Misplaced Pages

#422577

32-580: The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils and Devilettes (also MVSU and Mississippi Valley ) represent Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi in intercollegiate athletics. They field thirteen teams including men and women's basketball, cross country, golf, and track and field; women's-only soccer, softball, and volleyball; and men's-only baseball and football. The Delta Devils and Devilettes compete in NCAA Division I and are members of

64-672: A black institution nearby, so the final site chosen was away from the downtown area, and on land that was not good for cultivation. In 1964, Mississippi Vocational College was renamed Mississippi Valley State College . In February 1969, a nonviolent student boycott, which included eight hundred students, male and female, was organized to protest President James Herbert White's administration. The students demanded required courses in black history, more library purchases of works by black writers, remedial courses in English and Math, scheduling of prominent black speakers, and fewer curfew restrictions. In

96-674: A full state university. In 1934, during the Great Depression, The Baptist Society withdrew financial support. The school became a state-supported public institution in 1940, known as the Mississippi Negro Training School . The name has since been changed to express development: Jackson College for Negro Teachers (1944). After desegregation, Jackson State College (1967); with the addition of graduate programs and expanded curriculum, Jackson State University (1974). Many students at Jackson State College became active in

128-423: A site the former Greenwood Army Air Base, which had many facilities ready for use and thus would have been a very cost-effective choice. The Greenwood Commonwealth celebrated the choice. However, residents of Carroll County, Mississippi objected to having the institution located near their properties. After further study, the committee selected a site in Itta Bena . Whites of that town also objected to having

160-457: Is WVSD 91.7 FM. The station offers a variety of programming involving MVSU, current events, and music. 33°30′45″N 90°20′33″W  /  33.51256°N 90.342422°W  / 33.51256; -90.342422 Jackson State University Jackson State University ( Jackson State or JSU ) is a public historically black research university in Jackson, Mississippi . It is one of

192-730: Is also the home of the Sonic Boom of the South , a marching band founded in the 1940s. Their accompanying danceline, the Prancing J-Settes , are well known for their unique style of dance, known as J-Setting . Jackson State University developed from Natchez Seminary , founded October 23, 1877, in Natchez, Mississippi . The seminary was affiliated with the American Baptist Home Mission Society of New York , who established it "for

224-725: Is known as the "Mean Green Marching Machine" (also goes by the moniker of "The Mack Of The SWAC") and the "Satin Dolls" are the featured dance squad. The band holds the distinction of being the first African-American band to participate in the Tournament of Roses parade , which it achieved in 1965. MVSU's colors are forest green and white . Their nickname is the Delta Devils for men's teams and Devilettes for women's teams. MVSU sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (I-AA for football ) in

256-462: Is located at 1400 John R. Lynch Street between Prentiss and Dalton Streets. Ayer Hall was constructed in 1903 and is the oldest structure on the main campus. It was named in honor of the first president of the institution, Charles Ayer. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Gibbs-Green Pedestrian Walkway was named in honor of the two young men who died in

288-752: Is on a 450-acre (180 ha) tract of land adjacent to U.S. Highway 82 . It is in Mississippi Valley State census-designated place , in unincorporated Leflore County , in the Mississippi Delta region. It is 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest of Itta Bena . The university is about 5 miles (8.0 km) from Greenwood , about 50 miles (80 km) from Greenville , about 100-mile (160 km) north of Jackson , and about 120-mile (190 km) south of Memphis , Tennessee . MVSU includes faculty and staff apartments and other residential apartments. Dependent children living in these units are within

320-750: Is the Air Force ROTC Component for the Jackson metropolitan area. Hosted at Jackson State, it also serves students from Belhaven University, Millsaps College, Mississippi College and Tougaloo College. Jackson State is a member of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference . Currently, JSU fields teams in basketball, track and field, cross country, baseball, softball, golf, tennis, soccer, bowling, volleyball, and football. The university's mascot

352-464: Is the Tiger, and the teams are sometimes referred to as the "Blue Bengals". The JSU Tigers football team alumni includes Pro Football Hall of Famers Lem Barney , Jackie Slater , Walter Payton , Robert Brazile , and Jimmy Smith . JSU participates in a number of notable football games with rival colleges. These include: The marching band began in the 1940s at what was then Jackson State College, under

