2014 -- S 2571

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF BROWN

UNIVERSITY ON FEBRUARY 17, 2014

     Introduced By: Senators Goldin, Paiva Weed, Felag, DiPalma, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2014

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, In July of 1763, James Manning presented a plan for a college to a group of

gentlemen in Newport. The plan was that the institution should be a Baptist one, but that other

denominations should be included in its governance; and

     WHEREAS, The charter was laid before the General Assembly in August of 1763, but

postponed while it was redrafted. The General Assembly met in East Greenwich beginning on the

last Monday in February in 1764 during which time the charter was resubmitted; and

     WHEREAS, The "Act for the Establishment of a College or University within this

Colony" was passed by the House of Magistrates on March 2, 1764, and on March 3rd the Upper

House concurred. The Act was signed and sealed by the Governor, Samuel Ward, and the

Secretary, Edward Thurston, at Newport on October 24, 1765; and

     WHEREAS, The preamble of the Charter sets forth the purposes of the institution as

follows:, "Whereas institutions for liberal education are highly beneficial to society by forming

the rising generation to virtue, knowledge, and useful literature, and thus preserving in the

community a succession of men duly qualified for discharging the offices of life with usefulness

and reputation"; and

     WHEREAS, The charter included a majority of Baptists among its trustees, as well as

Quakers, Congregationalists and Episcopalians, reflecting the spirit of Roger Williams' vision of

a colony with freedom of conscience; and

     WHEREAS, The twenty-four original incorporators of "Rhode Island College" were

sworn in as members in September of 1764 and included Governors Stephen Hopkins and Samuel

Ward; and

     WHEREAS, At its second meeting in September of 1765, the members named James

Manning as its first President and Professor, whose parsonage in Warren served as the

schoolhouse; and

     WHEREAS, The college's first commencement was in September of 1769, and had only

seven students; and

     WHEREAS, The cornerstone of a college edifice was laid in May of 1770, on the east

side of Providence; and

     WHEREAS, In September of 1804, the College was renamed "Brown University in

Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, Providence Plantations" in honor of Nicholas Brown,

Jr., class of 1786, trustee and fellow of the University and benefactor; and

     WHEREAS, The first master's degrees were granted in 1888, and the first doctorates in

1889. Women were admitted as students in October of 1891; and

     WHEREAS, Pembroke College was the name given to the Women's College in 1928. In

July of 1971, the offices of Pembroke and Brown Universities were fully merged; and

     WHEREAS, Today, Brown University is the seventh oldest college in the United States;

and

     WHEREAS, Brown University was the first Ivy League school to accept students from

all religious affiliations, a testament to the spirit of openness that still typifies the institution

today; and

     WHEREAS, Brown University includes undergraduate and graduate programs, plus the

Warren Alpert Medical School, School of Public Health, School of Engineering, Executive

Master of Healthcare Leadership and the IE Brown Executive MBA; and

     WHEREAS, Brown University has sought to attract, challenge, and cultivate

intellectually independent and creative scholars who are educated deeply about the history,

knowledge and traditions of their respective academic disciplines, while being encouraged to

advance knowledge at areas beyond disciplinary boundaries and make an impact on the world;

and

     WHEREAS, Brown University accepts first-year domestic students on a need-blind basis,

opening the opportunity for a higher education to thousands of applicants; and

     WHEREAS, Brown University's student body has grown from one student its first year,

fourteen year old William Rogers of Newport, enrolled in 1765 to a student body with 6,182

undergraduate students, 1,974 graduate students; and 463 medical students; and

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     WHEREAS, Brown University is among the most selective institutions of higher

education in the United States, admitting only 9.2% of undergraduate applicants and 17% of

graduate applicants; and

     WHEREAS, Brown University employs over seven hundred faculty and four thousand

five hundred employees making it among the top private employers in the state; and

     WHEREAS, Brown University attracts and spends $170 million on research annually,

making it the leading center of scientific research and development in the state; and

     WHEREAS, The Brown University approach to research combines an unprecedented

degree of multidisciplinary, integrative scholarship, porous boundaries between departments, a

world-class medical school, a highly innovative engineering program, and a deepening

partnership with the Rhode Island School of Design to create a unique academic culture of

"constructive irreverence"; and

     WHEREAS, Brown University research contributes to innovations in brain science and

rocket science, in biomedical engineering and computational molecular biology, in public health

and population health, in physics, mathematics and archaeological discovery, in geology and

planetary exploration, and in the visual, performing, and literary arts; and

     WHEREAS, Brown University generates 8,200 jobs in Rhode Island through direct

payroll employees, purchasing, construction, student and visitor spending; and

     WHEREAS, Brown University is a national leader in providing support to its host

municipality; and

     WHEREAS, Brown University is launching fifteen months of events and activities

celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding with a weekend of celebrations, lectures,

forums, conferences, discussions, exhibits and performances, music, anthology of writings, video,

audio, web-based story corps of alumni perspectives, and open house on March 7th; and

     WHEREAS, The events of March 7th will include bringing three hundred middle school

students from across Rhode Island to campus for a day of learning and discovery to meet with

professors and students; and

     WHEREAS, Brown University continues to produce a succession of graduates "duly

qualified for discharging the offices of life with usefulness and reputation"; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby encourages and supports the efforts of Brown University to commemorate and celebrate

the 250th Anniversary of its founding; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby conveys its collective wishes for continued

research and discovery, innovation in education, enduring contributions to the state and service to

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the community; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby welcomes this semiquincentenary celebration as an

opportunity to celebrate Brown University's accomplishments, consider the Brown University of

today, and imagine Brown University's future in the 21st century and beyond; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Governor and the Chancellor and President

of Brown University.

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