Geneva College#Athletics

Geneva College was founded in 1848 in Northwood, Logan County, Ohio, by John Black Johnston, a minister of the RPCNA. The college was founded as "Geneva Hall", and was named after the Swiss center of the Reformed faith movement. After briefly closing during the American Civil War, the college continued operating in Northwood until 1880. By that time, the college leadership had begun a search for alternate locations that were closer to urban areas. After considering several locations in the Midwest, the denomination chose the College Hill neighborhood of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. The college constructed its current campus on land donated by the Harmony Society. Old Main, the oldest building on campus, was completed in 1881.

The Rapp Technical Design Center was completed in 2002. A major project to reroute Pennsylvania Route 18, which runs through the campus, was completed in November 2007.[https://www.geneva.edu/news/2015/06/nr-spotlight-construction New Route 18 Open], Geneva College, 2007-11-19. Accessed 2007-11-27. Improvements to Reeves Stadium and the construction of a campus entrance and pedestrian mall were completed in 2009.[https://www.geneva.edu/ 'Experience Geneva Night' mentions wrap-up of construction projects], Geneva College. Accessed 2009-08-31.

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• John Black Johnston (1848–1850)
• William Finney George (1850–1852)
• James Renwick Willson Sloane (1852–1856)
• Calvin Knox Milligan (1856–1858)
• John Calvin Smith (1858–1860)
• Nathan Robinson Johnston (1865–1867)
• Samuel John Crowe (1867–1871)
• William Milroy (1871–1872)
• Henry Hosick George (1872–1890)
• William Pollock Johnston (1890–1907)
• William Henry George (1907–1916)
• Renwick Harper Martin (1916–1920)
• Archibald Anderson Johnston (1920–1923)
• McLeod Milligan Pearce (1923–1948)
• Charles Marston Lee (1948–1956)
• Edwin Cameron Clarke (1956–1980)
• Donald William Felker (1980–1983)
• Edwin Cameron Clarke (1983–1984)
• William Joseph McFarland (1984–1992)
• John H. White (1992–2004)
• Kenneth A. Smith (2004–2015)
• Calvin L. Troup (2016–Present)

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Two bodies oversee the administration of the college, the Board of Corporators and the Board of Trustees; while the Corporators are the legal owners of the college, in practice most authority is delegated to the Trustees, who are elected by the Corporators. Both Boards drafted the philosophical basis on which the college rests, known as the Foundational Concepts of Higher Education.[https://www.geneva.edu/about-geneva/foundational_concepts Geneva College – Foundational Concepts], Geneva College. Accessed 2009-03-02. The RPCNA still takes an active sponsorship and oversight role in the college: the college president, chaplain, and chairman of the Department of Biblical Studies must be members of the RPCNA, and all members of the Board of Corporators and the majority of the Board of Trustees must be RPCNA members. All professors and lecturers in the Department of Biblical Studies must subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith, and all full-time faculty and staff members must submit a written statement confessing faith in Jesus Christ and the Christian religion.

The university was granted an exception to Title IX in 2014 which allows it to legally discriminate against LGBT students.{{cite web |url=https://www.campuspride.org/worstlist/ |title=Worst List: The Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth |author= |website=Campus Pride |date=17 May 2019 |access-date=August 23, 2021 |quote=}}

Geneva offers undergraduate degree programs in the arts and sciences, such as elementary education, business, engineering, student ministry, biology, and psychology. In 2006, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) rated the Business and Accounting undergraduates in the 95th percentile amongst American colleges.

Historically, Geneva offered a Degree Completion Program (DCP) for degrees in Human Resource Management, Community Ministry or Organizational Development for adult students mainly at off-campus locations. Geneva also established the Center for Urban Theological Studies in Philadelphia and has sister colleges in Taiwan (Christ College) and South Korea (Chong Shin College and Theological Seminary).

Geneva also offers graduates studies in several fields and degrees including a Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Higher Education, Master of Arts in Counseling, and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity.{{Cite web |title=Geneva College - Graduate Degrees |url=https://www.geneva.edu/graduate |website=Geneva College}}

Geneva established the Center for Technology Development in 1986 for providing research, prototyping and technical support to local industries and entrepreneurs. The center was awarded first prize in the Consolidated Natural Gas Company's Annual Award of Excellence competition in 1990.

