College guides written by students for students.
Slippery Rock University Students Tell It Like It Is
So how did Slippery Rock get its name? Here's the story that all the students know...
Many people ask, "How did the town and University get the name Slippery Rock?" Legend has it that, in 1779, Colonel Daniel Brodhead was in command of Fort Pitt in present-day Pittsburgh. Colonel Brodhead pleaded with General George Washington to allow him to lead an expedition into the wilderness. Then, the troops, marching near a creek about 50 miles north of Fort Pitt, encountered a local tribe of Seneca Indians. The soldiers crossed the creek at a place where the stream bed was made up of of large, smooth rocks. Wearing heavy boots, the soldiers crossed safely, whereas the pursuing Seneca, wearing moccasins, slipped and fell on the rocks. The Seneca Indians called the stream "Wechachochapohka," which means "slippery rock." Of course, the details of the legend vary depending upon who tells the tale. Another version has the militia in hot pursuit of the Seneca, with the boot-wearing soldiers losing their balance on the rocks.
When asked which version is correct, former resident expert and fourth generation alumnus, Dr. Robert Watson, Vice President for Student Affairs, is likely to offer a wry smile and say, "Now the Seneca lived in the area for hundreds of years, and the militia soldiers were the newcomers. Who do you think was more likely to slip?"
So is the story true? Slippery Rock kids seem to like it, true or not. At the very least, you don't have to learn to pronounce Wechachochapohka University!
The College Prowler guidebook to Slippery Rock is full of information like this that will make you feel like you know the school inside and out before you ever set foot on campus. We give you insider information, along with hundreds of quotes straight from the students...everything they know you need to hear about the University, and some things the administration might not want you to.
Find out if Slippery Rock has something for you, straight from the students' mouths.
Visiting campus isn't enough.
Read our Slippery Rock insider's guide and discover what it feels like to be on campus for four years.
Discover if Slippery Rock is Right For You.
Slippery Rock University Students Tell It Like It Is
So how did Slippery Rock get its name? Here's the story that all the students know...
Many people ask, "How did the town and University get the name Slippery Rock?" Legend has it that, in 1779, Colonel Daniel Brodhead was in command of Fort Pitt in present-day Pittsburgh. Colonel Brodhead pleaded with General George Washington to allow him to lead an expedition into the wilderness. Then, the troops, marching near a creek about 50 miles north of Fort Pitt, encountered a local tribe of Seneca Indians. The soldiers crossed the creek at a place where the stream bed was made up of of large, smooth rocks. Wearing heavy boots, the soldiers crossed safely, whereas the pursuing Seneca, wearing moccasins, slipped and fell on the rocks. The Seneca Indians called the stream "Wechachochapohka," which means "slippery rock." Of course, the details of the legend vary depending upon who tells the tale. Another version has the militia in hot pursuit of the Seneca, with the boot-wearing soldiers losing their balance on the rocks.
When asked which version is correct, former resident expert and fourth generation alumnus, Dr. Robert Watson, Vice President for Student Affairs, is likely to offer a wry smile and say, "Now the Seneca lived in the area for hundreds of years, and the militia soldiers were the newcomers. Who do you think was more likely to slip?"
So is the story true? Slippery Rock kids seem to like it, true or not. At the very least, you don't have to learn to pronounce Wechachochapohka University!
The College Prowler guidebook to Slippery Rock is full of information like this that will make you feel like you know the school inside and out before you ever set foot on campus. We give you insider information, along with hundreds of quotes straight from the students...everything they know you need to hear about the University, and some things the administration might not want you to.
Find out if Slippery Rock has something for you, straight from the students' mouths.
Visiting campus isn't enough.
Read our Slippery Rock insider's guide and discover what it feels like to be on campus for four years.
Discover if Slippery Rock is Right For You.
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