University of Tampa - Moroccan Yearbook (Tampa, FL)

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1934 student leaders and cheerleaders This area was only a dream to UT in the early 1930's. UT History 3

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... in a far off land known as Tampa, there was a man named Frederick Spaulding. Mr. Spaulding had a dream; it was of higher educa- tion in the land of Tampa. A dream is only a dream until the work that is needed to make it a reality is complete; so Mr. Spaulding founded and chaired a committee that was to bring about his dream of higher education. In October of 1931, the University of Tampa became Mr. Spaulding’s dream. The University of Tampa was only a Junior College at first and because of lack of space, its first home was the Hillsbourough High School’s Library. Mr. Spaulding became the first President and Paul Strout was the first Dean at the University. The original faculty, which numbered twelve, was hard working and showed potential. The new school decided it needed a sports program in the land, so a Basketball program was created. The school now needed a nickname, so the name the Fighting Spartans was chosen because the then-rival St. Petersburg Junior College's name was the Trojans. The football team was to arrive the following year. The future looked bright and we were getting set to grow. President Fredrick Spaulding 1933 fraternity pledge begins initiation procedures (photo courtesy of the Hampton Dunn Collection) 2 UT History

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 i'he land of U.T. was growing restless. The officials of the school decided that if expansion was going to become reality, they needed a permanent home for the school. The school set their sights on the then defunct Henry Bradley Plant Hotel, which at the time of its construction in the 1890’s was the most expensive hotel in the world. They decided that it would make a majestic and historic home for the school. The city was brought into the picture and after some convinc- ing, they decided to give the school a lease on the hotel for one dollar a year. The eye-catching effect of the original thirteen silver minarets gave the school a mystic mideast look. The school officially moved in on August 2, 1933, and had their first registration in the fall of 1933. This year was also historic because it marked the first publication of the school paper, “The Minaret.” Into the year 1934, U.T. saw the creation of Fraternities and Sororities, plus the first graduating class, which numbered eight. 1930’s saw the origin of fraternities on campus, with Sigma Epsilon being one of the first.