Geneva offers online degree programs for adult students. Currently, Geneva offers online Bachelor of Professional Studies degrees in Child and Family Services, Human Resources, Management, and Organization Leadership. The College also offers an online Associate's Degree in general studies.{{Cite web |title=Geneva College - Online Degree Programs |url=https://www.geneva.edu/online-degree |website=Geneva College}}

Geneva partners with Portage Learning to offer online college courses on their platform. These online college courses are offered to visiting students seeking to transfer courses to their home institution where they intend to pursue a degree. Courses completed prior to matriculation may be used by Geneva students to fulfill degree requirements.{{Cite web |title=Geneva College - Portage Courses |url=https://www.geneva.edu/academics/registrar/geneva-portage-courses |website=Geneva College}}

Geneva College is a member institution of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Council of Independent Colleges,[http://www.cic.edu/about/membership/members.asp CIC membership directory] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920221510/http://www.cic.edu/ABOUT/membership/members.asp |date=2011-09-20 }}, Accessed 2009-08-06 and National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.[http://www.naicu.edu/member_center/geneva Geneva's NAICU member profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607101456/http://www.naicu.edu/member_center/geneva |date=2009-06-07 }}, Accessed 2009-08-06 Accreditations include the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. The chemistry degree is certified by the American Chemical Society.

{{see also|Geneva Golden Tornadoes football}}

file:Geneva college athletics logo.png

Geneva's sports teams are called the Golden Tornadoes. The college is a dual member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III and National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division I.{{cite web|work=NCCAA|url=http://www.thenccaa.org/allmembers.html#East|title=NCCAA Members|access-date=July 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703042737/http://www.thenccaa.org/allmembers.html#East|archive-date=July 3, 2011|url-status=dead}}

File:Geneva College Reeves Stadium stands.jpg

The Golden Tornadoes compete as a member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference. Geneva was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) for many years and competed in the now-defunct American Mideast Conference. Geneva joined the NCAA as a provisional member in 2007 and during the transition process was not eligible for post season play or conference Player of the Week honors until gaining membership in July 2011.{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Gary|work=NCAA|url=https://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/resources/latest+news/2011/june/diii+membership+committee+recommends+four+new+active+members|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705044025/http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Resources/Latest+News/2011/June/DIII+Membership+Committee+recommends+four+new+active+members|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 5, 2011|title=DIII Membership Committee recommends four new active members|date=June 30, 2011|access-date=July 2, 2011}}

The school offers a range of men's and women's varsity sports, including football, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, track and field, cross country, tennis, and soccer.[http://www.geneva.edu/page/athletics Geneva College – Athletics], Geneva College. Accessed 2009-03-02. Geneva has also offered rugby as a club sport since 1994.

The football program began in 1890 under head coach William McCracken. Over the years, the football team has amassed an all-time record of 496 wins, 437 losses, and 48 ties with five appearances in the Victory Bowl. The current football coach is Geno DeMarco.

Students must attend a designated number of weekly college-sponsored chapels to qualify for graduation. Alcohol is banned from the campus, and tobacco use is restricted from the entire campus. Greek letter fraternities and sororities are not permitted.

One of the earliest college basketball games in the United States occurred at Geneva College on April 8, 1893, when the Geneva College Covenanters defeated the New Brighton YMCA.Carson, David M.(1997). Pro Christo et Patria. (2nd Ed.) Virginia Beach: The Donning Company {{ISBN|978-1-57864-006-5}} Geneva commemorates this event through the athletic slogan of "The Birthplace of College Basketball". Geneva also has one of the oldest basketball courts in collegiate sports in the Johnston Gymnasium.

Geneva was founded by Scottish and Scots-Irish immigrants. Many names of campus buildings and areas bear Scottish names:

• The main meeting area of the Student Center is called Skye Lounge after the Isle of Skye.
• The library on campus is named McCartney Library after Dr. Clarence E. Macartney, the son of Scottish immigrant parents.
• The restaurant-style eating area is called The Brig, short for Brigadoon, commemorating a play about a mythical Highland village.

Geneva sports teams were nicknamed the Covenanters until the 1950s. Members of the RPCNA are sometimes referred to as Covenanters because the denomination traces its roots to the Covenanting tradition of Reformation era Scotland. The modern sports nickname of Golden Tornadoes commemorates the "Golden Tornado" of May 11, 1914, when a major tornado struck the college, most notably taking the gold colored roof from the top of Old Main, which was the origin of the associated color. Although the storm caused significant damage to the campus, there were no serious injuries. College students and faculty rejoiced at what they believed was a sign of God's mercy.

