Southern University: Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (often referred to as Southern A&M, Southern University, Southern, SUBR or SU) is a public historically black university (HBCU) in the Scotlandville area of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The campus is on Scott’s Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in the northern section of the city. The campus encompasses 512 acres, with an agricultural experimental station on an additional 372-acre site, five miles north of the main campus. The university is the largest HBCU in Louisiana, a member school of the Thurgod Marshall College Fund and the flagship institution of the Southern University System.
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community. This was because the overwhelming majority of predominantly white institutions of higher-learning disqualified African Americans from enrollment during segregation. There are 101 HBCUs in the United States, including public and private institutions. This figure is down from the 121 institutions that existed during the 1930s.
Most HBCUs were established in the Southern United States after the American Civil War, often with the assistance of northern United States religious missionary organizations. Following the enactment of Civil Rights laws in the 1960s, all educational institutions in the United States that receive federal funding have undertaken affirmative action to increase their racial diversity. Some historically black colleges and universities now have non-black majorities, notably West Virginia State University and Bluefield State College, whose student bodies have had large white majorities since the mid-1960s.
At the 1879 Louisiana State Constitutional Convention, African-American political leaders P.B.S. Pinchback, Theophile T. Allain and Henry Demas proposed founding a higher education institution "for the education of persons of colorr" Louisiana, before the American Civil War, had an established class of free people of color, who were often property owners and educated; they kept that tradition for their children.
In April 1880 at 9:45 a.m., the Louisiana General Assembly chartered what was then called Southern College, originally located in New Orleans. Southern opened its doors on March 7, 1881, with 12 students. The school was held for a time at the former Israel Sinai Temple on Calliope Street, between St. Charles and Camp streets.
In 1890, the legislature designated Southern as a land grant college for blacks, in order to continue to satisfy federal requirements under the land grant program to support higher education for all students in the state, despite having a segregated system. It established an Agricultural and Mechanical department. Because of continued growth and a lack of land for expansion, in 1914 the university moved to Scotlandville, along Scott's Bluff facing the Mississippi River and north of Baton Rouge. Now absorbed into the capital, this area is included as a historic destination of the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.
Southern University Alumni: Included among Southern University's alumni are: Branford Marsalis, David Banner, Aeneas Williams, Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones, Avery Johnson, Willie Davenport, Darren Clark, Lou Brock, Mel Blount, Al Beauchamp, and Lenny Williams. Other alumni: here
Southern Traditions:
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community. This was because the overwhelming majority of predominantly white institutions of higher-learning disqualified African Americans from enrollment during segregation. There are 101 HBCUs in the United States, including public and private institutions. This figure is down from the 121 institutions that existed during the 1930s.
Most HBCUs were established in the Southern United States after the American Civil War, often with the assistance of northern United States religious missionary organizations. Following the enactment of Civil Rights laws in the 1960s, all educational institutions in the United States that receive federal funding have undertaken affirmative action to increase their racial diversity. Some historically black colleges and universities now have non-black majorities, notably West Virginia State University and Bluefield State College, whose student bodies have had large white majorities since the mid-1960s.
At the 1879 Louisiana State Constitutional Convention, African-American political leaders P.B.S. Pinchback, Theophile T. Allain and Henry Demas proposed founding a higher education institution "for the education of persons of colorr" Louisiana, before the American Civil War, had an established class of free people of color, who were often property owners and educated; they kept that tradition for their children.
In April 1880 at 9:45 a.m., the Louisiana General Assembly chartered what was then called Southern College, originally located in New Orleans. Southern opened its doors on March 7, 1881, with 12 students. The school was held for a time at the former Israel Sinai Temple on Calliope Street, between St. Charles and Camp streets.
In 1890, the legislature designated Southern as a land grant college for blacks, in order to continue to satisfy federal requirements under the land grant program to support higher education for all students in the state, despite having a segregated system. It established an Agricultural and Mechanical department. Because of continued growth and a lack of land for expansion, in 1914 the university moved to Scotlandville, along Scott's Bluff facing the Mississippi River and north of Baton Rouge. Now absorbed into the capital, this area is included as a historic destination of the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.
Southern University Alumni: Included among Southern University's alumni are: Branford Marsalis, David Banner, Aeneas Williams, Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones, Avery Johnson, Willie Davenport, Darren Clark, Lou Brock, Mel Blount, Al Beauchamp, and Lenny Williams. Other alumni: here
Southern Traditions:
Colors: Columbia Blue and Gold
Mascot: Lacumba; Southern University was the first HBCU to house a live mascot on campus. Henry J. Bellaire, alumnus and president of the 1961 senior class, and alumna Helen Williams presented a jaguar as a gift to the university. The jaguar was named Lacumba (meaning "Heart of Africa") and was born on May 26, 1971. In 1991, Lacumba retired to the Acadania Zoo in Broussard, Louisiana, and was replaced with Lacumba II. Lacumba II (commonly referred to as simply Lacumba) was born on May 12, 1991, the offspring of two rare black jaguars bred in hopes of producing a black jaguar. However, Lacumba II was born brown; it grew to be 200 pounds. Lacumba II died of natural causes in December 2004 and was the last jaguar to live on campus. The jaguars' pen remains in front of the A.W. Mumford football stadium. The legacy of Lacumba lives on through the school's costumed jaguar mascot.
