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Louisiana College is a private institution of higher education located in Pineville, Louisiana, affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, serving a student body of approximately 1,300 students. The college operates on a semester system, with two shorter summer terms. Although the college is affiliated with a group of Baptist churches, who make up the membership of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, students need not be a member of that denomination to attend.

The school's colors are orange and blue, and their athletics teams are known as the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats.

History

Louisiana College was founded on October 3, 1906, in Pineville, across the Red River from the larger Alexandria. Baptist clergyman and educator Edwin O. Ware, Sr., is considered to have been the principal founder of the institution. He was both the college's financial agent, 1906–1907, and its first president, 1908-1909. Louisiana College (often referred to as "LC") is the successor to two earlier Louisiana Baptist schools, Mount Lebanon College, sometimes called Mount Lebanon University, and Keatchie Female College. The first, a men's school founded in 1852 by the North Louisiana Baptist Convention, was located in the community of Mount Lebanon in Bienville Parish. The women's college, founded in 1857 by the Grand Cane Association of Baptist Churches, was located in the community of Keatchie in De Soto Parish south of Shreveport. After a history beset by financial difficulties, both schools came under the control of the Louisiana Baptist Convention in 1899. An Education Commission was selected by the state convention to administer the schools with the understanding that both would be succeeded by a more centrally located college as soon as a suitable campus could be selected. When Louisiana College was opened in 1906, Mount Lebanon College closed, followed by Keatchie a few years later. The enrollment of students in 1906 at the opening of the College was 19. Today, more than 10,000 have been graduated since the College was founded.

Until 1921, Louisiana College was administered by the Education Commission. The new charter established a Board of Trustees. The first administrative head of Louisiana College was W. F. Taylor, whose title was chairman of the faculty. Since its opening under President Edwin Ware, LC has had these seven other presidents: Dr. W. C. Friley, in 1909; Dr. Claybrook Cottingham, in 1910; Dr. Edgar Godbold, in 1941; Dr. G. Earl Guinn, in 1951; Dr. Robert L. Lynn, in 1975; Dr. Rory Lee, in 1997; and Dr. Joe M. Aguillard, in 2005.

In 1941, Hal Monroe Weathersby (1885–1965) served as acting LC president. From 1911-1914, he was professor of Greek and history. From 1914 until his retirement ifn 1965, he was the dean of Louisiana College. Weathersby graduated from Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi, and the University of Chicago. The Weathersby Fine Arts Building is named in his honor. He and his wife, the former Natalee Thompson, had three children, Hal T. Weathersby, Scott M. Weathersby, and Rose W. Norman. A Baptist, Weathersby died in Pineville and is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

In 1959, the Louisiana Historical Association was reorganized in a statewide meeting on the LC campus. Edwin A. Davis, head of the history department at LSU and author of a popular Louisiana history textbook, became the first president of the new association.

Among the benefactors of Louisiana College has been the family of Simon W. Tudor of Pineville, who founded Tudor Construction Company in 1946. Tudor coached basketball, football, and baseball at the college in the 1910s. The men's dormitory Tudor Hall is named for him. Tudor was also chairman of the board of trustees from 1943-1953.

Campus

Louisiana College is situated on an 81-acre (330,000 m) campus in Pineville. The school has twenty-five academic and residential buildings, which include:

