Hampden–Sydney College

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Hampden-Sydney College
Seal of Hampden-Sydney College
MottoΓνώσεσθε τὴν αλήθειαν
Gnôsesthe tên Alêtheian
(Greek: "Ye Shall Know the Truth")
TypePrivate men's college
Established1775
EndowmentUS $134.4 Million [1]
PresidentWalter M. Bortz III
ProvostEarl Fleck
Academic staff
128
Undergraduates1,123
Location
Hampden-Sydney
,
VA
,
USA
CampusRural, 1,200 acres (4.86 km2)
ColorsGarnet and Gray    
NicknameTigers
Websitewww.hsc.edu

Hampden-Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia. Founded in 1775, Hampden-Sydney is the 10th oldest college in the United States and one of only three four-year, all-men's liberal arts colleges in the United States.

Overview

Hampden-Sydney enrolls over 1,100 students from thirty states and several foreign countries. The College enrolls young men of character and ability who will benefit from a rigorous and traditional liberal arts curriculum.

Along with Wabash College and Morehouse College, Hampden-Sydney is one of only three remaining traditional all-male colleges. The school's mission is to "form good men and good citizens in an atmosphere of sound learning." As such, Hampden-Sydney has one of the strictest Honor Codes of any college or university. Upon entering as a student, each man pledges that he will not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate those who do while he is a student at Hampden-Sydney. The pledge takes place during a solemn ceremony after a lecture by the School's president and Dean of Students. This simply-worded code of behavior applies to the students on or off campus. Though it is strict, the justice system is student-run, allowing for a true trial of peers, adjudicated by a court of students that is both thorough and compassionate to both the college and their fellow students.

Every student must prepare for and take the Rhetoric Proficiency Exam, a three-hour essay that is graded upon coherence of argument, quality of argument, style in which the argument is presented, and grammatical correctness. To prepare, the college requires each student to pass two Rhetoric classes that are usually taken the first two semesters a student is at Hampden-Sydney. After graduating, many alumni have stated that the the Rhetoric Program was the most valuable aspect in the Hampden-Sydney education.

History

Classes at Hampden-Sydney began in temporary wooden structures on November 10, 1775, on the eve of the American War of Independence; this makes Hampden-Sydney College the nation's 10th oldest college. The College has been in continuous operation since that date, and despite the difficult and financially-strapped first years resulting from the Revolutionary War, the College survived with sufficient viability to be granted a charter by the Virginia General Assembly in 1783 – the oldest private charter in the South.

Hampden-Sydney College derives its name from John Hampden (1594-1643) and Algernon Sidney (1622-1683). Hampden lost his life in the battle of Chalgrove Field during the English Civil War. Sydney, who wrote Discourses Concerning Government, was beheaded by order of Charles II following a failed attempt to overthrow the king. The college was founded by alumni and people affiliated with Princeton University. These proponents of religious and civil liberties were much admired by the founders of the College, all of whom were active supporters of the cause of American independence. Both Patrick Henry and James Madison were elected trustees in the founding period before classes began.

The college's founder and first president, Rev. Samuel Stanhope Smith, was subsequently the president of the College of New Jersey, which is currently Princeton University. Smith hired many faculty members from the College of New Jersey.

Hampden-Sydney became a thriving college while located in southside Virginia, which led to an expansion of the college. In 1812, the Union Theological Seminary was founded at Hampden-Sydney College. The Seminary was later moved to Richmond, VA and is currently the Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education. In 1838, the medical department of Hampden-Sydney College founded the Medical College of Virginia which is now the MCV Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. During this time, the college constructed new buildings using Federal style architecture. This is the style of architecture still used on the campus.

At the onset of the American Civil War, Hampden-Sydney students formed a company in the Virginia Militia. The Hampden-Sydney students did not see much action but rather were “captured, and...paroled by General George B. McClellan on the condition that they return to their studies.”[http://www2.hsc.edu/hschistory/ 1.

The Campus

The College has expanded from its original small cluster of buildings on 100 acres (0.4 km²) to a campus of over 1000 acres (4 km²). Prior to February 2006, the college owned 660 acres (2.7 km²). In February 2006, the college purchased 400 acres (1.6 km²) which include a lake and the historic location of the college’s founding. The campus is host to numerous Federal style buildings. Part of the campus has been designated as a National Historic Preservation Zone.

The campus has recently undergone major construction and renovation. In 2004 a new Fitness Center was completed in Kirby field house. During the summer of 2005, a new parking lot was constructed behind the alphabet dorms. The original parking lot for the alphabet dorms (directly across College Rd.) was torn out and filled in with dirt and grass. In 2006 the new Hellmuth-Pritzlaff Lacrosse Field was completed. The new Wilson-Motley Library has opened for the Fall 2007 semester.

Lewis C. Everett of Kilmarnock, Virginia, has given Hampden-Sydney College $2.5 million to construct the Lewis C. Everett Stadium. Construction on the 1850-seat facility began in November 2006 and was completed in August 2007. The Everett Stadium replaces the 40-year-old Hundley Stadium adjacent to Fulton Field. The new stadium opened on September 1st, 2007 for the opening football game against Johns Hopkins University.