Geneva's traditional sports rivalry is with Westminster College in nearby New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.{{cite web|title=Fight Breaks Out At D-III Rivalry Game After Dude Gets Thrown To The Deck|url=https://deadspin.com/fight-breaks-out-at-d-iii-rivalry-game-after-dude-gets-1792419077|website=Deadspin|date=16 February 2017 |access-date=23 January 2018}}

Homosexual behavior is prohibited in the student handbook; students must confess and change their behavior or be suspended.{{cite web |url=https://www.geneva.edu/residence-life/conduct/res_amnesty |title=Geneva College offers Amnesty |author= |website=Geneva College |access-date=August 23, 2021 |quote=Students who struggle with issues that violate the Student Handbook are encouraged to seek support and help. Examples include, but are not limited to, pregnancy, drugs, alcohol, pornography, sexual relationships, eating disorders and homosexual behavior....When students request Amnesty, according to the above guidelines, they are not suspended for behaviors they have engaged in prior to their confession. The behavior in question will have to eventually change for the student to remain at Geneva College.}}{{Primary source inline|date=May 2022}}

• Alexander Hall—Admissions, Financial Aid, Alumni Relations, and the Geneva College Foundation (first floor), and main dining hall (second floor).[https://www.geneva.edu/campusmap Alexander Hall], Geneva College.
• Alumni Hall, the primary music building, including music department offices[http://www.geneva.edu/object/map_alumni Alumni Music Hall], Geneva College. Accessed 2007-09-08.
• Fern Cliffe, faculty offices for political science, humanities, history and English departments[http://www.geneva.edu/object/map_fern_cliffe Fern Cliffe], Geneva College. Accessed 2007-09-08.
• Johnston Gym, built in 1911, Johnston Gym is primarily used for music and band purposes. Originally, per its name, it was used as the college gymnasium.[http://www.geneva.edu/object/map_johnston Johnston Gymnasium], Geneva College. Accessed 2007-09-08.
• McCartney Library, the college library, built in 1930 and expanded in 1965, and named for Clarence E. Macartney. Its collection includes over 371,000 items including a special section of RPCNA historical documents.[http://www.geneva.edu/object/lib_about.html Geneva College - About the Library], Geneva College. Accessed 2007-09-08.
• Northwood Hall, classrooms and faculty offices for business and psychology departments, completed in 1998[http://www.geneva.edu/object/map_northwood Northwood Hall], Geneva College. Accessed 2007-09-08.
• Old Main, classrooms, administration offices (including the president's office), and faculty offices. When Geneva moved to Beaver Falls, Old Main was the first classroom structure, completed in 1881.[http://www.geneva.edu/object/map_oldmain Old Main], Geneva College. Accessed 2007-09-08. It has been assessed as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.[https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce/NET/Reports/Reports.aspx?R=108&T=KEYNO&I=124134&O=A Geneva College], Pennsylvania Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Accessed 2009-09-06.
• Rapp Technical Design Center, technical classrooms and laboratories. Completed in 2002, it is the newest educational building on campus.[http://www.geneva.edu/object/map_rapp Rapp Technical Design Center], Geneva College. Accessed 2007-09-08.
• Science and Engineering (S&E), technical classrooms, laboratories, and faculty offices for engineering, chemistry, biology, physics and computer science departments.[http://www.geneva.edu/object/map_sande The Science & Engineering Building], Geneva College. Accessed 2007-09-08.

• Bagpiper Theatre—Theater hosting productions sponsored by the Communications Department.[http://www.geneva.edu/object/map_bagpiper The Bagpiper Theatre], Geneva College. Accessed 2007-09-08.
• Merriman Athletic Complex—Track and field and soccer.[http://www.geneva.edu/object/map_merriman The Merriman Athletic Field Complex], Geneva College. Accessed 2007-09-08.
• Metheny Fieldhouse—Gyms, locker rooms, sports faculty offices, and other sports-related facilities.[https://www.geneva.edu/about-geneva/campus_map Metheny Field house], Geneva College. Accessed 2007-09-08.
• Jannuzi Tennis Courts—A pair of dedicated tennis courts.{{Cite web |title=Geneva College Athletics – Official Athletics Website |url=https://athletics.geneva.edu/ |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=Geneva College Athletics |language=en}}
• Reeves Field—Football.[https://www.geneva.edu/about-geneva/campus_map Reeves Field], Geneva College. Accessed 2007-09-08. The field is also used by the Beaver Falls High School football team and was Joe Namath's home field during his high school days.{{cite web |title=Beaver Falls High School – Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania |url=http://www.lawrencecountymemoirs.com/lcmpages/55/beaver-falls-high-school-beaver-falls-pa |access-date=17 January 2017 |website=Larence County Memoirs}}
• Student Center—Lounges, Brigadoon restaurant, Riverview Cafe coffee shop, student mail, fitness center and bookstore.[https://www.geneva.edu/about-geneva/campus_map The Student Center], Geneva College. Accessed 2007-09-08.
• WGEV—college radio station.[http://wgev.net WGEV]

