Now picture the scene back in 1855-124 students, 41 of them women(!), gathered in the Old Mechanics Building. I imagine the announcement back then: “Welcome ladies and gentlemen, to the first public university in the United States where men and women can actually sit together in a classroom!” (And you thought co-ed dorms were a modern thing.) The curriculum? Ancient and modern languages, chemistry, philosophy-basically, a recipe for very thoughtful dinner parties.
From these humble beginnings, the university became a trailblazer. It was the first to grant law degrees to women and to African American students, and the first public university to have a coeducational medical school-it was equal opportunity before it was trendy. Fast-forward, and you’ll find this campus buzzing with nearly 32,000 students exploring over 200 fields of study and joining some 500 student organizations. So, if you’re thinking of starting a club for underwater basket weaving or interpretive dance battles, you might just find a few kindred spirits.
But wait, did you feel the change in the air? Maybe it’s a creative spark-this is the birthplace of the Master of Fine Arts degree. The University of Iowa was the first in the world to say, “Hey, writing a play or painting a masterpiece is just as academic as writing a thesis.” That decision led directly to the founding of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, the most prestigious creative writing program in the United States. Writers from here have collected Pulitzer Prizes like some people collect coffee mugs-17 of them, to be exact.
And this campus is more than just classrooms and libraries-though, speaking of libraries, the Main Library has over five million volumes! The campus sprawls across both sides of the Iowa River, which means students here are basically experts in bridge crossing (on foot, not in literature). Look around and you’ll notice the architectural charm-the stately Pentacrest in Beaux-Arts and Greek Revival style, the Collegiate Gothic buildings, and an impressive collection of public art sprinkled along your path. Some of it’s by world-famous artists, so if you feel inspired, go ahead and strike a poetic pose.
Don’t forget to imagine the roar of a crowd at Kinnick Stadium, echoing across the river -the Hawkeyes’ battles on the football field have become the stuff of legend, just like the wrestling team’s 24 NCAA championships. Some days, you half-expect Nile Kinnick himself, the famous Heisman winner, to stroll onto the field and start tossing passes!
The university hasn’t just survived historical ups and downs-it’s flourished. There were dramatic floods in 2008, and the community banded together to rebuild. So, whether it’s pioneering sustainability by burning oat hulls instead of coal, or producing scientists, artists, doctors, news anchors (ever heard of Tom Brokaw?), athletes, and even a certain comedian named Gene Wilder, there’s a very good chance someone here has left a mark on the world.
As you walk these grounds today, tap into that creative, trailblazing energy-and if you hear a mysterious whisper in the wind, maybe it’s the next great novelist or scientist hatching their dreams. Or maybe it’s just another student running late for class-either way, welcome to the Hawkeye family!
Ready to delve deeper into the campus, organization and administration or the undergraduate admissions? Join me in the chat section for an enriching discussion.
