MSU MSU History 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In what year did MSU officially join the Big Ten Conference?
- 1947
- 1950
- 1953 (Correct answer)
- 1957
Correct answer: 1953
Michigan State University joined the Big Ten Conference in 1953, opening the door to major athletic competition and greater national visibility.
Question 2: In what year were MSU's school colors of green and white officially adopted?
- 1885
- 1898 (Correct answer)
- 1910
- 1920
Correct answer: 1898
The green and white color combination was officially adopted by Michigan State in 1898 and has represented Spartan teams and the university ever since.
Question 3: The nickname 'Spartans' for MSU's athletic teams was officially adopted in what year?
- 1916
- 1921
- 1925 (Correct answer)
- 1933
Correct answer: 1925
The 'Spartans' nickname was adopted in 1925 through a newspaper contest, replacing the earlier nickname 'Aggies,' which reflected the school's agricultural origins.
Question 4: What was the institution renamed to in 1925, reflecting its expanded academic offerings beyond agriculture?
- Michigan State University
- Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science (Correct answer)
- Michigan Land-Grant University
- Michigan Agricultural and Technical College
Correct answer: Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science
In 1925 the institution was renamed Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science to acknowledge curriculum expansion beyond purely agricultural coursework.
Question 5: MSU's College of Human Medicine was formally established in what year?
- 1955
- 1960
- 1964 (Correct answer)
- 1972
Correct answer: 1964
The College of Human Medicine was established in 1964, expanding MSU's healthcare education and helping fill physician shortages in Michigan.
Question 6: The Wharton Center for Performing Arts at MSU opened in what year?
- 1975
- 1982 (Correct answer)
- 1989
- 1995
Correct answer: 1982
The Wharton Center for Performing Arts opened in 1982 and is named after former MSU president Clifton R. Wharton Jr., who led the university from 1970 to 1978.
Question 7: MSU's main campus spans approximately how many acres, ranking it among the largest contiguous college campuses in the United States?
- 2,100 acres
- 3,400 acres
- 5,200 acres (Correct answer)
- 7,600 acres
Correct answer: 5,200 acres
MSU's campus covers approximately 5,192 acres, placing it among the largest contiguous college campuses in the country.
MSU MSU History 2
In what year did MSU officially join the Big Ten Conference?