• Alexandria Hall, constructed in 1920. This building is home to most of the college's administrative offices, the human behavior department, the history and business departments, the teacher education department, and the English and languages department.
• Cavanaugh Hall of Science, built in 1969, contains offices, classrooms and laboratory facilities for the departments of biology, chemistry, mathematics and nursing. The building was named in 1975 to honor Charles J. Cavanaugh, professor of biology from 1945 to 1977.
• Weathersby Fine Arts Building, completed in 1961 and completely renovated in 1993, contains the departments of art and music. The building features an exhibition gallery with adjacent storeroom and a 151-seat recital hall.
• Guinn Auditorium and Religious Education Center, built in 1973, is home to the religious studies department and contains the 300-seat Frances Bolton Chapel and the 1,800-seat Guinn Auditorium. The auditorium is home to the Gladys Tatum West pipe organ, a 185-rank, five manual Moeller organ, one of the largest pipe organs in the Southern United States. The building is named in honor of Dr. G. Earl Guinn, a past president of Louisiana College.
• Martin Performing Arts Center, built in 1992, houses the media communications, journalism, and theatre departments, a 400-seat black-box theatre, a television studio, and Radio KZLC, 95.5 MHz FM.
• H. O. West Physical Education Building, which contains a 4,800-seat gymnasium, a heated swimming pool, and the department of health and physical education.
• Norton Library, which contains more than 130,000 volumes, 174,000 government documents, 75,000 items in microfilm and subscribes to over 500 periodicals. The building was built in 1955.
• Tudor Hall, a men's residence hall that has a capacity of 168 men. The building was constructed in 1957.
• English Village, a men's apartment complex open to upperclassmen. It houses 92 students and is noted for its rustic architecture.
• Church Hall, a former Methodist church, renovated into a men's residence hall. Church Hall is open to upperclassmen and also houses the football fieldhouse, the security office and the information technology office.
• Cottingham Hall, a women's residence hall, is named in honor of Claybrook Cottingham, a native of Virginia, who was the LC president from 1910–1941, when he became the president of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. Built in 1940, Cottingham Hall houses three hundred women. It is the largest residential building on the campus. Oddly, another Cottingham Hall on the Louisiana Tech campus is a men's dormitory.
• College Drive Apartments, the newest building on the Louisiana College campus, being completed in 2001. This apartment building is open to upperclass women and can house 45.
• Hixson Student Center and Granberry Conference Center, constructed in 1997. This is the hub of student activities on the Louisiana College campus, housing the post office, a common area, a game room, various student life offices, a short-order restaurant, a computer lab, and the campus bookstore.

Academics

Louisiana College awards the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Social Work, and Bachelor of General Studies degrees and offers over 70 majors, minors and pre-professional programs. These programs are:

Division of Business

• Accounting
• Business Education
• Economics & Finance
• General Business
• Management/Marketing

Division of Christian Studies

• Biblical Studies
• Christian Studies
• Christian Education
• Christian Philosophy
• Biblical Languages (minor)

Division of Education

• Athletic Training
• Elementary & Kindergarten Education
• Elementary Education
• Fitness & Wellness
• Health & Physical Education
• Secondary Education (see other divisions)
• Special Education (K-12)

Division of History and Political Science

• History
• Political Science (minor only)
• Pre-Law
• Public Administration
• Social Studies Education

Division of Human Behavior

• Criminal Justice
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology

Division of Humanities

• English
• English Education
• Foreign Languages
• French
• French Education
• Multimedia
• Spanish (minor only)
• Spanish Education
• Web Design (minor only)

Division of Mathematics and Computer Science

• Computer Science (minor only)
• Mathematics
• Mathematics Education
• Pre-Engineering

Division of Natural Sciences

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Medical Technology
• Pre-Dental
• Pre-Dental Hygiene
• Pre-Medicine
• Pre-Occupational Therapy
• Pre-Optometry
• Pre-Pharmacy
• Pre-Physical Therapy
• Pre-Physician Assistant
• Pre-Rehabilitation Counseling
• Pre-Respiratory Therapy
• Pre-Veterinary Medicine
• Science Education

Division of Nursing

• Nursing (B.S.N.)
• Nursing (R.N. to B.S.N.)

Division of Visual and Performing Arts

• Art, Studio
• Art Education
• Church Music
• Communication Arts
• Graphic Design
• Journalism
• Journalism Education (minor only)
• Media Communications
• Music
• Music Education
• Music Performance
• Piano Pedagogy
• Pre-Architecture
• Pre-Music Therapy
• Technical Theatre
• Theatre Arts

Law school in Shreveport

On September 1, 2010, Louisiana College announced that it is building in downtown Shreveport the Judge Paul Pressler School of Law, named for the former justice of the Texas Court of Appeals from Houston, Paul Pressler, a long-time leader of the theological conservatives in the Southern Baptist Convention. J. Michael Johnson is the founding dean of the new institution.

