Public university in Brockport, New York
State University of New York Brockport (also known as SUNY Brockport or Brockport State, and previously The College at Brockport) is a public university in Brockport, New York. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY).
History
SUNY Brockport was originally founded in 1835 as an institution of higher learning as the Brockport Collegiate Institute.
Over thirty years later, the school, through the leadership of principal Malcolm MacVicar, was absorbed into a New York-wide system of state-run normal schools in 1867 and changed its name to the Brockport State Normal School. For the next seven decades, the new institution would be primarily dedicated to training teachers, although other academic programs were maintained.
In 1942, the school gained the right to grant bachelor's degrees and was thus renamed as the Brockport State Teachers College. Six years later, the college joined the newly-established State University of New York system, becoming the State University of New York at Brockport. Only two years later, Brockport State began to grant graduate degrees, with the first master's degrees awarded in 1950.
Later name changes would again take place in 2005, becoming the College at Brockport, State University of New York, and 2020, when it returned to a name similar to the one originally adopted in 1948, the State University of New York Brockport.[2]
Clubs and organizations
Greek life
In 1869, with the assistance of Professor Charles Donald McLean, the principal of the school, Gamma Sigma fraternity was established at The Brockport Normal School. Gamma Sigma was the first fraternity to be formed at the high school level in the United States. On October 11 of that year, eighteen young men gathered in the chemistry room with the aim of enhancing their skills in debate, original composition, and other literary exercises. The founding members were: Edward L. Adams, John D. Burns, Charles Cunningham, William K. Dean, Martin L. Deyo, John Norris Drake, A. James Knox, S. E. Loomis, John M. Milne, A. Judson Osborn, Frederick Palmer, George T. Quinby, George Hebert Raymond, William H. Sybrandt, James W. White, Stephen D. Wilbur, Ara Wilkinson, and George F. Yeoman. Mr. Yeoman was elected as the first President, and James Knox served as the chairman of the constitution committee.
On a side note, in later years Mr. Yeoman took the oath of office as a justice of the Supreme Court for the Seventh Judicial District of the State on November 15, 1893. In the book "Notable Men of Rochester" published in 1902 by Dwight J. Stoddard, there is a mention of Mr. Yeoman's high level of respect and admiration.[3]
Talon Television and Production (previously Brockport Television)
Funded by BSG, Talon Television is the official TV station club at The College at Brockport. This student-run organization is responsible for producing videos and covering a wide range of school programs and events. The club comprises different departments, including News, Sports, Entertainment, and Promotions.[4]
Brockport Student Government (BSG)
The Brockport Student Government (BSG), funded by mandatory student fees, organizes a wide range of programming on campus. BSG encompasses the three traditional branches of government: legislative, judicial, and executive. The annual budget for BSG amounts to approximately $1,400,000. Among the programming events are the Spring Break Challenge, where five individuals have the opportunity to win $5,000 to fund their preferred spring break destination. Additionally, BSG arranges major concerts featuring artists such as Big Sean, Gym Class Heroes, Machine Gun Kelly, and Kesha, as well as lectures featuring notable speakers like Abby Wambach. These events are carefully planned and executed by the Brockport Student Government in collaboration with the Union Programming Team.
Harlequins Performing Arts Club
The Harlequins Performing Arts Club (Harlequins) is a student organization dedicated to providing a professional theater experience for its members and the college community. Each semester, the club organizes a variety of student performances, workshops, and social events. These activities serve as a creative outlet for students and offer an opportunity to develop the skills they acquire in the classroom. The Harlequins aims to foster a vibrant artistic community and enhance the college experience for all involved.[5]
The Stylus
The Stylus is the student-run weekly newspaper of The College at Brockport. It is financially supported by the BSG Mandatory Fee and reaches a circulation of 5,000 copies.
WBSU 89.1 The Point
89.1 The Point is a student-run radio station located in the Seymour College Union and funded by the Brockport Student Government. The Point broadcasts to a wide audience of up to 500,000 people across the Western New York region, spanning from west Rochester to Buffalo. While the station has several communications majors as members, it also welcomes students from other majors to join. The Point operates various departments, including FM, Sports, News, Production, Circuit, Public Relations, Website, Engineering, and Sales. Additionally, The Point actively participates in community initiatives such as the Hilton Apple Fest in the fall and Coats for Kids in the winter, among other local events. The station's primary goal is to provide students with a practical learning environment while fostering community engagement. The station is accessible to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
