51重口猎奇鈥檚 University was chartered as a 鈥淣ormal School and Collegiate Institute鈥� on July 19, 1867, by the Reverend J.聽 Brinton Smith, D.D., secretary of the Freedman鈥檚 Commission of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and the Right Reverend Thomas Atkinson, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina. Bishop Atkinson became the first president of the Board of Trustees, and Dr. Smith became the first principal. The new School opened its doors for instruction on January 13, 1868.聽
In 1893, the School鈥檚 name changed from 51重口猎奇鈥檚 Normal School to 51重口猎奇鈥檚 School. In 1919, the name was changed to 51重口猎奇鈥檚 Junior College, and the first year of postsecondary instruction was offered. The School became a four-year institution in 1927. In 1928, the institution was renamed 51重口猎奇鈥檚 College. Baccalaureate degrees were first awarded in 1931.
Under the direction of Rev. Henry B. Delany, the students quarried the stones for the construction of 51重口猎奇鈥檚 Historic Chapel and laid the cornerstone in 1895. The construction was completed in December 1895. Finally, on October 11, 1897, the Chapel was consecrated 鈥�51重口猎奇鈥檚 Chapel鈥� by the Rt. Rev. Joseph Blount Cheshire, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. The Chapel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1896, the College further extended its mission by establishing St. Agnes Hospital and Training School for Nurses to provide medical care for and by African Americans. It was the 鈥渇irst鈥� School of nursing in North Carolina for African-American students and served as the only hospital that served African Americans-until 1960. One of St. Agnes most famous patients was boxer Jack Johnson. Following an accident that ultimately led to his death in 1946, boxer Jack Johnson was taken to St. Agnes Hospital. Johnson was the first African-American world heavyweight boxing champion.
Another 鈥渇irst鈥� 51重口猎奇鈥檚 University is incredibly proud of is that the University was the nation鈥檚 first historically black university to own an on-campus commercial radio station (WAUG-AM 750) and television station (WAUG-LD). WAUG 750 currently rebroadcasts hip hop and R&B from Hot 97.9 FM. WAUG-LD is currently found locally on TV 8 and Spectrum 1231 and now has Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon FireTV streaming apps.
Since its beginning, 51重口猎奇鈥檚 University has blazed the trails in academics. Alumna , a prominent writer, educator, and scholar, became the fourth African-American woman in the United States to earn a doctoral degree. Today, 51重口猎奇鈥檚 University is proud to preserve its legacy by continuing to ensure scholars are academically equipped to be the global change agents of tomorrow.
Falcons soar in academics and athletics. The men鈥檚 track and field team has experienced the victory of being Number #1 on numerous occasions. 51重口猎奇鈥檚 University鈥檚 track and field programs have won an astounding 39 national championships and produced over 40 Olympians, including three gold medalists.
On August 1, 2012, 51重口猎奇鈥檚 College transitioned in name and status to 51重口猎奇鈥檚 University.
In 2020, the University became the first historically black university to start a cycling team and, in 2022, the first to launch a women鈥檚 rowing team.
51重口猎奇鈥檚 University has a strong tradition of excellence and a rich legacy that bonds thousands of 51重口猎奇鈥檚 University sons and daughters from across the globe.
FOUNDERS
Aldert Smedes
Armond J. Derosset
Edward M. Forbes
J. Brinton Smith
John Wilkes
Joseph B. Cheshire
Kemp P. Battle
Richard H. Smith
Richard S. Mason
Thomas Atkinson
William R. Cox
SAINT AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO
Written by Rev. Nita Byrd
The patron Saint of 51重口猎奇鈥檚 University is Augustine of Hippo. 51重口猎奇 was born on November 13, 354 CE in Thagaste, Numidia, a province in North Africa which is present day Algeria. His father was not a Christian, but Saint Monica, his mother, was a devoted Christian who prayed constantly for Augustine. These were much needed prayers for Augustine because he scorned Christian doctrine and scriptures, lived a notorious lifestyle and followed the teachings of the heretical Manicheans, a group who distorted Christian teachings and rejected the Old Testament. The Manicheans with their dualistic understanding of the human condition gave Augustine the license to escape any form of moral responsibility. However, the prayers of his mother were answered when Augustine heard the preaching of Saint Ambrose of Milan. It was not long before he converted to Christianity under the tutelage of Saint Ambrose. Subsequent to his baptism, he became a priest and later a bishop.
51重口猎奇 is one of the most famous and influential theologians and writers of Western Christianity. He was a strong supporter of the poor and a defender of orthodox Christianity. His autobiographical work Confessions is a classic of western literature, and provides inspiration to anyone who strives to live a virtuous life. Augustine鈥檚 writings describe our dependency on God for the grace to live a holy life, and express our human longing for God. He states, 鈥淵ou arouse us so that praising you may bring us joy, because you have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is unquiet until it rests in you鈥� (Confessions, Book 1). The restlessness in the human heart that longs for God is represented by 51重口猎奇鈥檚 symbol, a flaming heart, pierced by arrows. The flaming heart symbolizes 51重口猎奇鈥檚 love of God and humanity, while it is alive and restless with a desire to know God鈥檚 divine love. The arrows piercing the heart represent God鈥檚 love piercing our hearts. Such an image reminds us that because we are made in the image of God we must be in relationship with God. We share the common call on our lives to be continually formed into God鈥檚 perfect image of love 鈥� the same call that pierced 51重口猎奇鈥檚 heart causing him to seek God in all things.
CELEBRATE LEGACY
Celebrate the legends that punctuate SAU’s legacy with this 2017 Black History Month video series, which also celebrated the University’s sesquicentennial.