Full-time undergraduate students between ages 17 and 23 are required to live in college housing,Geneva College. Geneva College 2009-2010 Student Handbook. Beaver Falls: Geneva College, 2009, p. 30. with the exception of commuters and some seniors.Geneva College. Geneva College 2009–2010 Student Handbook. Beaver Falls: Geneva College, 2009, pp. 36–37. Six dormitories — Clarke, Geneva Arms, McKee, Memorial, Pearce, and Young — house resident students.[http://www.geneva.edu/object/res_halls, Geneva College. Accessed 2009-10-02.] Geneva Arms and Young are apartment-style options divided into women's and men's wings. The college also owns a few smaller houses nearby campus, primarily for upperclassmen, that are available depending on residential need.{{cite web |url=https://www.geneva.edu/cse/first-year-experience/geneva-housing |title=Geneva Housing |website=Geneva College |access-date=2009-10-02}}

File:Old Main Geneva College.JPG|Old Main

File:Geneva Reformed Presbyterian Church.jpg|Reformed Presbyterian Church

File:Northwood Stone.jpg|Stone marking the original campus in Northwood, Ohio

File:Geneva College Alexander Hall front.jpg|Campus-level view of Alexander Hall

File:McCartney Library.jpg|McCartney Library

File:Johnston Gym 07.JPG|Johnston Gym

On December 15, 2006, the college filed a federal lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, alleging that a decision by the state to block the college from participating in the state sponsored CareerLink job service amounted to a violation of the college's First Amendment rights. Although the state argued that the college's requirement that faculty and staff members subscribe to the Christian religion amounted to discrimination, the lawsuit was settled. Geneva's right to access to CareerLink was restored and the college retains a statement on its employment applications stating "Compliance with Geneva's Christian views is considered a bona fide occupational qualification ... and will have a direct impact on employment consideration."{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18278577&BRD=2305&PAG=461&dept_id=478569&rfi=6 |title=Geneva settles advertising lawsuit |first=Michael |last=Pound |date=April 29, 2007 |newspaper=Beaver County Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927214221/http://www.timesonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18278577&BRD=2305&PAG=461&dept_id=478569&rfi=6 |archive-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead}}

In 2012, the college sued the federal government over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") contraceptive mandate, which requires employers to provide health insurance coverage for their employees that includes contraception, which Geneva College "considers abortion, abortifacients and embryo-harming pharmaceuticals" and objects to on religious grounds.J.D. Prose, [http://www.timesonline.com/news/20180709/federal-judges-order-shields-geneva-college-from-contraception-mandate Federal judge’s order shields Geneva College from contraception mandate], Beaver County Times (July 9, 2018). The college, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom in the litigation, prevailed in its case, obtaining a permanent injunction in 2018.[https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCOURTS-pawd-2_12-cv-00207/pdf/USCOURTS-pawd-2_12-cv-00207-7.pdf Geneva College v. Azar], Case No. 2:12-cv-00207, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Order Granting Permanent Injunction & Declaratory Relief (July 5, 2018).

• Josie Badger, Ms Wheelchair America in 2011
• Joyce Bender, CEO, President, and founder of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. International advocate for disability employment
• Norman Clyde, Naturalist and mountaineer
• John Steuart Curry, American painter
• William Fitzsimmons, Singer-songwriter
• Kathryn Gardner, Judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals
• David Girardi, professional football coach
• Cal Hubbard, professional football and professional baseball umpire
• Josh Kail, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 15th district
• Gertrude Martin Rohrer, composer
• David Shedd, Former Director of Defense Intelligence Agency
• John Snarey, Franklin N. Parker Professor Emeritus at Emory University
• Caleb Stegall, Kansas Supreme Court judge
• Dan K. Williams, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 74th district

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Category:Universities and colleges established in 1848

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