LC expects to place the law school in the former federal building named for the late U.S. Representative Joe D. Waggonner, Jr. Currently there is no law school within two hundred miles of the planned location. Johnson said that the school will "pursue academic excellence by use of a curriculum that directly acknowledges and embraces our Judeo-Christian heritage and the moral foundations of the American legal system. We want our students to learn and to study the history and philosophy of the law, but all of that will be grounded in what we call 'The Unchanging Foundation.' That is the motto of Lousiana College, and it will be for the law school as well."

Johnson said that the curriculum will be grounded on the ideas of the Declaration of Independence: a Creator God with inalienable rights. The American Founding Fathers, said Johnson, "believed if we moved away from those truths, and the Natural law philosophy, we would be in trouble . . . So their admonition to us was to . . . interpret the Constitution very carefully and according to its original intent because if we fail to do that, we would drift away from the moorings. It is a perilous position, and that is where we find outselves today."

A board of reference has been named to advise regarding the establishment of the law school, including the two area U.S. Representatives John C. Fleming and Rodney Alexander. Others on the board include Alveda C. King, founder of King for America, Inc.; Tim LaHaye of Tim LaHaye Ministries, Beverly LaHaye of Concerned Women for America, psychologist James C. Dobson, David Barton of the group Wallbuilders, former U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, Associate Justice Jeffrey P. Victory of the Louisiana Supreme Court, and Richard Land, the president of the SBC Liberty Commission.

Divinity School

On December 15, 2010 The Louisiana College Board of Trustees received a 1 million dollar contribution from an anonymous foundation in order to start a divinity school at Louisiana College. This will be Louisiana College's third announced graduate school in the past three years. The new divinity school will be named The Caskey School of Divinity, after a Southern Baptist minister who "tirelessly worked and evangelized in Louisiana". The founding dean for the school will be Dr. Charles Quarles, who is currently serving as the Vice President for Integration of Faith and Learning and Research Professor of New Testament and Greek in the Christian Studies Division. Currently Louisiana College is able to grant up to masters level degrees under the level three status of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The proposed start-up date for the Caskey School of Divinity is August 2011, pending SACS approval. The school plans to initially accept up to 100 students, and will offer free tuition, something unprecedented. Dr. Quarles explained the goals of the Caskey School of Divinity,

"Louisiana College will establish a Divinity School that will train coming generations of Christian leaders:

1. To correctly handle the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15)
2. To preach the word (2 Tim 4:2)
3. To emphasize the great truths of the Christian faith in their preaching and teaching(1 Tim 4:16)
4. To share the gospel passionately with the lost (2 Tim 4:5)
5. To model outstanding Christian character (1 Tim 3)."

Professors

• Helen Derr, journalism professor
• George E. Hearn (1926–2010), psychology professor, 1965–2000
• F. Jay Taylor, historian and later president of Louisiana Tech University
• Simon W. Tudor

Student Life

Student life at Louisiana College is vibrant and energetic. One of the things which sets LC apart from other schools is its commitment to promoting a Christian atmosphere. As a result of this commitment, LC provides a student life setting in which one is often surrounded with peers who love Christ and are active in the church. Because LC is a small school it fosters a small community environment where most students are familiar with each other. On October 25, 2008 LC inaugurated a new football field which brought the first stadium to the campus in 40 years. Since the new Wildcat Field students at LC have worked towards fostering new traditions centered around athletic/intramural events. Overall development amongst the student body is new and growing as the college grows larger and evolves. LC is still in a state of growth and expansion and has been experiencing record setting enrollment within the past few years.

