Chowan U. invites public to help mark its 160 years

By Frank Roberts

In 1848, Dr. Godwin Cotton Moore wanted to give women an opportunity to get a college education. So he organized a four-year college and referred to it as the Chowan Baptist Female Institute.

In 1910, men got into the act and the name was shortened to Chowan College. Two years ago, it became Chowan University.

On Saturday, the school will celebrate its 160th anniversary. The last large celebration was 10 years ago, when events were held mostly for students.

"This is the first time we've had something like this with invitations to the public," said John A. Hinton, chair of the Anniversary Committee.

Special invitations to the 160th anniversary celebration have gone out to the classes of 1961 and '62.

"We expect about 35 or 40 people from those classes," Hinton said.

They and the other visitors will keep busy. The celebration began Monday, the first four days featur e activities mostly for students.

Friday through Sunday the accent is on athletics, with golf, volleyball, soccer and football games highlighted by a Saturday football contest between Chowan and Livingstone College.

A pep rally will be Friday night, with the traditional bonfire followed by fireworks.

A reunion banquet for the men and women who graduated in '61 and '62 will be Saturday.

On Sunday morning, an anniversary worship service and religious heritage lecture will be at Murfreesboro Baptist Church.

The private university is affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina but accepts students of all backgrounds.

Its student body numbers about 900. The reunion will host many from the immediate area, plus many who will travel to Hertford County for the event.

"President (Chris) White wants to get... people on campus to see how pretty we are," Hinton said. "We've been in disrepair for about six years. He's really turned things around."

The Distinguished Alumni Reception will be on Saturday, with a program and dinner honoring "those that have made Chowan University proud through its 160-year history," Joshua E. Barker, director of University Relations, said in a press release.

"Except for the big football game, everything is free. That's for students, alumni and the general public," Hinton said. "It's going to be a big weekend."