Page 216 - Toledo Football Media Guide - 2012

THE UNIVERSITY 217

y History & Traditions

University Origin

TheUniversity ofToledowas founded by Jesup Wakeman Scott on October 12, 1872 as a private arts and trades school, known as Toledo University of Arts and Trades, oferingpainting and architectural drawing as its only subjects. Scott, the editor for the Toledo Blade newspaper from 1844 to 1847, was a public-spirited Toledoan who felt the city should have a university to train young people for responsiblepositions in thegrowing com-munity. Scott’s dream led him to endow 160 acres of land which later became the Scott Park Campus. Scott died in 1874 and the school was forced to close in 1878 due to a lack of funds. On January 8, 1884, the assets of the university were turned over to the city of Toledo and the school reopened that year as the Manual

Training School, later changing its name to Toledo University. In 1922, the university moved into an automobile mechanics training facility on Scott’s land that had been constructed dur-ingWorldWar I. After the Toledo voters passed a bond levy in 1928, the main campus was moved north to the land located on Bancroft Street, with University Hall being the frst building constructed in 1931.

On July 1, 1967, the University was given the status of a state-funded university by the Ohio General Assembly and became known as the University of Toledo. On July 1, 2006 the University merged with the Medical University of Ohio, making UT one of only four institutions in the state with a medical school and a law school.

The Bell Tower and University Hall

President Henry J. Doermann, the father of the Bell Tower and the university’s structural design, wanted all of the buildings on Bancroft Campus to be of a Collegiate Gothic architectural design to refect the best design elements of the universities of Europe. President Doermann felt such ar-chitecture would provide an atmosphere to inspire students. He also dreamed of a central tower that could be spotted from anywhere on campus. President Doermann went against the objections of many Toledoans who felt the design was too extravagant and a waste of money. He knew how much this Tower would mean to the UT community; therefore, he set out and accomplished his lofty goal of building the beau-tiful high structure that resides at the north center part of Bancroft Campus. Residing on the top four corners of this architectural gem are four gar-

goyles which overlook and guard the University of Toledo.

The 156-step, 206-foot Bell Tower sits atop of University Hall. Completed in 1931, University Hall was the frst building built on Bancroft Campus. It took 400 men nearly one full year to complete University Hall and the second building built on campus, the Field House. The Collegiate Gothic structural design for University Hall set the standard for all other buildings to be constructed on the University of Toledo’s Bancroft Campus.

Centennial Mall

During the Blizzard of 1978, the land in mid-campus, which used to be a faculty parking lot and Army barracks, was completely covered by snow. Graduate students in the university’s geography depart-ment conducted a study and photographed the paths on the snow made by students walking to class. The design of the sidewalks in Centennial Mall was then constructed using the layout of those paths.

There are 290 trees located in the 9.7 acres of Mall area. This shrine of trees is known as the Circle of Champions. Cen-tennial Mall was completed in 1980 and provides the campus with an environmentally friendly look, which contributes to UT’s ranking as one of the “100 most beautifully landscaped places in the country,” according to the American Society of Landscape Architects. Only 22 college campuses are on the list.

The University Seal

The University of Toledo’s Seal was placed in the middle of Centennial Mall and dedicated on October 23, 1995 by the Student Alumni Council, with the support of various campus and community organizations. A tradition that was formally started by Omicron Delta Kappa, as part of their ritual, is that no Rockets past, present, or futurewho cross this path on their educational journey shall ever step on the seal. This is every Rocket’s sign of respect and gratitude for our great university.

It is a UTmyth, and believed to be true, that if you stepon the seal inCentennial Mall you will fail your next exam.

Toledo Edison Memorial Foun-tain

The Toledo Edison Memorial Fountain, a gift to The University of Toledo by the To-ledo Edison Co. for the Centennial of Light (1879-1979), is located on the north side of the Student Union andwas built when Cen-tennial Mall was constructed in 1980. The

The fountain in front of the Student Union.

The Bell Tower was completed in 1931.