University of Tampa
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The University of Tampa, or UT, is located across the Hillsborough River (Florida) from downtown Tampa, Florida. It is a private and non religiously affiliated organization located in the heart of Tampa. UT remains in the top tier of 2006 U.S. News and World Report America’s Best Colleges. In 2006, the school commemorated its 75th anniversary.
History
The University started in 1933 in the then defunct Henry B. Plant Hotel, now a Museum and a national historic landmark that was completed in 1891. Many of the offices' of the University and some of the Liberal Arts classrooms are to this day located in the old Hotel. The school was originally called the Tampa Junior College and was formed to provide a higher education institute to the people of Florida’s west coast.
Student Life
UT is a private university with approximately 5,000 students. Many of the Students are from northern states primarily Mass., New Jersey and New York attracted by the warm winters and nice beaches. Essentially, UT students tend to be from more affluent families particularly those from the northern areas. However many Florida resident students are from decidedly middle class families providing a nice blend of cultures and lifestyles on campus. The students enjoy the relaxed atmosphere the university offers.
Sports
Known as the Spartans, UT has athletic teams competing in most college sports in the NCAA Div. II level, and is a member of the Sunshine State Conference. The Spartans have won multiple Div. II national championships in Women's Basketball and Men's Soccer, Baseball, and Golf. UT did field a men's football team from 1933 to 1974, and was the original team playing in Tampa Stadium. UT men's Baseball just won the 2006 Div.II National Championship. In addition to the Varsity sports, UT is well known for its Crew teams which compete around the nation and regularly compete on the Ivy League circuit. UT host an annual Crew regalia every spring that attracts the top crew teams from around the nation.
Campus
The university's architecture is heavily steeped in Moorish influences; it is the leading example of Moorish architecture in the southeastern United States. The school's newspaper is called "The Minaret," a reference to the many minarets which adorn buildings. UT is famed among its students and those who visit as having some of the best residence halls in the region. All but two of the 9 residence halls on campus have been built since 1998 with one currently under construction and one completed in 2006. All dorms are co-ed, totally wired for broadband and cable. 4 computer labs and one Mac lab can be found on campus plus a fully equipped library with terminals available to students. The aquatic center offers a Olympic size pool and a deep swimming section for teaching scuba classes all are open to students at various times. For dry recreation the campus offers sand volleyball basketball courts softball fields a rope course a multi use intramural field and a fully equipped gym that just underwent a major renovation. The campus also includes the old Tampa Auditorium built in the 1920's and remolded in the mid 90's it now serves as the John Sykes School of Business. Finally the campus incorporates the old Tampa fairgrounds where legend has Babe Ruth hitting the longest home run ever over 630 feet.
Greek Life
UT has a vibrant and thriving Greek Life community currently overseen by the Director of Greek Life Casey Stevens. The history between the Greeks of Tampa and their campus is a challenged one. The first Greek groups begin appearing on campus in the early 50’s and by the 70’s had developed a thriving culture that included the tradition of having a Rock on campus with the organizations letters on it. However by the late 70’s all Greeks were removed from campus and all Greek housing was destroyed or converted to other uses. In fact the City of Tampa with UT’s support went so far as to pass a law banning more than three un-related people of the same sex living together specifically to stamp out Greek life, a ban that is still in place to this day. Despite these obstacles Greeks resurged on campus in the mid 80’s. Many UT students formed local Greek groups developing their own traditions and rituals from scratch. After these homegrown groups had established a presence on campus many then lobbied national organizations particularly the ones who had be on campus before the ban to assimilate them. In this way Greek life returned to UT and with many of the same Fraternities and Sororities of the past. Today UT boast 7 nationally recognized fraternities, one colony of a national fraternity, and three more scheduled to colonize the campus within 2 years. 10 sororities also call UT home with one more scheduled to colonize the campus. Greek students on UT’s campus consistently have a higher GPA average than non-Greek students and are on average more likely to be involved in another organization or organizations than non Greeks.
External links
- [Official website]
- University of Tampa's student newspaper [The Minaret Online]
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