Founded in 1891
Dr. Charles McIver founded UNCG (then called the State Normal School) and also served as its first president. He traveled all throughout North Carolina to lobby legislators and recruit students. In 1899, after a typhoid fever epidemic struck the campus, taking the lives of 13 students and a staff member, he accompanied each of their bodies home.
A statue was erected on the State Capitol grounds in Raleigh. The statue was created through the donations of the pennies from school children, many of whom owed their educations to the teachers that Dr. McIver and his faculty trained. It is the only non-military or non-political figure on the grounds. A duplicate stands on campus in front of Jackson Library.
The Rawk
The Rawk is a large boulder donated by members of Alpha Phi Omega in 1973 and painted nearly every day by students, who use it as a giant message board. Unofficial rules govern the use of the Rawk, and students know not to use foul language and messages must be left for at least 24 hours before being painted over. Students know when they can begin to paint over previous message on the Rawk by the two smaller rocks in front of it; one for the date, and one for the time at which the message was painted. The Rawk was originally placed where the Fountain is today, on the hill in front of the Dining Hall.
The spelling of 'The Rawk' came about as a means to express the more iconic status of it. It is a part of UNCG's "Rawkin' Welcome Week," which hosts activities to welcome incoming freshman to the university.
Clock Towers
Students at the University also uphold the tradition of not walking beneath the four-faced clock tower located near the Rawk. It is said that those who walk under the clock will not graduate on time, and some students believe in this almost religiously, avoiding the bricks around the clock tower as well. Only graduates and the occasional unbeliever walk through the middle of the four posts to read the plaque below the clocks.
Students are also told not to depend on the time shown on any of the clock's faces. All four faces tend to show slightly different times.
A new clock and bell tower, the Nicholas A. Vacc Bell Tower, was constructed in 2005 on the site of the old University Bell, at the corner of College Avenue and Spring Garden Street. The bells ring on the hour and on every quarter of the hour in a sequence made famous by the Big Ben chimes.
Spartan Pin and a Daisy
It is also tradition each year to give new students a Spartan pin and a daisy - the school flower of UNCG - at Nav1Gate. The daisy was the inspiration for the original two schools: gold and white (navy blue was added to the color palette in 1987 to provide better visual contrast to publications, merchandise and athletic uniforms). Another tradition is the ringing of the University Bell to open the academic year at the start of each Fall Semester.
Yet another tradition is to place a wreath of daisies at the foot of the statue of Charles McIver at UNCG and on the grounds of the North Carolina state capitol on Founders Day. This is done by the Alumni of the University.
Blue & Gold Fridays
All students, faculty, staff, supporters and alumni of the University are encouraged to show Spartan spirit and wear blue and gold whether you are in class, at work or traveling! Since the fall of 2010, we have deemed every Friday during the academic calendar year as Blue and Gold Fridays!
Additional Traditions
At the start of each fall semester, it is tradition to ring the University Bell to officially open the academic year.
Another tradition is the Minerva statue offering. It is tradition to place apples at the foot of the Minerva statue during the first week of classes in hopes that it will bring good grades for the semester.
Athletics
UNCG is Division I and competes in the Southern Conference with 17 varsity sports. In 1992, UNCG went Division 1 joining the Big South Conference. After five years competing in the Big South, UNCG joined the Southern Conference, which it currently resides in.
To date, UNCG Athletics has claimed six National Championships (five for Men's Soccer in NCAA Div. III and one for Women's Golf in AIAW); 56 regular season conference titles, 36 tournament titles, and 28 individual titles; all in NCAA Division I.*
*As of Spring 2020
Spartan Spirit Groups
The new Spartan mascot was unveiled in the fall of 2004. He was given an exciting new look prior to the 2004-05 school year by Ms. Sherry Lyon, a professor in the School of Textile Products Design and Marketing. The new-look Spartan quickly became a fan favorite at UNCG athletic events.
The UNCG mascot was officially named "Spiro" via a fan voting contest in the Fall of 2011.
UNCG Cheerleaders, Spartan G's (UNCG dance team) and the UNCG Pep Band can be found at numerous UNCG athletic events.
Notable Alumni
Notable UNCG Alumni include:
Steve Almond - Author of Candyfreak, My Life in Heavy Metal, and The Evil B.B. Chow
Gerald Austin - NFL Referee
Claudia Emerson - Pulitzer Prize-winning author
Emmylou Harris - Grammy-winning Country music/folk singer-songwriter
Kyle Hines - Basketball player who is one of only six men's players in NCAA history to score 2,000 points, grab 1,000 rebounds and block 300 shots in a career
Beth Leavel - Tony Award-winning broadway actress
Carol Mann - LPGA Hall of Fame Golfer
Nadia Moffett - Miss North Carolina USA 2010
Alejandro Moreno - Venzuelan International soccer player, former MLS forward and ESPN World Cup soccer analyst
Keith Lee Morris - Author of The Dart League King, The Greyhound God, and The Best Seats in the House
Robert Morgan (poet) - Author of Gap Creek, selected by Oprah's Book Club
Tom Smith - Musician, Fulbright dignitary, IAJE Jazz Ambassador Recipient
Mary Ellen Snodgrass - Author and two-time New York Public Library award winner
Jenny Gleason - LPGA Golfer
Becky Morgan - LPGA Golfer
