<< Return to Mile High published Jul 9, 2004 | updated Sep 23, 2008

Colorado State University

From an "also-ran" to an institution Colorado takes pride in, Colorado State University has come into its own. Located in Fort Collins, an hour north of Denver, CSU has enjoyed great success and steady enrollment growth.

CSU was founded as a land grant institution in 1870 as the Agricultural College of Colorado through the Morrill Act, which was signed by then Colorado Territory Governor Edward McCook. The the first building was not actually erected until 1874, known as "the shack", when Fort Collins was in danger of losing the institution due to a lack of funding and very little progress toward building the institution.

Lory Student Center

The Charles A. Lory Student Center is the hub of campus for facilitation of student activities, programs, and services. The first student center was built in 1936 and called "The Union", while the University was known as Colorado A&M. The Union still stands as Johnson Hall, near the Oval. Spurred by enrollment growth, the current Student Center was built in 1962 and named after former CSU President, Charles A. Lory, who served from 1908 to 1933.

The Plaza

The plaza entrance to the Lory Student Center is adorned with the fighting Ram logo and was renovated after the flood of 1997, which destroyed much of the student center. While most of the Student Center was rebuilt better than it had been before, the bowling alley in the basement was not replaced and students lost a very popular 1 credit physical education class.

Morgan Library

The original CSU Libary occupied part of the main floor in the Old Main building from 1880 to 1965. In 1965, the new Morgan Libary was dedicated to serve the growing university. While the new libary provided much more space, the campus soon outgrew the Morgan Library and President Albert C. Yates initiated a fundraising campaign to expand the libary. After raising $22.6 million, the Morgan Library was expanded to better provide for student and community needs.

Intramural Fields

While varsity athletics gets all the attention, intramurals are an integral part of campus life for many students. CSU students enjoy well lit athletic fields for evening competitions and the convenience of a central location of the fields.

Fum McGraw Center

The Fum McGraw center opened in 1999 as the center of CSU varsity athletics. The McGraw Center is attached to CSU's legendary Moby Arena and adjacent to the varsity softball fields and football practice fields.

The center provides state of the art training equipment and weight rooms for varsity atheletes and also houses the Colorado State Sports Hall of Fame Room which highlights the marquis athletes throughout CSU's long history.

Colorado State University Administration Building

Colorado State University Administration Building

Comments ...

Jan 10, 2007 Sonny Lubick

Fight on you stalwart Ram team, on towards the goal, tear the Buffs line
asunder, AS DOWN THE FIELD WE THUNDER!

Sep 4, 2008 Cam '01

You'll always be our Coach Sonny!