[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 185 (Friday, December 18, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8885-S8886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 338--CONGRATULATING TOWSON UNIVERSITY ON THE 150TH 
             ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE UNIVERSITY

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Ms. Mikulski) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 338

       Whereas, on January 15, 2016, Towson University, located in 
     Towson, Maryland, celebrates the founding of the university 
     on January 15, 1866;
       Whereas Article VIII, section 1 of the Constitution of 
     Maryland, adopted in convention in 1864, called for a uniform 
     system of free public schools for the State of Maryland;
       Whereas, in 1865, the General Assembly of Maryland 
     (referred to in this preamble as the ``General Assembly'') 
     created the State Normal School, which would become Towson 
     University;

[[Page S8886]]

       Whereas, on January 15, 1866, the State Normal School 
     opened in the Red Men's Hall, located at 24 North Paca 
     Street, in Baltimore, Maryland;
       Whereas, in 1875, a law was enacted to authorize 
     construction of a new building for the State Normal School, 
     known as the Carrollton Building;
       Whereas the Carrollton Building was erected in West 
     Baltimore at the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Carrollton 
     Avenue;
       Whereas the State Normal School remained in the Carrollton 
     Building for almost 40 years;
       Whereas, on June 10, 1910, the General Assembly enacted a 
     law to create the Maryland State Normal School Building 
     Commission, which was responsible for--
       (1) selecting a new site for the State Normal School; and
       (2) preparing plans and estimates for the construction of 
     new buildings;
       Whereas, in April of 1912, the General Assembly enacted a 
     law to authorize a $600,000 bond for the purchase of a new 
     site for the State Normal School;
       Whereas, in August of 1912, the Maryland State Normal 
     School Building Commission selected the new site for the 
     State Normal School in Towson, Maryland, where Towson 
     University is located as of the date of adoption of this 
     resolution;
       Whereas the new campus of the State Normal School was 
     constructed on 88 acres of farmland and included 3 buildings, 
     which were known as--
       (1) the Administration Building (known on the date of 
     adoption of this resolution as ``Stephens Hall'');
       (2) Newell Hall; and
       (3) the Power Plant;
       Whereas, on September 15, 1915, the doors of the State 
     Normal School were opened for more than 300 students at its 
     new location in Towson, Maryland;
       Whereas, in June of 1935, the name of the State Normal 
     School was changed to the State Teachers College at Towson 
     (referred to in this preamble as the ``State Teachers 
     College'');
       Whereas the name of the State Normal School was changed to 
     the State Teachers College because, in 1935, the General 
     Assembly enacted a law to require teachers to earn a 4-year 
     baccalaureate degree, rather than requiring teachers to earn 
     a 2-year certificate;
       Whereas, in 1936, the State Teachers College met standards 
     of accreditation set forth by--
       (1) the American Association of Teachers Colleges; and
       (2) the American Council on Education;
       Whereas the Governor of Maryland, Theodore McKeldin, 
     submitted a capital improvement budget of $1,172,500 for the 
     State Teachers College--
       (1) to construct buildings; and
       (2) to acquire 40 acres;
       Whereas, in 1963, the State of Maryland--
       (1) made the State Teachers College a liberal arts college; 
     and
       (2) changed the name of the State Teachers College to 
     Towson State College;
       Whereas, from 1960 through 1970, Towson State College 
     carried out a construction program funded by more than 
     $35,000,000 in Federal and State funds, which necessitated 
     the purchase of land and construction of new buildings;
       Whereas, on July 1, 1976, the name of Towson State College 
     was changed to Towson State University;
       Whereas, in 1988, higher education in Maryland was 
     restructured to consolidate the State College and University 
     System, of which Towson State University was a part, within 
     the University System of Maryland;
       Whereas, in 1996, U.S. News & World Report ranked Towson 
     State University in categories for institutions in the 
     North--
       (1) second in the ``Most Efficient Schools'' category; and
       (2) fourth in the ``Best Sticker Price'' category;
       Whereas, in 1997, after years of discussion and debate, the 
     name of Towson State University changed to Towson University, 
     which was considered a step that would--
       (1) elevate Towson University in the minds of individuals; 
     and
       (2) allow Towson University to develop an identity while 
     remaining in the University System of Maryland;
       Whereas, in 1998, U.S. News & World Report ranked Towson 
     University among the top 10 public institutions in the North;
       Whereas, between January 1, 2000, and the date of adoption 
     of this resolution, 14 new structures were constructed on the 
     campus of Towson University;
       Whereas, in 2001, Towson University joined the Colonial 
     Athletic Association, which is a collegiate conference 
     affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association 
     (commonly known as the ``NCAA'');
       Whereas Towson University has 19 Division I athletic teams;
       Whereas, in 2003, the name of Minnegan Stadium at Towson 
     University was changed to Johnny Unitas Stadium in honor of 
     former Baltimore Colts quarterback, Johnny Unitas;
       Whereas, in 2013, Towson University in Northeastern 
     Maryland opened, which allows a student of Harford Community 
     College or Cecil College to complete a 4-year degree in any 
     of 6 programs;
       Whereas the National Security Agency and the Department of 
     Homeland Security designated Towson University as a National 
     Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and 
     Cyber Defense;
       Whereas the College of Education at Towson University is 
     the oldest, largest, and preeminent producer of teachers in 
     the State of Maryland;
       Whereas an economic impact study entitled ``Towson 
     University's Economic Impact'', published in 2015, found that 
     Towson University had a $139,400,000,000 total economic 
     impact on the economy of the State of Maryland between 1866 
     and 2014;
       Whereas Towson University evolved from the State Normal 
     School with 11 students to 1 of the largest universities in 
     Maryland, comprised of 6 distinct colleges with a total 
     enrollment of more than 22,000 students; and
       Whereas the sustained commitment of Towson University to 
     teacher education and workforce development has made Towson 
     University--
       (1) a driving force for the economy of Maryland; and
       (2) a positive influence on the lives of graduates of 
     Towson University and students of graduates of Towson 
     University: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates Towson University on the 150th 
      anniversary of the founding of the university;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the administrators, 
     professors, students, and staff of Towson University, who 
     have contributed to the success of Towson University; and
       (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) the president of Towson University; and
       (B) the interim provost and vice president for academic 
     affairs of Towson University.

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