Traditions at LC

Louisiana College have several treasured traditions carried out by its students. While LC lacks a large variety of student organizations, traditions are handed down mostly through word of mouth. One of the first traditions learned about at LC is the marriage swing located in front of Cottingham Hall. Legend holds that if a couple sits on the swing at the same time they are destined to be married. This of course leads to apprehension to sit on the swing, although many take their chances. Several have even proposed at the marriage swing. Another tradition held is the annual rolling of Cottingham Forest during Mom's Weekend. Every year LC holds a Mom's Weekend event when girls and their moms share time together on campus. On the first night of this weekend the male students of LC collect toilet paper and use it to TP the trees immediately in front of Cottingham Hall. In the morning the girls awake to a white wintery wonderland. Another tradition is the fabled Moses statue in front of the Weathersby Fine Arts Building. Legend says that it holds the power of good luck. This power is conferred upon an individual when he/she rubs the top of his head. This phenomenon has been investigated by many, but few are able to offer sufficient explanations for it. Throughout the school year Louisiana College holds several annual events. Homecoming Honey is an event held during homecoming week; male students compete for the hotly contested title of "homecoming honey" by showing off their talents and personalities. The winner is then selected by panel of judges. Christmas Gala is a treasured tradition at Louisiana College. This is LC's equivalent of prom without a dance. Students bring a date to a formal dinner and enjoy well prepared meals. After the meal students file into Guinn Auditorium for a Christmas presentation put on by professors and students. During this presentation the Gala Court is announced and presented to the student body. Couchon De Lait is another event put on by LC's Union Board. Couchon is a campus-wide crawfish boil with all you can eat crawfish. This event is much anticipated and students' families often participate. There are often inflatable games and live music.

Notable people

• Jack Holt, attorney, first Pineville municipal judge (21 years of service), businessman
• Jimmie Davis, popular singer and Louisiana governor (1944–1948 and 1960–1964)
• Nelder Dawson (1928–2006), Alexandria Daily Town Talk newspaper executive
• B.G. Dyess (born 1922), Baptist minister, former state senator and former Rapides Parish registrar of voters
• Lenny Fant (1923–1998) coached basketball at LC from 1953–1954; he was thereafter the award-wining coach at the University of Louisiana at Monroe from 1957-1979.
• Eric W. Harris, Alexandria businessman and founder of first Jaycees chapter in Louisiana; attended Louisiana College for two years

• Rufus D. Hayes (1913–2002), first Louisiana insurance commissioner, 1957–1964
• Guy E. Humphries, Jr. (1923–2010), state court judge and co-founder of the Renaissance Home for Youth
• Claude Kirkpatrick (1917–1997), member of Louisiana House of Representatives (1952–1960) from Jefferson Davis Parish, director of Louisiana Department of Public Works (1960–1964), candidate for governor in 1963, instigator of Toledo Bend Reservoir, president of Baton Rouge General Hospital, and builder of three shopping centers
• Edith Killgore Kirkpatrick (born 1918), member of Louisiana Board of Regents; state Baptist official; wife of Claude Kirkpatrick
• Garnie W. McGinty (1900–1984), Louisiana historian began his studies at LC but graduated from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches
• Baylus Benjamin McKinney, singer, songwriter, and music editor
• Tinka Milinović, singer, model, actress, dancer and television host
• E. R. Minchew (1908–2001), B.A. (1929), educator
• Arnold Jack Rosenthal (1923–2010) businessman, attorney, former Alexandria city commissioner (1973–1977) attendrf LC before transferring to Tulane University
• Morris Shapiro (1910–2008), Alexandria city attorney (1973–1977); former Rapides Parish School Board member
• Joe D. Smith, Jr. (1922–2008), publisher, general manager, and chairman of the board of the Alexandria Daily Town Talk
• Simon W. Tudor, educator and Pineville construction company owner

References

1. "Weathersby, Hal Monroe". Louisiana Historical Association, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography (lahistory.org). Retrieved December 27, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
2. "Cottingham, Claybrook C." A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography (lahistory.org). Retrieved December 19, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
3. ^ "Judge Paul Pressler School of Law", Columns: The Magazine for Louisiana College Alumni and Friends, Winter 2010, p. 16
4. "Columns, p. 17
5. Columns, p. 17
6. ^
8. Religious life at Louisiana College
9. New Wildcat Stadium
10. Louisiana College Record Enrollment, See Page 2 of this article.

External links

• Louisiana College's homepage
• Faith Forward
• 95.5 FM KZLC Radio
• The Wildcat Newspaper

• Universities and colleges in Louisiana
• Universities and colleges affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention
• Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Baptist organizations established in the 20th century
• Educational institutions established in 1906
• National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities members
• Rapides Parish, Louisiana
• Alexandria, Louisiana