Every building on campus has been altered and expanded.

Student life

Demographics

According to the Hampden-Sydney College website, the student body for 2004-05 is 94.1 percent White, 2.7 percent Black, 1.0 percent Hispanic, and 1.7 percent Asian. The majority (63%) of the student body is from Virginia. The rest come from 35 other states and 10 different countries.

Student Government: Executive Officers

James L. Gresham II ' 08
Student Body President

M. Watson Mulkey ' 08
Student Court Chairman

Glen J. Carter ' 08
Secretary Treasurer

Clubs and organizations

According to the Hampden-Sydney College website, there are over 40 clubs on campus. Each club is run by the students themselves and the clubs come in a large variety. For example, there are political clubs, sports clubs, religious clubs, an FM radio station, a pep band, and multiple social fraternities. There are also volunteer groups such as the local volunteer fire department.

Greek Life

For freshmen rush begins in the first semester and pledging takes place in the spring. If a freshman chooses not to rush and/or pledge, sophomores and juniors may pledge in the fall or spring. Roughly 33% of the student body is involved in Greek Life.

  • **Note: For chemistry majors; however Hampden-Sydney's chapter is unique in that biology and physics majors may also pledge.

Housing

Freshmen are required to live in one of three dorms that are set aside for freshmen. These dorms are Cushing Hall, the Carpenter Dormitories, and the Whitehouse Quadrangle. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors have the option of living in any of the other dorms that they choose. Although an overwhelming majority of students live on campus or in campus owned housing, the school does permit a small portion of students (usually upperclassmen) to live off-campus. Upperclassman are able to live on campus only if they don't have anywhere where else to live.

Presidents of Hampden-Sydney College

Notable Alumni

Arts & Entertainment

  • J. Austin Crisp: author of "Musings on Life: Stories of a Misunderstood Dancer", Class of 2000.
  • William H. Armstrong: teacher, author of the Newbery Medal winning "Sounder", Class of 1936.
  • Herbert C. Bradshaw: author of History of Hampden-Sydney College among other books, noted historian, Class of 1930.
  • David B. Brickhill: video game developer, Senior Technical and Development Director at Electronic Arts for games such as Tiger Woods Golf and Bond: From Russia with Love, Class of 1993.
  • George I.P. (Geordie) Buxton: Author Haunted Harbor: Charleston's Maritime Ghosts and the Unexplained , Class of 1996.
  • Stephen Colbert: comedian, host of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central. (Studied philosophy for two years before transferring to Northwestern University, and graduating in 1986.)
  • Lane W. Foard: Founder of Squibnocket Cards and Clio award winner, Class of 1992.
  • William Hoffman: author, Tidewater Blood, winner of the O. Henry Prize and the Dashiell Hammett Award, Class of 1949.
  • H. Charles Hurt III: D.C. bureau chief for the New York Post and former Capitol Hill Bureau Chief for the Washington Times, Class of 1995.
  • Archer Jones: author, The Art of War in the Western World, Class of 1949.
  • Drew D Kennedy: Country music singer, Class of 2002.
  • Michael D. Knight: author, Goodnight, Nobody, Divining Rod, and Dogfight & Other Stories, Class of 1992.
  • Jonathan A. Mackler: advertising, associate creative director and art director at BBDO and winner of Emmy for FedEx commercial, "Sticks," first aired during Super Bowl XL, Class of 1993.
  • Stephen H. Martin: author, A Witch in the Family, Class of 1967.
  • Thomas Mason: U.S. attorney and actor, Mississippi Burning and Gods and Generals along with parts in numerous TV shows, Class of 1940.
  • Griff Morris: Vice President of the National Association of Recording Arts & Sciences, Class of 1987.
  • John Phillips: musician, member of The Mamas and the Papas, attended but did not graduate, Class of ~1956.
  • Robert Porterfield: Founder of the Barter Theatre, attended but did not graduate but did get honorary degree of Doctor of Letters for his work in the theatre in 1948.
  • Fred V Reed Jr.: Author, "Nekkid in Austin", former staff reporter for The Washington Times and Soldier of Fortune, Class of 1968.
  • William Smithers: actor, numerous roles in TV shows and several movies including Dallas, Papillon, Scorpio, Star Trek, etc, attended 1946-1948 before transferring to Catholic University to study acting, Class of 1950.
  • Skipp Sudduth: actor, Third Watch, Ronin and numerous TV shows, Class of 1979.

Business

Education

Law/Politics

Other

  • James Coles Bruce: owner of Berry Hill Plantation & 3rd wealthiest man in US, Class of 1824.
  • Walter E. Bundy IV: Executive Chef of 5-star restaurant Lemaire, Class of 1990.
  • Matt Eversmann: soldier, experience in Mogadishu was basis for character in Black Hawk Down; Class of 1988.
  • Devin Galligan: Cancer Survivor and philanthrophist, Founder of "Strain the Brain" to help cancer patients in Nashville, TN Class of 1994 (completed degree at Fordham University).
  • Maurice A. Jones: Rhodes Scholar, General Manager The Virginian-Pilot, former deputy chief of staff for Governor Mark Warner, Class of 1986.
  • Thomas Dent Mütter: M.D., benefactor of Mütter Museum , and subject of a screenplay entitled Mütter, Class of 1830.