SECTION 10

#1732901176423

384-744: Is the first and only HBCU in Mississippi to support a bachelor's and master's level engineering program. The W.E.B. Du Bois – Maria Luisa Alvarez Harvey Honors College is a selective interdisciplinary college at the university for the most high-achieving undergraduate students. Tiger Battalion, the university's Army ROTC program is the host US Army ROTC program for Belhaven University , Delta State University , Hinds Community College , Millsaps College, Mississippi College , Mississippi College School of Law , Mississippi Valley State University , Tougaloo College , and University of Mississippi Medical Center's School of Nursing . Air Force Detachment 006

416-645: The Greenwood-Leflore School District . These apartments were formerly served by the Leflore County School District . Effective July 1, 2019 this district consolidated into the Greenwood-Leflore School District. Mississippi Valley State University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through the following entities: MVSU offers an honors program for high-achieving undergraduate students on campus. MVSU

448-634: The Jackson State shooting in 1970. As a result of the landmark "Ayers Settlement" in 2002, the university, along with the other two public HBCUs in the state, has completed extensive renovations and upgrades to campus. Jackson State has satellite campuses throughout the Jackson Metropolitan area: The board of trustees is the constitutional governing body of the Mississippi State Institutions of Higher Learning. This body appoints

480-606: The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Famous alumni include NFL wide receiver Jerry Rice of the 1984 football team . In 2016, MVSU completed $ 17.5 million worth of renovations to the Harrison HPER Complex . The 87,042 square foot multi-purpose arena is home to MVSU men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball, commencement ceremonies, and other special events. The facility includes features such as fitness centers, an indoor walking track, and three technology HPER classrooms. MVSU's on-campus public radio station

512-579: The Southwestern Athletic Conference . This article about a sports team in Mississippi is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a university or college in Mississippi is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Mississippi Valley State University The institution, which opened in 1950, was created by the Mississippi Legislature as Mississippi Vocational College . The legislation to form

544-423: The civil rights movement. Work to gain integrated practice and social justice continued after civil rights legislation was passed in the mid-1960s. During an on-campus protest on May 14, 1970, two students were killed by police gunfire . An additional 12 students were injured by gunfire during the clash. A dormitory still bears the bullet marks fired on that day. The university drew national attention in 2023 when

576-531: The directorship of Frederick D. Hall, who had directed a band at the college as early as the 1920s, in addition to the chorus and orchestra. It was initially made up of students from Jackson College and Lanier High School . Founded as the Jackson State University Marching Band, the name "Sonic Boom of the South" was adopted by the school in 1971, after having been suggested by band members. The first full-time band director, William W. Davis,

608-651: The early 1970s, civil rights leaders continued to protest the inequalities in higher education opportunities offered to whites and blacks in Mississippi. In an effort to defuse some of the criticism, Gov. Bill Waller proposed changing the names of three black institutions from "colleges" to "universities". Thus, in 1974, the institution was renamed again, as Mississippi Valley State University . Following President White, Dr. Ernest A. Boykins, Jr. took office in July 1971. Dr. Joe L. Boyer became MVSU's third president in January 1982 and

640-444: The faculty senate voted " no confidence " in university president Thomas Hudson. They alleged that he "repeatedly failed to respect shared governance, transparency, and accountability". Shortly thereafter, the university's board of trustees placed Hudson on administrative leave and appointed Elayne Hayes-Anthony the acting president. The main campus contains over 50 academic and administrative buildings on 245 acres (0.99 km ). It

672-427: The highest number of international students on campus. 91% of students identified as Black, 6% identified as white, and 4% identified with various race categories. 31% of students were male, and 69% of students were female. Jackson State University offers over 60 registered student organizations. There are academic, residential, religious, Greek, and special interest groups. All student organizations are governed under

