[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H8710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING ELMIRA COLLEGE'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Kuhl) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 
sesquicentennial of one of the greatest educational institutions in my 
district of upstate New York, Elmira College. Elmira College turned 150 
years old on October 2, just a couple of days ago this year.
  Elmira College was the first college for women with a course of study 
and degree requirements equal to those of the Nation's finest colleges.
  On October 23, 1853, the Regents of the University of the State of 
New York granted a charter to the college, and the cornerstone of the 
building that would later come to be known as Cowles Hall was laid in 
June of 1854.
  In October of 1855, Elmira College opened its doors to its first 
students, and the great, historical Cowles Hall still stands as a 
monument to women's college education in Elmira and the United States.
  Elmira College is sometimes known as ``the mother of women's 
colleges.'' The official college colors, purple and gold, were taken 
from the colors adorning the banners of the women's suffrage movement 
and from the college flower, the iris, which is also the name of the 
college yearbook published each year since 1896.
  Its location in Elmira, the commercial and cultural center of the 
Finger Lakes region, was through the efforts of Simeon Benjamin, the 
college's earliest benefactor, often referred to as ``The Founder.'' 
Benjamin was instrumental in the selection of the college's first 
president, Dr. Augustus Cowles, after whom the college's original 
building was subsequently named.
  Another of the college's founding trustees was Jervis Langdon, whose 
daughter Olivia, an alumna of the college, later married Samuel 
Clemens, to most of us also recognized as Mark Twain. To this day, 
Elmira college has been closely associated with Mark Twain, who wrote 
many of his best known novels in Elmira, in a structure, the Mark Twain 
Study, which was relocated to the Elmira College campus in 1952.
  Elmira college became coeducational in all of its programs in 1969 
and quickly achieved an even gender balance. Entering its 15th decade, 
Elmira College continues its commitment to provide a sound liberal arts 
education while strengthening its professional programs. Its standards 
of academic excellence resulted in the award of a chapter of Phi Beta 
Kappa in 1940.
  College traditions are cherished. The Sibyl, one of the oldest 
student-literary magazines in the country, has been published 
continuously since 1876. Mountain Day, faculty and administration 
``Patron Saints,'' the Midnight Breakfast, and the Holiday Banquet are 
among the many traditional activities which enrich college life.
  While academics are a priority at Elmira College, school spirit 
emanates from its students through athletics. Elmira College offers 26 
varsity and junior varsity teams and intramural sports as well. Elmira 
College strives for excellence both in the classroom and on the field 
by embracing the student athlete. Fifty-six percent of the students 
maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better. National rankings and 
post-season tournament play have also been annual traditions for the 
Soaring Eagles. Most recently, the women's ice hockey team has made 
four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including winning the 
National Title and sporting an undefeated season in its inaugural 
season.
  On the one hand, Elmira College is securely rooted in the local 
community by a tradition of excellence, ``town-gown'' relations and 
reciprocal sharing of resources. A good example of this is the public 
lectures presented by the internationally known Mark Twain scholars who 
are bought to Elmira by the college's Center for Mark Twain Studies. 
Another example is the college's community service program, which has 
been commended by the President of the United States.
  At the same time, the college expands its worldwide view with 
opportunities such as its various innovative projects offered in an 
intensive 6-week spring term made possible by the distinctive academic 
calendar. While proud of its history and traditions, Elmira College 
looks ahead to the future.

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