
Spiritual organizations
The Center for Faith and Vocation (known on campus as "The Blue House") is the hub for campus faith communities. The CFV helps students connect their spiritual journeys with career goals. The CFV places students in internship experiences to help determine their vocation. The Faculty/Staff Workshop--held twice a year--trains staff and faculty on how to help students live lives of purpose and meaning.
Faith communities on campus:
- Butler Catholic Community
- Butler Meditation Group
- Coalition for Christian Outreach (non-denominational)
- Converge (non-denominational Christian)
- Cru (evangelical Christian)
- Grace Unlimited
- Hillel
- Muslim Student Association
- Orthodox Christian Association
- Reclaimed (United Methodist)
- Secular Student Alliance
- Voices of Deliverance
- Young Life
Competitive organizations
- Forensics (Speech and Debate)
People
Notable alumni
- Clotilde Betances Jaeger (feminist writer and journalist)
- Kevin Calabro (A play-by-play announcer in basketball and Seattle sports radio host)
- Ed Carpenter (IndyCar Series Driver)
- Barry S. Collier (current Butler University Athletic Director and former Head Basketball Coach at Butler and Nebraska)
- Arthur C. Cope (American chemist and originator of the Cope reaction and Cope rearrangement)
- George Daugherty (Conductor of major American and International symphony orchestras; Emmy Winner and 5 time Emmy nominee.)
- Scott Drew (Baylor University men's basketball coach)
- Sarah Fisher (IndyCar Series Driver)
- Talitha Gerlach (1896-1995), American YMCA worker who spent most of her life as a social worker in Shanghai, China.
- Gordon Hayward (Basketball player for the National Basketball Association - Boston Celtics; IGN Proleague - Professional Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty)
- Bill Hazen (A play-by-play announcer in basketball and syndicated radio host)
- Matt Howard (LNB Pro A, France - Strasbourg IG)
- Robert M. Jacobson (Chair of Pediatrics Mayo Clinic)
- Dan Johnson (MLB - Tampa Bay Rays Infielder/ DH)
- Jim Jones (cult founder)
- David Starr Jordan (PhD, President of Indiana University and first president of Stanford University)
- Peter Kassig, aid worker, taken hostage and ultimately beheaded by The Islamic State.
- Todd Lickliter (Former University of Iowa Men's Basketball Head Coach and former Butler Basketball Head Coach)
- Peter Lupus (American bodybuilder and actor)
- Shelvin Mack (basketball player for National Basketball Association - Orlando Magic)
- Thad Matta (former Ohio State Men's Basketball Head Coach and former Butler Basketball Head Coach)
- Shannon Murphy (Detroit Morning Radio Host)
- Pat Neshek (MLB - Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher)
- Harry S. New (U.S. Senator from Indiana and Postmaster General)
- Ronald Nored (Head coach of the NBA D-League Long Island Nets)
- Scott Overall (Olympic athlete)
- Johann Sebastian Paetsch (musician and cellist)
- Rebecca Paul (Tennessee Lottery President and CEO)
- Karen Pence, Second Lady of the United States
- Bobby Plump (Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee, and hero of the 1954 Milan High School team whose story provided the basis for the 1986 film Hoosiers.)
- George Ryan (former Illinois Governor)
- Chris Salvi (football player)
- Avriel Shull (architect)
- Jay Stewart (television and radio announcer)
- Ryan Ward (professional Lacrosse player for Edmonton Rush, PE & Health teacher)
- Maurine Dallas Watkins (Journalist, playwright; author of play Chicago)
- Marguerite Young (author of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and criticism)
Notable faculty and staff
- Igor Buketoff, conductor and teacher
- Gordon Clark, philosopher and Calvinist theologian
- Joe Franklin, 2004 NCAA Division I Cross Country Coach of the Year
- Paul D. "Tony" Hinkle, developed the orange basketball
- Henry Leck, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Indianapolis Children's Choir.
- Matt Pivec, saxophonist
- Michael Schelle, composer and teacher
- Jon Sorenson, mathematician and head of the computer science department
- Marvin Scott, professor, former President of St. Paul's College, Virginia, and 2004 Republican Candidate for the U.S. Senate.
- Brad Stevens, former head basketball coach from 2007-2013 and current head coach of the Boston Celtics
- Michael J. Colburn, 27th Director of the United States Marine Band and a colonel in the Marine Corps.
See also
References
External links
- Official website
- Butler Athletics website
- "Butler College". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.
Source of the article : Wikipedia