Canisius College was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. It is a private college in the Hamlin Park neighborhood of Buffalo, New York, United States. One of 28 Jesuit institutions in the nation, Canisius offers 145 undergraduate majors and minors and around 35 master’s and certificate programs. The college sponsors 20 NCAA Division 1 Athletic teams and is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
History
Pharrell Williams - Happy (Canisius College Edition - Buffalo, NY) - Pharrell Williams - Happy (Canisius College Edition - Buffalo, NY) Filmed, Directed and Edited by Brianna Blank, Brett Deneve, Tyler Kauffmann, Jamiah Mootry, Esther Silfa and David Turley.
"Canisius" has its roots in the Jesuit community that arose from disputed ownership of St. Louis Church in Buffalo in 1851. Rev. Lucas Caveng, a German Jesuit, along with 19 families from St. Louis Church, founded St. Michael's Church on Washington St. The college followed, primarily for serving sons of German immigrants, along with the high school in 1870, first at 434 Ellicott St. and next to St. Michael's. In 1913 construction of the Old Main building at 2001 Main St. was completed. The early presidents of the college were German Jesuits.
Academics
Canisius offers more than 100 majors, minors, and special programs. The college is accredited by the Middle States Association Commission on Higher Education, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). In fall 2009, Canisius College introduced a new major in Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation. Other new majors include Creative Writing, Health and Wellness, and Journalism. With the George E. Schreiner '43, MD, Pre-Medical Center as an asset, the college caters strongly to the biological and health science fields and holds close relationships with both the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM).
Student life
Canisius has on campus about 90 clubs and organizations, vetted by the Undergraduate Student Association and its Senators. Program offerings include the Best of Buffalo series, Fusion game nights, the Fall Semi-Formal, the "Mr. Canisius" competition, the Mass of the Holy Spirit with Fall BBQ and Bonfire, Griffin Week, and Griff Fest (formerly "Quad Party" & "Springfest"). With a growing student population in its colleges, Buffalo has begun offering free Canal-side concerts, along with "Shakespeare in the Park", the Polish Broadway Market, Silo City "Boom Days" (on Buffalo's industrial history), and Dyngus Day.
The last day of classes was traditionally known as "Quad Party" until 2008 when a SWAT team was used to prevent underage drinking in and around the campus.
Athletics
The Canisius College Golden Griffins are composed of 16 teams including men and women's basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, and swimming and diving. Men's sports include baseball, ice hockey, and golf. Women's sports include volleyball and softball. The Golden Griffins compete in the NCAA Division I and are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) for most sports, except for men's ice hockey which competes in the Atlantic Hockey Association. In 2013, the men's ice hockey team won its first Atlantic Hockey Championship, earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament. In 2008, Canisius men's lacrosse won the MAAC tournament and earned its first bid to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament.
The Women's Lacrosse team won MAAC Championships four years in a row (2010-2014). The 2008 Baseball team won its first regular season MAAC championship, with a 41-13 season, and the following year made its first appearance in the MAAC Championship game. In 2013, the team won the MAAC Championship and received its first bid to the NCAA tournament. The Canisius College softball team won the 2009 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament for its 3rd consecutive title, marking the team's 11th trip to the NCAA tournament in 15 years. In its rivalry with Niagara University Canisius won the Canal Cup two of the first three years (2008 and 2009). Intramural sports are also offered for students, faculty, and staff.
Canisius' mascot is the Golden Griffin. The use of a griffin arose from the fact that Robert de La Salle who explored Lake Erie in a ship named Le Griffon had received a Jesuit education. The college adopted the griffin in 1932, after Charles A. Brady ('33) wrote a story in a Canisius publication honoring Buffalo's centennial year as a city. Brady wrote about Rene-Robert LaSalle's Le Griffon, which was built in Buffalo. The griffin was first used on the La Salle medal in 1932 and from there spread to the college newspaper and sports teams. According to GoGriffs.com, the griffin is a "legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; and an eagle's talons as its front feet." It represents values such as courage, boldness, intelligence, and strength befitting students and athletes alike.
The College was also the first home field of the Buffalo All-Americans of the early National Football League. Around 1917 Buffalo manager Barney Lepper signed a lease for the team to play their home games at Canisius College. The All-Americans played games at Canisius before relocating to Bison Stadium in 1924.
