Talk:Old Main (University of Arkansas)

Senior walk

I'm not at UA anymore, so I can't check it, but I'm pretty sure the first graduating class whose names appear on the Senior Walk is not 1871. For one thing, the school was founded in 1871, so there shouldn't have been a class of 1871 (well, conceivably some one could have transferred in as a senior, but really...). Elakazal 00:12, 19 December 2005 (UTC)

Hmm, I don't know. I seem to remember that the first graduating class had only like 1 or 2 people in it, but I can't remember the year, unfortunately. (Cardsplayer4life 06:49, 4 December 2006 (UTC))

More references!

At this point, this article has only one reference. It needs a lot more... SchuminWeb (Talk) 16:12, 19 August 2007 (UTC)

Definitely; for one thing, the "plaques" section is almost completely bogus. The story behind the "plaques" section actually involves the legends engraved into the base of the columns on either side of the main door; one states "The Arkansas Industrial University Founded In 1871" (the university's original name) while the other cites the Morrill Act of 1862 and other enabling legislation. It was long rumored that one of them at first listed the original board of trustees, but after they were removed the stone was turned around and the present engravings were added to replace them--because they were "carpetbagger" Republicans, not blacks. Nevertheless, the stones were examined during the renovation; they have no other engravings on them. --RBBrittain (talk) 07:39, 16 April 2008 (UTC)

With regard to references, I'm working on a better history of the university and there should be some citations that can be applied to at least parts of this article. In terms of the "plaques" in an official history of the university, the story is called just that, a story. The author even goes so far as to say that hopefully someday it will be verified or not. Along those lines, RBBrittain, you don't happen to have a source for the examination of the stones during the renovation?~ (The Rebel At) ~ 15:57, 16 April 2008 (UTC)

Well, since nothing has materialized in the almost year and a half since these comments were made, I've gone ahead and removed a lot of unverifiable material, mostly legends and rumors, from the article. A factual article is possible, but first all the legends and other stuff made up to scare freshmen has got to go. SchuminWeb (Talk) 00:25, 1 September 2009 (UTC)