Mascot: Lacumba; Southern University was the first HBCU to house a live mascot on campus. Henry J. Bellaire, alumnus and president of the 1961 senior class, and alumna Helen Williams presented a jaguar as a gift to the university. The jaguar was named Lacumba (meaning "Heart of Africa") and was born on May 26, 1971. In 1991, Lacumba retired to the Acadania Zoo in Broussard, Louisiana, and was replaced with Lacumba II. Lacumba II (commonly referred to as simply Lacumba) was born on May 12, 1991, the offspring of two rare black jaguars bred in hopes of producing a black jaguar. However, Lacumba II was born brown; it grew to be 200 pounds. Lacumba II died of natural causes in December 2004 and was the last jaguar to live on campus. The jaguars' pen remains in front of the A.W. Mumford football stadium. The legacy of Lacumba lives on through the school's costumed jaguar mascot.
Marching Band: The Southern University marching band, better known as the Human Jukebox, has been featured in numerous television commercials, music videos and invited to participate in the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, Presidential Inauguration ceremonies and six Super Bowl halftime presentations. The band also was featured in the music video for the Jonas Brothers song, "Pom Poms". In 2008, the band was named "Best Dressed Marching Band" by FashionNews.com, and named "#1 Band In The Nation" by USA Today. In 2014, the NCAA ranked the band second best in the nation. The band is well known for its powerful and dominating sound in the stands, precise, show stopping, high stepping, and entertaining drills on the field, and as being the only HBCU marching band to feature one drum major during performances.
T. Leroy Davis is credited for establishing Southern University's marching band. Davis served as the band director between 1947 and 1964. He helped organize the first Southern University Band Festival and Band Day and was well-known for his contributions and achievements in music. Davis was given the title of Professor Emeritus for his many years of service to the university in 1989.
The band is anchored by the Isaac Greggs Band Hall on campus. Dr. Isaac Greggs (Doc) was an award-winning band director and alumnus of Southern University that led the band for 36 years (1969 - 2005). Under his leadership, the band grew in popularity and established a distinctive identity. In addition to having the band hall renamed in his honor, he was inducted into the Louisiana Black History Hall of Fame in 2013 and had a display case dedicated in his honor at the National Museum of African America History and Culture in 2016.
One of the most anticipated traditions of the Human Jukebox is the Friday night "Battle of the Bands" versus Grambling's "World Famed" Tiger Marching Band during Bayou Classic weekend i the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The annual event draws tens of thousands of alumni, fans, and spectators. Clips of it is aired on NBC's nationally televised broadcast of Saturday's football game.
Listen and watch:
T. Leroy Davis is credited for establishing Southern University's marching band. Davis served as the band director between 1947 and 1964. He helped organize the first Southern University Band Festival and Band Day and was well-known for his contributions and achievements in music. Davis was given the title of Professor Emeritus for his many years of service to the university in 1989.
The band is anchored by the Isaac Greggs Band Hall on campus. Dr. Isaac Greggs (Doc) was an award-winning band director and alumnus of Southern University that led the band for 36 years (1969 - 2005). Under his leadership, the band grew in popularity and established a distinctive identity. In addition to having the band hall renamed in his honor, he was inducted into the Louisiana Black History Hall of Fame in 2013 and had a display case dedicated in his honor at the National Museum of African America History and Culture in 2016.
One of the most anticipated traditions of the Human Jukebox is the Friday night "Battle of the Bands" versus Grambling's "World Famed" Tiger Marching Band during Bayou Classic weekend i the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The annual event draws tens of thousands of alumni, fans, and spectators. Clips of it is aired on NBC's nationally televised broadcast of Saturday's football game.
Listen and watch:
- Human Jukebox's rendition of Adele's hit single"Hello," from the 2015 Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands: here
- The Southern Alma Mater: here
- The Southern Fight Song: here
- Human Jukebox in the 2018 Cumulus Media Battle of the Bands: here
- Human Jukebox performs at Southern's 2017 Homecoming: here
Southern's Dance Unit: Since 1969, the Human Jukebox often has been accompanied by Southern's "The Fabulous Dancing Dolls." Gracie Perkins co-founded the Dolls with Dr. Greggs. The Dolls are best known for their stylish dance uniforms, beauty standards and graceful choreography. A notable highlight in Dolls' history is when they were invited to perform with world pop-star Madonna for her live Super Bowl halftime performance in 2012. In 2016, several Dolls collectively auditioned and won spots to appear in Beyonce's Lemonade visual album.
Southern's Alma Mater:
O Southern, Dear Southern, Thy praises we shall sing,
Until all the heavens and echoes loudly ring.
The winds and the sky as they pass us by
Will Adoration bring.
O Southern, Dear Southern, We owe our all to Thee,
In downfall or vict'ry, We'll always loyal be.
Thy Sons and Daughters as they work,
Will be inspired by Thee.
O Southern, Dear Southern, Thy name will ever be,
As mighty as the rivers that flow on to the sea,
As pure and true as the Gold and Blue,
That stand out bold for Thee.
Southern's Fight Song:
Southern University,
Defenders of the gold and blue
We will always loyal be
And raise a cheer for you.
All for one and one for all
We've got the will to win for thee
And We'll fight, fight, fight
Til we win the victory.
Southern's Alma Mater:
O Southern, Dear Southern, Thy praises we shall sing,
Until all the heavens and echoes loudly ring.
The winds and the sky as they pass us by
Will Adoration bring.
O Southern, Dear Southern, We owe our all to Thee,
In downfall or vict'ry, We'll always loyal be.
Thy Sons and Daughters as they work,
Will be inspired by Thee.
O Southern, Dear Southern, Thy name will ever be,
As mighty as the rivers that flow on to the sea,
As pure and true as the Gold and Blue,
That stand out bold for Thee.
Southern's Fight Song:
Southern University,
Defenders of the gold and blue
We will always loyal be
And raise a cheer for you.
All for one and one for all
We've got the will to win for thee
And We'll fight, fight, fight
Til we win the victory.
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