Northwestern State University facts for kids
 |
|
|
Former names
|
Louisiana State Normal School (1884–1944) Northwestern State College of Louisiana (1944–1970) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Dedicated to one goal. Yours. |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1884 |
|
Parent institution
|
UL System |
|
Academic affiliations
|
Space-grant |
| Endowment | $20.8 million (2021) |
| President | Marcus Jones |
| Students | 9,389 (2022) |
| Location |
,
Louisiana
,
United States
31°45′00″N 93°05′50″W / 31.750°N 93.0972°W |
| Campus | Rural, 916 acres (371 ha) |
| Colors | Purple and White Orange accent |
| Nickname | Demons / Lady Demons |
|
Sporting affiliations
|
NCAA Division I FCS – Southland |
| Mascot | Vic the Demon |
 |
|
Northwestern State University of Louisiana (often called NSULA or NSU) is a public university in Natchitoches, Louisiana. It also has campuses in Shreveport, Leesville/Fort Johnson, and Alexandria. NSU is part of the University of Louisiana System.
NSU started in 1884 as the Louisiana State Normal School. It was the first school in Louisiana to offer special degrees in nursing and business education. In 1970, NSU became a university. This happened under President Arnold R. Kilpatrick.
NSU was one of the first six colleges to join NASA's Joint Venture Program. Students worked with NASA scientists. They helped analyze data for the 1996 Space Shuttle Columbia mission. NSU is also home to the Louisiana Scholars' College. This is Louisiana's special honors college for liberal arts and sciences. The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts is also on campus. This is a high school for talented students.
NSU offers more than 50 different degree programs. In 2018, over 11,000 students attended NSU. This was the largest number in the university's history. NSU also has more than 70,000 former students, called alumni.
Contents
Discovering NSU's Past: A Journey Through Time
Northwestern State University sits on land used for learning for over 100 years. Before the American Civil War, a family named Bullard owned part of the campus. In 1856, their mansion was used as a convent by a religious group. A school building was added in 1857. In 1884, the town of Natchitoches bought the property. Three large white columns from the old mansion still stand today. They are a symbol of the university.
In 1884, Louisiana created the Louisiana State Normal School. This school was made to train teachers. A local politician, Leopold Caspari, suggested the convent site for the new school. The offer was accepted. From 1885 to 1918, the school offered two years of study for teachers. Later, it began offering four-year degrees. In 1921, its name changed to Louisiana State Normal College. In 1944, it became Northwestern State College of Louisiana.
Northwestern State continued to grow. In 1954, it became the first college in Louisiana to offer a master's degree. In 1966, it offered the Specialist in Education degree. In 1967, it began offering Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Education. On June 18, 1970, Governor John McKeithen signed a law. This law changed the school's name to Northwestern State University of Louisiana. In 1980, the old campus area with the columns was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is called the "Normal Hill Historic District."
NSU also has campuses in other cities like Leesville, Shreveport, and Alexandria. The Nursing Education Center in Shreveport helps nursing students.
2.jpg)
A large piece of limestone, called "The Rock," was placed on campus in 2006. Student groups paint designs on it to promote their clubs. The number of student groups grows each semester.
In 2021, Marcus Jones became the first African-American President of the university. He had worked at NSU for 23 years and is also a former student.
Meet Vic the Demon: NSU's Mascot Story
On November 8, 1922, NSU's sports teams became known as the Demons. This name was chosen through a student contest. The winner received $10. Students voted on the final name. The most popular choices were Braves and Demons. Other ideas included Sharks and Musketeers. Aileen Ritter and Truett Scarborough were the official winners.
On September 22, 1984, the Demon mascot got its official name. The athletic department held another contest. Faculty, staff, and students could submit names. Over 300 ideas were sent in. The grand prize was a trip to the Louisiana State Fair Classic. Ray Carney, an NSU alumnus, won with the name "Vic." This name is short for "Victory."
Jim Croce's Connection to NSU
Singer-songwriter Jim Croce performed a concert at NSU in 1973. Hours after his show, he sadly died in a plane crash.
Student Life and Activities
Student News and Publications
Northwestern's online news source is The Current Sauce. It started in 1914 and sometimes prints special editions. In 2021, the newspaper and the campus radio station, KNWD, joined forces. They now share news on a digital platform called "Purple Media Network." The student yearbook is called The Potpourri.
Campus Radio and TV
The student-run radio station is The Demon (KNWD 91.7 FM). There is also a local TV station, NSU22. Students produce newscasts for NSU22 every two weeks.
Literary Magazine
NSU's literary magazine is called The Argus. Students run it, and it comes out in the spring semester. The magazine features writing and artwork from student competitions.
Music Programs at NSU
The Spirit of Northwestern marching band has over 300 members each year. Any student can join, no matter their major. Their uniforms are purple and white with orange stripes. Other bands at Northwestern include the Pep Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and various smaller groups. NSU also has the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra.
NSU Athletics: The Demons and Lady Demons
Northwestern State's sports teams are called the Demons. Women's teams are usually called the Lady Demons. The mascot is Vic the Demon. The university is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). They compete in the Southland Conference at the NCAA Division I level. Northwestern State has 12 varsity sports teams. There are five men's teams and seven women's teams.
Greek Life at NSU
There are several fraternities and sororities on campus. These are social organizations for students.
NSU Archives: Preserving History
NSU keeps an archive at the Cammie G. Henry Research Center. This center has collections about many different people and topics. You can find materials on figures like Ethma Odum, an early woman TV personality. There are also collections about authors like Kate Chopin and the Cane River area.
Famous People Who Attended NSU
Notable Teachers and Leaders at NSU
- James B. Aswell, a former president of NSU.
- Mike Johnson, a law professor who became Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
- Julie Kane, a poet.
