The Insiders Guide to MSU

What did Dr. C say are the 4 major themes in MSU's history & traditions?

Inclusion at MSU, Service at MSU, Expansion of MSU, & Research at MSU

What does it mean that MSU is a "land-grant" university?

It was chosen to receive the benefits of the Morrill Act.

What was the Morrill Act, in what year and under whose presidency was it passed, and what did it provide?

it provided land in every state of the union to provide higher education. It was passed in 1862 under Abraham Lincoln and provided higher education in agriculture, engineering, and military science.

Why are we the major land-grant university in Mississippi, and not Ole Miss?

Because Ole Miss showed no interest in agricultural programs and faculty that opposed them left.

In what year was MSU authorized by the state legislature?

1878

In what year did MSU actually open for classes?

1880

How many faculty and college students were there when we first started?

13 faculty & 87 students

Who was our first president of Mississippi State University? What had he done before coming here?

Stephen D. Lee.

He graduated from the United States Military Academy and fought on the southern side during the civil war and was ranked Lieutenant General of the Confederate Army.

What was his connection to Robert E. Lee, and who was Robert E. Lee?

He was distantly related to him. He was a famous commander of the Confederate Armed Forces.

In the beginning, what training was required of all students, and how many students were required to work?

Military training was required and all students were required to work.

How did the first students heat their rooms, take baths, and tend to their personal needs?

They had to buy and carry their own coal for heat, and they used bathhouses to bathe and tend to their personal needs.

What common pastimes were forbidden to students?

Gambeling & drinking, games with playing cards, fraternities and secret societies

How did students hunt rabbits, and why?

They herded them and beat them with sticks as a source of personal amusement

How did students get to the MSU campus?

A rail line that went from Artesia to the middle of campus

When were women first admitted into MSU?

1882

When were women banned from MSU, and why?

in 1912, because a cadet and a woman were caught in a study room in the library together which led to harsh restrictions that caused a major student rebellion

When were women allowed back, and why?

opinions vary but mainly because it was then that the Great Depression was at its worst and adding even a few female students Brought in much needed money.

What was the first women's residence hall on campus, and when did women start living there?

Magruder Hall in 1938

When did the enrollment of women greatly increase?

the end of the 1950's

Who first tried to integrate the University of Southern Mississippi, what year was hid first attempt, and what happened to him?

Clyde Kennard, He was sent to prison on false charges of stealing chicken feed.

Who was the racist governor of Mississippi in the 1960's who vehemently opposed integration?

Ross Barnett

When was Ole Miss integrated, and who was its first African American student?

1962, James Meredith

Why was he allowed to enroll and what happened when he did?

His case went to the United States Supreme Court and it ruled in his favor. There was a huge riot on the Ole Miss campus.

In what year was Mississippi State University integrated?

1965

Who was the MSU President at the time, and what was his stance on integration?

Dean Colvard, he was determined to intergrate MSU peacefully.

What building on campus is named after this President?

The Colvard Student Union.

How much violence was there when MSU was integrated?

None

Who was our first African American student, and what became of him after he graduated?

Richard Holmes. He completed his undergraduate degree, served a tour in the US Army and returned to MSU and earned a master's degree in Microbiology, then went to medical school at Michigan State and worked as an emergency room physician in Birmingham, AL. After he retired, he came back to MSU and worked in the Longest Student Health Center

What unit of the University is named after him?

The Holmes Cultural Diversity Center.

What is the oldest structure on the MSU campus?

Eckie's Pond.

What is the oldest building on campus?

The Industrial Education Building.

When was Lee Hall built, and who uses it now?

1909. The Departments of English and Foreign Langauges, the President's office, the Provost's Office, and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development.

Why is there a building on the other end of the Drill Field that looks just like Lee Hall?

MSU alumnus Dave C. Swalm gifted the building but requested that it look exactly like Lee Hall.