Religion

  • Thomas Atkinson: third Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, one of the ten bishops who joined to found The University of the South(Sewanee), "instrumental" in the reunification of the Episcopal Church after the Civil War; Class of 1825.
  • Robert Lewis Dabney: American Theologian, Chief of Staff for Stonewall Jackson, biographer of Jackson, and Confederate Army Chaplain. Attended from circa 1835-1836, graduated from the University of Virginia.
  • A. Heath Light: fourth Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Virginia, Class of 1951.
  • Frank Clayton "Clay" Matthews: Bishop for the Office of Pastoral Development for the Episcopal Church, formerly Suffragan Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, Class of 1970.
  • Francis A. Schaeffer: Theologian, Philosopher, Presbyterian pastor; Most famous for writings and establishing the L'Abri community in Switzerland, author of A Christian Manifesto; Class of 1935.

Science & Medicine

Sports

Hampden-Sydney College competes in Men's Intercollegiate Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis and Golf.

Facts

  • Patrick Henry, believing that “every free state” should promote “useful knowledge amongst its citizens,” helped to create Hampden-Sydney College in Prince Edward County. Six of his sons studied there.
  • Hampden-Sydney College is the oldest private charter in the South; the 10th oldest institution of higher education in the nation.
  • The college has been in operation under the British, Confederate, and United States flags.
  • Hampden-Sydney has been in continuous operation since classes began November 10, 1775.
  • In the over 230 years of its existence, class has only been canceled twice: for a Civil War skirmish on campus, and a hurricane that knocked a tree into a dormitory building. Classes were not canceled in fall 2003 during Hurricane Isabel, despite the loss of electricity across campus.
  • Mentioned in the novel American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
  • Football stadium shown in the film Foreign Student and documentary Shorty.
  • Preppiest school in America according to Lisa Birnbach of The Official Preppy Handbook.
  • Student tradition of all men speaking to everyone they meet on campus.
  • Students receive a copy of "To Manner Born To Manners Bred: A Hip-pocket Guide to Etiquette for the Hampden-Sydney Man."
  • The parent institution of Union Theological Seminary (Presbyterian) and The Medical College of Virginia (now Virginia Commonwealth University), located in Richmond, Virginia.
  • Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa.
  • Enrollment: 1106
  • Most popular majors: economics, history, and political science.
  • Student-Faculty ratio of 11 to 1.
  • 95% of full professors hold doctorates.
  • Basketball, baseball, and lacrosse teams are regular NCAA Division III national tournament contenders.
  • Half the graduates attend graduate school within five years.
  • Endowment per student ranks Hampden-Sydney in the top quarter of colleges and universities in the country.
  • Union-Philanthropic Literary Society (UPLS), is the oldest student organization at Hampden-Sydney College, and the nation's second-oldest literary and debating society still in existence today. The society was established September 22, 1789 and has been in operation since.

The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review ranks Hampden-Sydney in their list of "Best 361 Colleges" in the following categories."[2]:

Rank List Category
#14 Professors Get High Marks Academics
#17 Professors Make Themselves Accessible Academics
#1 Alternative Lifestyles Not an Alternative Demographics
#15 Homogeneous Student Population Demographics
#20 Lots of Hard Liquor Parties
#10 Most Politically Active Politics
#5 Students Most Nostalgic For Reagan Politics


Stephen Colbert on Hampden-Sydney

Stephen Colbert, among Hampden-Sydney's most famous former students, made these candid remarks about Hampden-Sydney in an interview with IGN.com:

"IGNFF: Was it difficult getting into Hampden-Sydney?

COLBERT: Oh no, it was not. It was easy to get in, hard to stay. They accept a lot of people, but they failed a huge percentage of the freshman class.

IGNFF: So was it a bait and switch?

COLBERT: No, it was a "playtime's over" kind of place.

IGNFF: They lure you in with easy admittance ...

COLBERT: And then they hammered you. It was really hard work. I would have to say it was harder at Hampden-Sydney than it was Northwestern."[3]

Furthermore, Colbert has stated Hampden-Sydney's education improved his dramatic and comedic skill: "I learned scene structure and dramatic structure from years of working in improvisational theatre, but you also have to express these things in an ordered way. My rhetoric teacher, Professor Crawley, ordered my mind. Simplicity of language, supporting ideas, synthesizing an effective conclusion-that's what I learned from him. And that's really important to me when I'm developing characters and themes."[4]


References

  1. ^ http://www.hsc.edu/academics/catalogue/college.html
  2. ^ "Hampden-Sydney College's Best 361 College Rankings". The Princeton Review. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
  3. ^ "An Interview with Stephen Colbert". "IGN.com" Retrieved October, 11 2007.
  4. ^ "Hampden Sydney Alumni Profiles" "Hampden Sydney Alumni Profiles". Retrieved October, 11 2007.

External links

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