Last updated on .
Valparaiso University is a private Lutheran university in Valparaiso, Indiana. It’s most famous for its men’s basketball team.
History
Valparaiso University was founded by the Methodist Church in 1859 as Valparaiso Male and Female College. It was one of the first coeducational colleges in the nation. Because many of the male students enrolled in the army during the Civil War, and a bill providing state support for education passed in 1867, the school couldn’t stay competitive and closed down in 1871.
Henry Baker Brown reopened the school in 1873 as the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute. It was renamed Valparaiso College in 1900 and was granted university status in 1906. In 1907, Valparaiso University was the second largest school in the nation behind Harvard. Due to its economical enrollment fees, it gained a positive national reputation and was dubbed “The Poor Man’s Harvard”. Unfortunately, the death of Brown and World War I among other factors forced the school into bankruptcy.
The next president, Horace Evans, tried to settle the school’s debts but was unsuccessful. He asked the Indiana State Legislature to make Valparaiso University public but his request was denied. A dubious point in school history came in 1923, when the Ku Klux Klan made an offer to buy the school and expand it. Fortunately, the deal was stopped due to so-called “legal technicalities”.
The Lutheran Church ended up purchasing VU and took over in July 1925. Under their leadership, the school purchased more land, built more buildings, and expanded enrollment as well as international collaboration. On an unfortunate note, the once-famous law school was censured by the American Bar Association in 2016 and permanently closed in October 2018.
Chapel of the Resurrection
The Chapel of the Resurrection, built between 1956 and 1959, is the largest chapel on a college campus in the country and the second largest in the world. It was designed by Charles Stade and Associates of Park Ridge, Illinois. Concerts and commencement ceremonies are held there in addition to religious services. The chapel has a capacity of about 2,000.
The Chapel of the Resurrection features 95 foot high stained glass windows known as the Munderloh Windows. They were designed by German artist Peter Dohmen (1904-1977) and donated by Mr. and Mrs. Alfred C. Munderloh of Detroit, Michigan. The Redemption Window in the center tells the stories of the New Testament and was dedicated on February 6, 1951. The Creation Window, which tells the stories of the Old Testament, is to the right. The Sanctification Window, which covers symbols from the early church to modern Christian life, is to the left. The flanking windows were dedicated on January 10, 1965.
The Reddel Organ is a pipe organ built by Herman Schlicker of Buffalo, New York. It was dedicated on September 27, 1959, and enlarged from 1995 to 1996 by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders of Lake City, Iowa.
Brauer Museum of Art
VU has an excellent art museum, the Brauer Museum of Art, which has over 2,500 pieces in its collection. Works include pieces by Andy Warhol, Ansel Adams and Georgia O’Keefe. It’s open daily except Mondays and admission is free.
Valpo Basketball
Valparaiso University’s Beacons have built a solid reputation in the college basketball world with several successful seasons. One of the most unforgettable buzzer-beaters in NCAA Tournament history occurred in 1998, when Bryce Drew hit a miracle shot to send Valpo into the 2nd round. The Beacons, formerly the Crusaders until 2021, play at the Athletics Recreation Center. Check the official website for schedules and to learn about other sports.