When was the "Y" Building (YMCA building) constructed, and who uses it now?

1914. It is used for the offices of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean of Students, the Vice President for Finance, and the General Counsel (University Attorney).

What was George Hall originally used for, and what tragedy struck in 1918?

The campus infirmary and hospital. The Spanish flu pandemic which caused the death of many MSU students.

What was distinctive about Perry Cafeteria when it was built?

It was the largest college or university cafeteria in the country.

What was Old Main, and what was distinctive about it?

It was the dormitory developed to house the entire male student body. It was the largest dormitory in the world under one roof.

What happened to Old Main, and when?

It burned in a fire in 1959

When was the Chapel of Memories built, and why is it called that?

1965, because it was built from bricks from Old Main.

What three names has MSU had over the years?

Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi, Mississippi State College, Mississippi State University.

What does it mean when we say that MSU is a "comprehensive university"?

MSU has programs in a very wide range of traditional academic areas.

Approximately how many different majors do we have at State?

Over 100

What does it mean that MSU is a "research intensive" university?

We have numerous graduate programs that award master's and doctoral degrees and that MSU participates in an high level of research.

About how much support for our research do we get from sources other than the state of Mississippi?

Two hundred million dollars a year

What special distinction does MSU have in the area of Research?

It is one of the top 100 research universities in the country.

What special distinction does MSU have in the area of Service?

MSU is honored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching by receiving its special Community Engagement designation.

How does being in a research university like MSU benefit students like you?

It adds excitement and immediacy to your education and helps when applying for jobs.

What looming worldwide problem does President Keenum point out, that MSU can play a role in solving?

World hunger. By researching and discovering how to expand and protect our world food production.

Name the seven secrets to student success.

Work full time, go to class, remember time management, always study smart, be test wise, get help promptly, make the difference of one.

Why is your first-year performance at university examined so closely by future employers?

Because they expect your performance during the beginning of your education to be similar to the beginning of your career.

About how much are the taxpayers of Mississippi subsidizing your university education, not counting scholarships, loans, grants, etc.?

We are being paid $30 an hour to go to school full time.

How many hours a week must you devote to your studies?

40.

How much does missing class affect your course grades?

Missing just 10% of your classes cuts your chances of making an A in half, and it makes it 7 times likelier that you will fail.

Why must you take notes in class?

Because taking notes is the first step to learning the notes.

Where should you try to sit in class, and why?

In the front, it will help you see, hear, and understand better.

Why should you never use a cell phone in class?

Because it is disrespectful to the professor and it is a distraction to yourself.

What do experts agree is the single most important factor in succeeding at university?

Time management.

What object must you have in order to manage your time effectively?

A planner

How should you use one of these?

Write down every single thing you need to do and the exact time and date it has to be done.

What is the "planning fallacy" that you must avoid?

Underestimating the amount of time it will take to complete a task.

What is the best way to take class notes?

Write down a brief summary of what the professor says instead of every word he says.

What should you do as soon as possible after class?

Review you notes

When should you read the textbook?

Before you go to class.

When should you ask questions?

Before the next class.

What kind of questions should you ask?

Questions specific to what you don't understand.

When should you study for a test?

Over several days before the test.

What is a good trick for learning material as you are studying it?

Saying it out loud.

What should you do before a test (besides study)?

Get plenty of sleep, arrive early, stay calm, breathe, stay confident and alert.

What should you do once you get the test?

Scan the test and pace yourself.

If you don't know the answer to a true-false or multiple-choice test question, should you guess?

Yes

What should you do when you finish a test?

Check your answers.

How should you take an essay test?

Read all the questions first. Make an outline, write large and clear, ask professor if they want phrases and lists or key points. After finishing your answer, read back over the outline to make sure you didn't leave anything out.

If you do not know the answer to an essay test question, should you write everything you do know instead? Why?

No, because professors don't like when you bull sling, which will make them annoyed when grading all of your other answers that you actually knew the answer to.

