Capitol plays host to celebration

The rotunda of the state capitol was filled with spectators Wednesday morning awaiting a ceremonial re-enactment of the legislative action that created four Arkansas colleges. Act 100 of 1909 founded Arkansas State University, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Southern Arkansas University, and Arkansas Tech University as agricultural schools. Upon their creation, these schools only offered home economics and teacher education to women and agricultural degrees to men.

Today, each of these schools has reached university status, offer many degrees in varying fields and provide higher education to thousands of students from across the state.

"The re-enactment ceremony helped me to learn more about ASU than I already knew. It was interesting to me because for one day, we set aside the competition. The four colleges all came together to celebrate this act," Quan Poole, SGA vice president, said.

Members of the ASU theatre department re-enacted a legislative debate of the 37th General Assembly of 1909.  Bob Simpson, chair and professor of theatre, served as Speaker Rep. J. J. Bellamy.

Jared Weston portrayed Rep. J. L. Brown of Independence County, Donnie Walters portrayed Rep. Oscar Winn of Pulaski County, James Kaut portrayed Rep. E. D. Smothers of Baxter County, and Rob Spencer portrayed Sen. Robert W. Glover of Grant County. The actors dressed in attire suitable for a legislative meeting in 1909, and recited recorded remarks from the actual debates.

"It was a blast. The ASU theatre students did a great job with re-enacting the debate that took place. I spoke with the governor for a few minutes, and it was an overall great experience," Poole said.

Today, Arkansas State University offers 170 academic fields of study and has a current enrollment of over 11,000 students on the Jonesboro campus. Over 63,000 degrees have been awarded to graduates of ASU since this act was signed.

Arkansas State University was originally founded as a regional agricultural training school in 1909, but soon began offering a two-year college program in 1918 and was then named First District Agricultural and Mechanical College. A&M College, as it was then called, became Arkansas State College in 1933, and finally reached university status in 1967.

"From our origins as an agricultural school serving the First District, we have matured into a comprehensive university with both teaching and research missions," Dr. Robert L. Potts, chancellor of ASU, said.

"On behalf of Arkansas State University, I would like to say thank you to the legislature and all of those who help and support us as we embrace our past and imagine our future over the next 100 years," Potts said.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello began as the Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School. It became Arkansas A&M in 1918 and received accreditation as a junior college in 1928. It was recognized as a four-year institution in 1940. However, Arkansas A&M didn't join the University of Arkansas system until 1971.

"As we approach our 100th anniversary, we are constantly reminded that we have always represented opportunity to generations of people seeking a higher education and a better life," Dr. H. Jack Lassiter, UAM Chancellor, said. "That message resonates as clearly today as it did in 1909."

Arkansas Tech became the Second District Agricultural School when Act 100 was signed. In 1925, it became Arkansas Polytechnic School. Finally, in 1976, Arkansas Tech was recognized as a university.

"Because of our commitment to educational excellence and our emphasis on teaching and learning, we are producing what the state needs the most-college graduates ready to shape the future for the next 100 years," Dr. Robert C. Brown, president of Arkansas Tech University, said.

Southern Arkansas University began as the Third District Agricultural School, and soon became A&M College, Third District. In 1951, it was recognized as a four-year institution and became Southern State College. It was renamed as Southern Arkansas University in 1976.

"SAU has roots that run deep in agriculture, but it has grown into a regional, comprehensive, four-year institution with a broad curriculum and a quickly expanding graduate school," Dr. Davis F. Rankin, president of SAU, said. Gov. Mike Beebe brought the ceremony to a close by placing his signature on four copies of Act 100. The original pencil-written document was available for the public to view, and was not enclosed in glass.

"We are here today to acknowledge the past," said Beebe. "The next 100 years will show that all four institutions will greatly expand and exceed the grandest expectations of all of the people in this room. in the future to shape Arkansas."