[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S2163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 35--HONORING MIAMI UNIVERSITY FOR ITS 200 YEARS OF 
                 COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION

  Mr. VOINOVICH (for himself and Mr. Brown) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res. 35

       Whereas article III of the Northwest Ordinance, enacted by 
     the Second Continental Congress in 1787, states that: 
     ``Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good 
     government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the 
     means of education shall forever be encouraged.'';
       Whereas Miami University was chartered on February 17, 
     1809;
       Whereas Miami University is the Nation's tenth oldest 
     public institution of higher learning;
       Whereas Miami University's motto is ``Prodesse Quam 
     Conspici'', meaning, ``to accomplish without being 
     conspicuous'';
       Whereas, former Poet Laureate Robert Frost once referred to 
     Miami University as ``the most beautiful college there is'';
       Whereas Miami University is the birthplace of the 
     ``McGuffey Eclectic Readers'', written by William Holmes 
     McGuffey, who was known as ``School Master to the Nation'' 
     and who wrote and complied the first 4 such readers while a 
     Miami University faculty member;
       Whereas Miami University is cited annually by national 
     college rankings as being one of the Nation's best values 
     among public universities;
       Whereas Miami University is a university committed to 
     empowering its students, faculty, and staff to become engaged 
     citizens who use their knowledge and skills with integrity 
     and compassion to improve the future of our global society;
       Whereas Miami University has continued to fulfill its 
     mission by attracting some of the Nation's brightest faculty, 
     staff, and students;
       Whereas Miami University consistently ranks among the top 
     25 colleges and universities in the Nation for the number of 
     undergraduate students who study abroad;
       Whereas Miami University has a graduation rate that exceeds 
     the national averages for undergraduates, students of color, 
     and athletes;
       Whereas Miami University is known as the ``Mother of 
     Fraternities'', as it is the Alpha Chapter for 5 National 
     Greek organizations: Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Phi Delta 
     Theta, Phi Kappa Tau, and Delta Zeta;
       Whereas Miami University has more than 150,000 living 
     alumni who reside in every State in the Nation and numerous 
     countries throughout the world, where they contribute 
     significantly to their local and global communities;
       Whereas Miami University ranks forty-fourth among all 
     schools for producing Peace Corps volunteers since the 
     inception of the Peace Corps and is ranked seventh on the 
     Peace Corps' 2009 list of the top 25 volunteer-producing, 
     medium-sized schools in the Nation, with 39 alumni currently 
     serving as volunteers and a total of 809 Miami alumni having 
     served as volunteers since the inception of the Peace Corps 
     in 1961;
       Whereas Miami University alumni have a history of service 
     to the United States and include a President of the United 
     States, the Honorable Benjamin Harrison; 9 United States 
     Senators, including one sitting Senator, the Honorable Maria 
     Cantwell of Washington; 31 United States Representatives, 
     including two sitting Members, the Honorable Paul Ryan of 
     Wisconsin and the Honorable Steve Driehaus of Ohio, and a 
     former Speaker of the House; the parents of a First Lady; the 
     grandparents of a President; 6 Governors; 11 United States 
     Generals; 6 United States Ministers to foreign governments; 
     and 1 United States Ambassador;
       Whereas Miami University's alumni include 27 college 
     presidents;
       Whereas Miami University has enriched our Nation in the 
     arts, humanities, and sciences through students and alumni 
     who have reached the pinnacle of their professions, such as a 
     United States Poet Laureate, Pulitzer Prize winners, a 
     National Teacher of the Year, National Institutes of Health 
     Fellows, National Science Foundation award recipients, 
     National Endowment of the Arts awardees, and renowned 
     journalists;
       Whereas Miami University is known as the ``Cradle of 
     Coaches'' for the unparalleled number of nationally prominent 
     collegiate and professional coaches it has produced, 18 of 
     whom have been recognized as national coaches of the year, 
     including Paul Brown (Cleveland Browns), Walter ``Smokey'' 
     Alston (Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers), Woody Hayes (Ohio 
     State University), Bo Schembechler (University of Michigan), 
     and Vicki Korn (Miami University);
       Whereas Miami University has created a ``Culture of 
     Champions'', an environment that teaches student athletes to 
     excel in their chosen endeavors, and which led students to 
     earn distinctions that include a National Football League 
     Rookie of the Year, National Football League Super Bowl 
     Champions, National Basketball Association World Champions, 
     National Hockey League Stanley Cup Champions, Major League 
     Baseball World Series Champions, and Olympic gold medalists;
       Whereas Miami University has contributed to the economic 
     growth of the United States through the education of men and 
     women who have gone on to lead some of our most august 
     corporations such as AT&T, Proctor & Gamble, the J.M. Smucker 
     Company, and United Parcel Service of America; and
       Whereas Miami University is the largest employer in Butler 
     County, Ohio, with an economic impact of over $1,000,000,000 
     per year to the State of Ohio: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates Miami University on the momentous 
     occasion of the university's 200th anniversary;
       (2) expresses its best wishes for Miami University's 
     continued success; and
       (3) requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an 
     official copy of this resolution to Miami University for 
     appropriate display.

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