WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate has approved a resolution authored by U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker that celebrates the centennial anniversary of the University of Southern Mississippi.

The resolution (S.Res.471) was approved by unanimous consent Friday.  In the measure, the U.S. Senate “recognizes the University of Southern Mississippi for 100 years of service and excellence in higher education; and proudly shares this commemorative occasion with the administration, faculty and students at The University of Southern Mississippi.”

“The educational opportunities offered by the University of Southern Mississippi have grown exponentially since it first opened its doors to students.  I am proud of the university and fully expect its next century to be characterized by even greater contributions and achievements for the people of Mississippi and the nation,” Cochran said.

“Since classes first began 100 years ago at what was then named the Mississippi Normal College, the University of Southern Mississippi has grown into an institute of higher learning that is respected around the world.  The university’s first century has made our state proud, and I expect even greater things for the school in the years to come,” Wicker said.   

USM, with primary campuses at Hattiesburg and Long Beach, is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a Centennial Day Celebration, Tuesday, March 30—the anniversary of the date the institution was founded by Legislative Act as the Mississippi Normal School.

The following is the full text of the Senate resolution recognizing USM.  A companion resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Gene Taylor:

                                      RESOLUTION
Recognizing the University of Southern Mississippi for 100 years of service and excellence in higher education.
Whereas classes began at the University of Southern Mississippi, formerly named Mississippi Normal College, on March 30, 1910;
Whereas throughout its century of growth and expansion first into State Teachers College (1924), then Mississippi Southern College (1940), and ultimately the University of Southern Mississippi (1962), the institution has been dedicated to engaging and empowering the citizens of Mississippi to transform lives and communities;
Whereas today, as Mississippi's only dual-campus university, its innovative faculty continues to cultivate intellectual development and creativity through generation, dissemination, application, and preservation of knowledge, and the university educates more than 16,000 students from over 100 countries;
Whereas the University of Southern Mississippi is currently the home of numerous innovative and internationally recognized programs that contribute to the university's successful research enterprise which generates more than $90,000,000 annually;
Whereas the university has graduated more than 125,000 alumni whose talents and skills have reflected favorably on the State of Mississippi and who have served as trailblazers in the areas of politics, entertainment, law, business, professional athletics, and volunteerism, improving the lives of all they have touched;
Whereas the University of Southern Mississippi is looking ahead as it enters its second century as a premier research university of the Gulf South with programs in academics, athletics, community service, and the arts that are competitive not only in the State and region, but throughout the Nation and around the world; and
Whereas the significance of this centennial in the development of the University of Southern Mississippi, and indeed the State of Mississippi, cannot be overemphasized, and it is with pride that this commemorative occasion is shared with the administration, faculty, and students at the University of Southern Mississippi: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the University of Southern Mississippi for 100 years of service and excellence in higher education; and
(2) congratulates the University of Southern Mississippi on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

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