If you repeatedly study thoroughly for a test, know the material well before the test, but then "freeze" when you actually take the test and can't remember or express the material anymore, what is your problem called and what should you do about it?

Test anxiety. Go to the counseling center and get treatment.

When you get your test back, what should you do?

Discover your mistakes and talk to a TA or your professor about them and learn from them.

If you have a problem, how soon should you get help with it?

As soon as possible

What does it mean to "make a difference of one"?

Join an organization or group to be a part of something and pave the way for you to make a difference at MSU.

Approximately many student organizations are there at Mississippi State?

Over 300

How many of them should you get involved with your first semester here?

Two or three.

Besides The Insider's Guide to Mississippi State University, what is a good book on how to get good grades in your courses? (Hint: Look in the footnotes!)

The A Game by Dr. Kenneth Sufka.

What should you be sure to do, and not do, when if you email your professor?

Use your University email address, fill in the subject header, say who you are, what class and section you are in, and use real sentences, not text talk.

How quickly should you expect your professor to respond to your email?

Not immediately and not on weekends or evenings.

Which is usually better: emailing your professors, or calling their office phones?

Emailing

Is it usually okay to call your professors at home?

No

When you are talking to your professors in person, what things should you be sure not to do?

Do not be texting or looking at your phone, don't chew gum.

How do you know what to call your professors?

They will usually tell you, if they don't you can ask or look on the faculty-staff directory on the MSU website.

What unforgivable classroom behavior do professors hate the most?

Texting.

What other irritating classroom behaviors should you avoid?

Showing up late, walking between the professor and the class, getting up in the middle of class, leaving class to answer your phone, eating or drinking in class, talking to other classmates during lecture, not taking notes, packing up early, doing other homework, studying for other classes, pleasure reading, sleeping, showing up to class sick, dressing inappropriately, coming onto your professors or TAs, behaving rudely or disrespectfully to other students, being rude to a guest speaker, and skipping class.

What annoying questions should you not ask your professor?

If you missed anything important when you missed class, what you have to do to get a specific grade, asking a question that is answered on the syllabus, asking what's going to be on the test, asking if you have to read a book that is listed as "required", telling your professor you won't be there, then asking if it's okay with them, asking if it's okay to miss class to work on something for another class.

What are "attitudes of entitlement"?

Expecting something for nothing, expecting a lot when you give a little

What "attitudes of entitlement" do professors generally dislike?

Saying you got A's in high school but you're doing bad in college, asking that your professor expects you to do all the work they give you, saying the work that your professor gives you is busy work, saying something isn't fair, saying you'll sue, saying you're telling someone of a higher rank, having your parents call, saying you pay your professor's salary, saying your professor didn't tell you what would be on the test, saying you aren't good at a specific kind of test, you are too smart for their tests, you deserved more credit, or the question was unfair.

What is the MSU Honor Code?

It requires you not to lie, cheat, or steal, and to report any lying, cheating, or stealing that you see or suspect.

What is plagiarism, and how do you know if you have committed it?

Presenting someone else's words or ideas as your own, without clearly citing where they came from.

Who is our Athletic Director, and what did he do before that?

John Cohen. He played baseball and coached baseball at MSU.

What key things does MSU Athletics provide? (Hint: There are six general things.)

Pride, involvement, excellence, revenue, entertainment, and marketing.

When should you boo an MSU team?

Never.

About how much money is in the annual Athletic Department budget?

About 100 million dollars

About how much of that money comes from the academic side of the University?

None

What is referred to as "MSU Athletics' Finest Hour"?

When the 1963 MSU Men's basketball team went to the NCAA tournament to compete for a national championship against other integrated teams. This paved the way for the integration of MSU.

Why had MSU not gone to a national basketball tournament prior to 1963?

Because it was against a long-honored custom of Mississippi for white Mississippi teams to play in an integrated tournament.