Greek life
Canisius College's fraternities and sororities are overseen by the Canisius College Office of Student Life; hazing is ruled out. The three college-approved Greek organizations on campus are the Lambda chapter of the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp), the sorority Phi Sigma Sigma, and the professional organization Alpha Kappa Psi (AK Psi). Also there is a Classics Club which fosters interest in the study of ancient Greek and Roman history, language, and culture; it hosts events like readings and discussions of ancient texts, Saturnalia, and alcohol-free toga parties. The club fosters the Jesuit value of a Classical education, as well as cura personalis.
ROTC
Canisius College is the Reserve Officer Training Corps hub for Western New York. The Golden Griffin Battalion is composed of students from Canisius, University at Buffalo (UB), Hilbert College, D'Youville College, Daemen College, Medaille College, Buffalo State College, and Erie Community College. In 2008, the ROTC battalion won the MacArthur Award as the top battalion in the east region.
Rankings
Canisius earned the 34th spot in the top tier of U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 rankings of America’s Best Regional Universities â€" North. U.S. News also ranked Canisius thirteenth in the 2016 "Great Schools, Great Prices" listing among regional universities in the North. Canisius earned the twenty-seventh spot among 49 regional universities in the North in U.S. News' Best Colleges for Veterans Ranking for 2016. Canisius College alumni ranked first (1st), overall, in New York State on the 2014 CPA exam cycle, with a 75 percent pass rate, in the category of medium programs. The college also boasts a strong Pre-Medical program that has continuously shown greater than 85% acceptance rates to graduate medical programs
Campaign for Canisius
In the fall of 2007, the college announced plans to raise $90 million by the year 2012 for capital improvements and to enhance the college’s endowment. A Legacy of Leadership: The Campaign for Canisius College was the largest fund-raising initiative in the college’s history. Of the $90 million goal, $47 million was designated to fund the creation of an interdisciplinary science center at the college. The undertaking created a vital physical and visual connection between various parts of the campus. Included in this program was the full acquisition of a 1,500 space parking garage which provided room for additional commuter students. The college announced on November 20, 2008 the acquisition of the building from The Uniland Partnership of Delaware LP. A Legacy of Leadership: The Campaign for Canisius concluded on May 31, 2012 and surpassed its goal by $5.5 million. Phase I of the college's interdisciplinary science center (Science Hall) opened in August 2012.
Accessibility
Canisius is served by two stations on the Buffalo Metro Rail, the Humboldt-Hospital Station near Sisters Hospital and the Delavan Canisius College Station near the Koessler Athletic Center, at opposite ends of the campus, as well as by Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority by bus. Shuttle service and Metro passes are also available for students.
Student run media
The student weekly newspaper is The Griffin, which replaced The Canisian in 1933 and went online in 2013. The annual Quadrangle magazine contains student writings, artwork, and photographs. The Azuwur is the College yearbook. Public-access television cable TV broadcasts to Canisius College from its fourth floor studio at Lyons Hall. The WIRE, replacing WCCG, is the college's radio station, which broadcasts over the campus television system and is online through the College website. The Courier is a magazine-style opinion-orientated publication, begun in 2006. It allows students to freely express their opinions, however controversial.
Buildings
Christ the King Chapel
Christ the King Chapel, designed by Buffalo architect Duane Lyman, is centrally located to "symbolize its importance". It was completed in 1951 and has seating for 492.
Science Hall
Science Hall was built as a Sears and Roebuck store in 1929. The college has allocated $68 million for its renovation, over $35 million of which has been raised with help from the John R. Oishei Foundation.
Science Hall Parking Ramp
The parking ramp originally served the Sears and Roebuck building at 1901 Main St. However, throughout the history of ramp, Canisius students have used it for parking, with Sears advertising in The Griffin that parking was free. Acquisition of the property has eliminated parking problems.
Churchill Academic Tower
The 11-story Churchill Academic Tower was built in 1971, designed by Leroy H. Welch. It is named for its chief benefactor, Rev. Clinton H. Churchill and his wife Francis. The Tower is routinely derided but serves as a highly functional space.
Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library
Built in 1957 and upgraded in 1988 and from 2013 through 2015, Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library, named for Andrew L. Bouwhuis, S.J., college librarian from 1935 to 1955, furnishes extensive area for study and research. It seats 500 people and includes group study rooms, an audio-visual listening/viewing area, a rare book room, an instruction room, a Curriculum Materials Center, and a lounge, along with private study rooms accommodating one to eight people.
The Koessler Athletic Center
Located at 1833 Main Street in Buffalo, the Koessler Athletic Center (KAC) is named after J. Walter Koessler, class of '22. The facility has a swimming pool, two weight rooms, two gymnasiums, and locker rooms and offices for athletic coaches and support staff.
Public Safety Department
Canisius College Public Safety employs armed peace officers pursuant to NYS CPL 2.10, who are authorized to enforce all Federal, State, and Municipal laws.
Notable alumni
Canisius has approximately 40,000 living alumni worldwide who are working in the fields of business, journalism, government, law, medicine, and sports.
In academia, notable Canisius alumni include:
- James Demske, S.J. (Class of 1947), President of Canisius College (1966â€"1993)
In business, notable Canisius alumni include:
- Ron Raccuia (Class of 1990), President and CEO of ADPRO Sports
- John Rowe (Class of 1966), former chairman and CEO of Aetna
- Dennis F. Strigl (Class of 1974), President and CEO of Verizon Wireless
- Mary Wittenberg, (Class of 1984), President and CEO of the New York Road Runners
In journalism and television, notable Canisius alumni include:
- Anne Burrell (Class of 1991), host of the Food Network's Secrets Of a Restaurant Chef
- Norm Hitzges (Class of 1965), Texas Radio Hall of Fame, SportsRadio 1310 The Ticket - Dallas, TX
- Todd McDermott, (Class of 1983), Emmy Award-winning news anchor at WPIX-TV, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Michael Scheuer (Class of 1974), CBS News terrorism analyst, former CIA Chief of the Bin Laden Issue Station and author of Imperial Hubris
In government and law, notable Canisius alumni include:
- John Thomas Curtin (Class of 1946), former United States Attorney and Federal Judge for the Western District of New York
- Charles S. Desmond (Class of 1917), former Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals*
- Walter J. Mahoney (Class of 1930), former Majority Leader of the New York State Senate and New York Supreme Court Judge*
- Salvatore R. Martoche (Class of 1962), New York State Supreme Court Justice and former Assistant Secretary of the United States Treasury and Labor Departments
- Denise O'Donnell (Class of 1968), former United States Attorney for the Western District of New York
- William M. Skretny (Class of 1966), Federal Judge for the Western District of New York
- John J. LaFalce (Class of 1961), former United States Representative for New York
- Richard D. McCarthy (Class of 1950), former United States Representative for New York*
- Henry J. Nowak (Class of 1957), former United States Representative for New York
- William Paxon (Class of 1977), former United States Representative for New York
- Frank A. Sedita (Class of 1930), former Mayor of Buffalo, New York*
- Anthony M. Masiello (Class of 1969), former Mayor of Buffalo, New York
- James T. Molloy (Class of 1958), former Doorkeeper, United States House of Representatives*
In medicine and science, notable Canisius alumni include:
- Donald Pinkel (Class of 1947), pediatric cancer researcher; former Director of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
In sports, notable Canisius alumni include:
- Martin Breen (Class of 1947), former center of the Buffalo Bills, Toronto Argonauts
- Bob MacKinnon (Class of 1950), former NBA Head Coach and General Manager of the New Jersey Nets
- Johnny McCarthy, member of the 1963-64 NBA Champion Boston Celtics
- Gerry Meehan, former NHL player and General Manager of the Buffalo Sabres
- Dick Poillon, member of the 1942 NFL Champion Washington Redskins and Pro Bowl selection
- Michael Smrek (Class of 1985), member of the 1986-87 and 1987-88 NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers
- Beth Phoenix, professional wrestler and ex-WWE Diva Champion
- Matt Vinc, three-time NLL Champion 2012, 2013, 2014 for the Rochester Knighthawks
- Cory Conacher, NHL player for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders
References
External links
- Canisius College's Official website
- Canisius Athletics website