Edward Harrington University

The Edward Harington University (EHU) is both the most prestigious and the only institution for higher education in the micro-state of Colchester Landing. It has served as the alma mater of, among others, the current president Andrew Woodward, the singer songwriter Jeff O’Harra Adams, and the first and thus far only native graduate, Professor Adebayo ka Abimbola, who graduated in 2003. It is well known for its highly selective choice of students, and has been the subject of some controversy as a result of this.

History

Edward Harrington University came about due to the grumbling of local aristocrats and merchants who found it cumbersome (and expensive) to send their children to foreign institutions in Paradise City or Praetonia.

For this reason, they petitioned the then governor-general, Lord Timothy Blythe Anderson VII, to allow the construction of a domestic university. While Lord Anderson’s initial response was to dismiss the petition, he soon relented and gave his seal of approval to the plans (apparently after the lead architect, Johnathan Whyte-Smythe, propounded the “innumerable boons for which such an institution would be responsible to this great city,” - no small part of which would be the income available to the government through tax. Whether Whyte-Smythe's persuasion really was the reason, or as many believe is a mere fable, the university was approved on the 22nd of July 1806, and construction began the next year, on the 16th of January 1807, lasting the greater part of 2 years, and was completed and inaugurated on the 15th of February 1809.

Programs, student base and form

The current student base is comprised of approximately 1,000 students. As mentioned before, admission to the university is somewhat controversial, in that it only accepts students belonging to families of a certain economic and social strata. Those not deemed wealthy enough, are generally not considered for admission.

Upon admission to the institution, students are housed either within the on campus dormitories, or are housed within several apartment buildings surrounding the campus and owned by campus administration. The campus itself is comprised of two large wings, stretching out from a long central rectangular main wing, giving the building the appearance of a squared u encircling a central garden, where students often rest between classes. While the university is small, it is well known for its Classics Department, and Arts department, as well as the Financial Department, which is perhaps of little surprise due to the city’s mercantile nature.

Name and Significance of Site

The university’s name is related to the history of the square and of the city as a whole. In the area where the modern square now stands, a priest by the name of Edward Harrington, who had accompanied Sir Henry Colchester on his journey and aided him in the foundation of the settlement, built the first makeshift church in 1764.

This quickly became the spiritual center of the early colony, and was expanded throughout the years, until an unfortunate fire, started in a nearby shed by a field-worker accidentally knocking a lantern form its perch, all but destroyed the Church and much of the initial settlement in what has come to be known as the Great Fire of 1777. With the destruction of the initial church, and the subsequent reconstruction efforts which had to be undertaken thereafter, the governor at the time, Sir Leander Hamilton, decided that he would build a grand cathedral, on par with those of more established settlements, in order to solidify the city’s place as a true state.

The new church was thus begun on the 31st of April, 1778, and completed some 7 years later in 1785, under governor Porter Calder. It was then consecrated and inaugurated the following year as the Church of Our Lord’s Wisdom, or Ecclessia Sapientiae Domini Nostri. In reference to the prior church, and to the first priest, the square within which the church was constructed was dubbed the Harrington Square, and it was after this very same Harrington that the architect J. Whyte-Smythe and governor Anderson named the university upon its completion some 24 years later.

Controversies

As mentioned prior, the EHU has come under some criticism for its elitism. Some have called it an “old fashioned, out-dated remnant of the colonial past” and have called for entrance to be easier, based more upon academic achievement than economic standing. Supporters of the university’s current administration have stated the belief that entrance to the university is based upon far more than the wealth of prospective students, the wealth limitations being in place to ensure the smooth functioning of the institution, since all students will be able to afford their courses. Indeed, this is true, as the university has rather high expectations for its students, and a failure to meet such high standards is just as likely to result in non-admission as the lack of wealth. While this is an on-going debate, with groups for both sides oft arranging rallies and demonstrations, little has come of it, and the University has not acknowledged either side as of yet.

Trivia

• The university is noteworthy for being the first, along with the presidential office, building to receive a computer and an internet connection in 1979.

• The hit ‘80s single, “On Those Long Summer Days” by O’Harra was apparently inspired by his time studying at the University, and the many hours he spent in the Central Gardens.