Christian Brothers University

Christian Brothers College was founded November 19, 1871, by members of the De La Salle Christian Brothers. The Brothers came to Memphis at the request of the people and clergy of the city, after more than a decade of efforts to persuade the Brothers to open a college in Memphis.^[3]

Christian Brothers University traces its origins to priest and educational innovator, St. John Baptist de la Salle.^[4] De la Salle began a system of Christian schools in which teachers assist parents in the educational, ethical, and religious formation of their children. To continue his spiritual and pedagogical vision, de la Salle founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, known today as the De La Salle Christian Brothers.

Today, the spirit and tradition of the Lasallian community thrives in 81 countries and in more than 1,000 educational institutions. Over 4,000 De La Salle Christian Brothers, along with 56,000 Lasallian lay colleagues (such as Lasallian Volunteers), serve over 750,000 students and their families worldwide.^[5] In the United States, there are over 100 Lasallian educational institutions.

Christian Brothers College officially became Christian Brothers University in June 1990.^[3]

Academics

Schools, deans, and degrees

Recognition

Financial aid

Notably, 99% of Christian Brothers University undergraduates receive financial aid. This is broken down as institutional grants (98%), state / local grants (68%), federal grants (29%), and student loans (58%).^[2]

Demographics

Although CBU is a Catholic university, only 23% of students are Catholic. Religious observances are not required, and 32 different faiths are represented in the student body.^[10]

89% of the students rank in the top half of their high school classes. 49% rank in the top 10 percent.[1] The graduating classes from 2002 to 2006 had a 91% acceptance rate for medical school, and an 87% acceptance for pharmacy school.[2]

Facilities

Campus

Christian Brothers University is located on a 75-acre wooded campus in the heart of Midtown, Memphis, four miles east of Downtown.

The university's architecture follows the Georgian style popular at the time of the campus' relocation to East Parkway. Arch-covered walkways traverse the main campus, allowing students and faculty to get to most buildings shaded from the unpredictable Memphis weather. The campus is enclosed by an iron fence with brick accents with entrances on East Parkway South, Central Avenue, and Avery Avenue.

Outside organizations housed on campus

Canale Arena

Canale Arena, originally called De La Salle Gymnasium, was completed in 1950.^[11] At that time, it was the largest indoor arena in the city of Memphis.^[12]

Student life

Athletics

CBU is a Division II team and a member of the Gulf South Conference. Buccaneer teams include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, and tennis. Lady Buccaneer teams include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.

Greek life

Engineering competitions

ASCE / AISC Student Steel Bridge Competition

Civil engineering students also compete in the annual Student Steel Bridge Competition, sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. Scale bridges are constructed; judging is based on speed of construction, strength and durability of the bridge, and more.^[14]

ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition

Civil engineering students construct concrete canoes to compete at annual Deep South regional conferences for student chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers. These canoes must be able to float and support the weight of several students as they will be raced.^[15]

IEEE Robotics Competition

NASA Great Moonbuggy Race

Mechanical engineering students gear up against competitors from schools across the country to build and race vehicles that can travel over simulated lunar terrain. The competition is held annually at the United States Space & Rocket Center.^[17]

Student traditions

Painting The Rock

Students traditionally paint The Rock. Painting The Rock is spray painting an on-campus boulder, usually to show off one's Greek letters and symbols.

Painting The Rock has its own rules of etiquette. The Rock can only be painted between sunset and sunrise. Any group currently next to The Rock is guarding it, and it cannot be taken by another group at that time (although the occasional fight has happened in the past). The Rock can be painted several times in one night; however, it is tradition among the fraternities not to paint over a sorority Rock for at least two to three days.

The term taking The Rock refers to adding a completely new coat of paint whereas tagging is just spray painting marks on top of someone else's paint, typically to add the names of the painters or insults to the current holder of The Rock.

Older Rock traditions (until the 1970s) include paint fights between upperclassmen and lowerclassmen the first few days of school, but these have been discontinued.

Tunneling, arching, and climbing the Bell Tower

Tunneling is traveling across campus through the school's underground tunnels. Similarly, arching is traveling across campus over the top of arch-covered walkways. Students have also been known to climb the Bell Tower.^[18]

Contents

History