SECTION 20

#1732901176423

704-452: The hopes that it would attract African-American applicants who might otherwise apply to Mississippi's premier whites-only institutions: the University of Mississippi , Mississippi State University , and the University of Southern Mississippi . State leaders hoped that founding separate institutions of higher learning for Mississippi's black population would reduce the pressure to integrate

736-616: The institution was signed into law by Governor Thomas L. Bailey on April 5, 1946. On February 10, 1950, Governor Fielding L. Wright served as the main speaker at the opening ceremony. The legislature anticipated that legal segregation of public education was in danger because there were increasing challenges to it through legal suits (in 1954 it was declared unconstitutional in the United States Supreme Court 's decision in Brown v. Board of Education ). It created this institution in

768-617: The largest HBCUs in the United States and the fourth largest university in Mississippi in terms of student enrollment. The university is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". Jackson State University's athletic teams, the Tigers , participate in NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Jackson State

800-416: The moral, religious, and intellectual improvement of Christian leaders of the colored people of Mississippi and the neighboring states". In 1883, the school changed its name to Jackson College and moved from Natchez to a site in Jackson, the capital. Today that site serves as the campus of Millsaps College . Jackson College moved to its current location early in the 20th century, where it developed into

832-675: The president of the university. There are 575 faculty and 1,431 staff; 54% of the faculty are tenured, teaching approximately 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students. JSU colleges and schools include: In 2015, JSU became the first university in Mississippi approved by the legislature to establish a School of Public Health which is housed under the College of Health Sciences. JSU is the only university in Mississippi to earn two consecutive "Apple Distinguished School" distinctions from Apple Inc. Since 2012, Jackson State University has provided all first-time, full-time freshmen brand new iPads . JSU

864-493: The state's premier universities. To attract the support of those who opposed any government action to provide higher education to black people, those proposing creation of M.V.C. used the term "vocational" to imply that the institution's main purpose would be to train black people to take on blue-collar jobs. The site selection committee appointed by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning had originally selected as

896-827: Was accredited in 1968 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelor's and master's degrees. Activities include theater, special interest groups, orchestra, fraternities, sororities, and band. Students may work on the Delvian (yearbook) or the Delta Devil Gazette (student-run newspaper). Leadership opportunities are found in the Student Government Association (SGA) or other organizations such as English Club, Future Teachers of America, and Trades and Industries Club. Mississippi Valley State University's marching band

928-464: Was appointed in 1948, replacing Charles Saulsburg, who had been director since 1947. Davis had previously played trumpet in Cab Calloway 's band, and Calloway's musical style and showmanship influenced Davis's conceptualization of the marching band. The band at this time had around 20 members, increasing to 88 in 1963. Davis retired as director in 1971, but remained the chief arranger for the band. He

960-548: Was followed by Dr. William W. Sutton in July 1988. Dr. Lester C. Newman became the fifth president of MVSU on July 1, 1998. Dr. Donna H. Oliver became MVSU's sixth president and first female president on January 1, 2009. On November 6, 2013, Dr. William Bynum took office as MVSU's seventh president. In May 2017, Bynum departed MVSU to become president of Jackson State University . Dr. Jerryl Briggs, who served as executive vice president and chief operating officer in Bynum's administration,

992-614: Was named interim president of the university shortly afterwards. On October 19, 2017, Briggs was officially named as the university's eighth president. In a 1997 article in Innovative Higher Education , the journalist Dale Thorn describes MVSU's successful attempt to avoid a merger with another institution and to remain a separate entity. In 1998, the university renamed many of the buildings on campus, except for those named for white supremacist politicians Walter Sillers, Jr. , Fielding Wright , and J. H. White. The campus

Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils and Devilettes - Misplaced Pages Continue

1024-603: Was replaced by Harold J. Haughton. Haughton was instrumental in the creation of the Prancing J-Settes , the band's accompanying danceline. In fall 2022, Jackson State's total enrollment was 6,906, of which 4,927 were undergraduate students and 1,979 were graduate. As of fall 2020, 67% of Jackson State's student community were Mississippi residents, with the majority from Hinds County and Madison County . The top three feeder states were Illinois (409 students), Louisiana (269), and Georgia (220). Nigeria accounted for

#422577