University of Wisconsin – La Crosse The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse ( also known as UW – La Crosse , La Crosse , or UW – L ) is a public university located in La Crosse , Wisconsin , USA . It is a comprehensive four - year institution within the University of Wisconsin System awarding bachelor ' s , master ' s , and one doctoral degree . UW – La Crosse offers 91 undergraduate programs in 44 disciplines , and 26 graduate programs with emphases in eight disciplines . In 2014 , " U . S . News & World Report " ranked UW - L the top comprehensive university in the UW System for the fourteenth consecutive year , and the fourth ranked public university offering bachelor ' s and master ' s degrees in the Midwest . In addition , UW - L was ranked in the elite group of 39 national universities highlighted for student success in undergraduate research and creative projects . The UW – La Crosse Eagles athletic teams compete in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference , in NCAA ' s Division III . History . The early years . The university was founded as the La Crosse State Normal School in 1909 , the eighth of nine state normal school s established in Wisconsin between 1866 and 1916 for the purpose of teacher preparation . Thomas Morris sponsored the bill in the Wisconsin State Senate that led to the university ' s creation . Initially , the La Crosse State Normal School was authorized to offer two - year programs to prepare students for the teaching profession . Main Hall ( now Maurice O . Graff Main Hall ) , the original building on campus , was constructed the year the school was founded . The La Crosse State Normal School opened its doors later that same year with Fassett A . Cotton as its first president . La Crosse State Normal School students began organizing several extra - curricular activities within two years of the school ' s founding . In 1910 , students published the first campus newspaper , " The Racquet " , which is still published today . The Physical Education Club was formed in 1912 , making it the longest continuous organization in the school ' s history . The Physical Education Building ( now Wittich Hall ) , the original physical education building , was completed in 1916 after delays due to the start of World War I . This was not the only setback for the school during this period . The school struggled through serious declines in enrollment and funding following World War I and throughout the Great Depression . In 1926 , George M . Snodgrass became the school ' s third president , replacing Ernest A . Smith , who served for only one year . That same year the school ' s programs were expanded and authorization was given to award baccalaureate teaching degrees . This led to an institutional name change the following year to La Crosse State Teachers College . In 1931 the college was divided into separate elementary education , secondary education , and physical education divisions . It was also this year that the homecoming tradition of the " Hanging of the Lantern " began at the south entrance of Maurice O . Graff Main Hall . It was created by English teacher Orris O . White who remarked , " We ' ll hang the lantern in the old college tower . . . You won ' t need to look for the key - the door will be open . " The Training School , which had also been referred to as the Campus School and the Model School , moved into its newly constructed building in 1939 . The LaCrosse State Teachers College Training School Building was later renamed Morris Hall in honor of Wisconsin politician , Thomas Morris . The Training School provided practice and supervised observation for teacher training candidates . 1973 was the last year of operation for the Training School . Rexford S . Mitchell became the college ' s fourth president that same year , serving until 1966 . Post World War II years . After the Regents authorized the nine Wisconsin State Teachers Colleges to establish baccalaureate degrees in liberal arts , the college changed its name to Wisconsin State College - La Crosse in 1951 . It was also this same year that Wilder Hall became the first campus residence hall . In 1956 , the college was authorized to establish graduate programs , which led to the Master of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees . A graduate program in physical education was also established at that time . Florence Wing Library , the college ' s first library , was constructed that same year and began a period of substantial expansion for the college . Over the next 18 years ( 1956 – 1974 ) , the college ballooned from 5 buildings to a total of 23 buildings . The college added 11 residence halls , 4 academic buildings , 2 libraries , and 2 student centers during that time . In 1959 , the college celebrated its 50th anniversary , with an enrollment of 1 , 821 students . That same year presidential candidate John F . Kennedy visited campus and spoke to a packed Graff Main Hall auditorium . In 1964 , the college was designated a university as part of the Wisconsin State University System and was renamed Wisconsin State University – La Crosse . This designation led to the creation of the Colleges of Education , Health - Recreation - Physical Education , and Letters and Sciences . Later , the School of Business Administration was also formed within College of Letters and Sciences . A few years after receiving university designation , the university ' s fifth president , Samuel G . Gates , began his term in 1966 . The Wisconsin State University System merged with the University of Wisconsin System in 1971 , at which time the university adopted its current name and also changed the title for the head of the university from President to Chancellor . Kenneth E . Lindner , who was at the time the university ' s sixth president , became the university ' s first chancellor . Lindner , after serving as chancellor from 1971 to 1979 , was succeeded by Noel Richards , who served as the university ' s chancellor until 1991 . Lindner Forest , a heavily wooded section in the southern part of campus , was named in honor of former Chancellor Lindner . In 1989 , the university ' s mascot became the Eagle . UW – L men ' s athletics teams had previously been known as the Indians ( 1937 – 1989 ) , Red Raiders , Hurricanes , Racqueteers , and Peds and Maroons . The women ' s athletic teams were known as the Roonies , derived from the university ' s school colors of maroon and gray , since the inception of female intercollegiate competition in the early 1970s . They adopted the Eagle mascot a year after it became the university mascot . Since the adoption of the Eagle mascot , the band ' s mascot has been the Screaming Eagle , having been known as the Marching Chiefs before that . The " Eagle in the L " and caricature , which were both created in 1989 , were unveiled just before the fall sports teams took to the field as the Eagles for the first time . They were penned by Dave Christianson , a 1973 arts graduate who created the images after the adoption of the Eagle mascot . The 1990s . In 1991 , Judith Kuipers became UW – L ' s third chancellor , serving until 2000 . She was the institution ' s first and only female leader . In 1992 , Kuipers was instrumental in the creation of the La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium . The consortium , a collaboration of UW – L , Viterbo University , Western Technical College , Franciscan Skemp Medical Center , and Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center , was created to provide cutting - edge medical education , research and training . This led to the creation of the US $ 27 million Health Science Center in 2000 . Under the university ' s strategic plan , " Forward Together , " the university reorganized into four colleges : the College of Business Administration ; the College of Health , Physical Education , and Recreation ; the College of Science and Allied Health ; and the College of Liberal Studies , which housed the School of Arts and Communication and the School of Education . The College of Health , Physical Education , and Recreation underwent a few names changes before eventually merging with the College of Science and Allied Health to form the College of Science and Health in 2006 . The Cleary Alumni & Friends Center along with Murphy Library remodeling projects were completed in 1995 . Construction continued on campus and two years later a student life center , the Recreational Eagle Center , and the Hoeschler clock tower were also finished . Hoeschler Tower becomes a focal point on campus and the new home for the traditional " Hanging of the Lantern . " The 21st century . The turn of the century saw a number of changes at UW – L . The Archaeology Building and Laboratories , which was a US $ 380 , 000 renovation of the campus ' s original power plant , had its grand opening that year . A US $ 9 . 9 million renovation to Wing Technology Center also was started at that time and was completed in 2001 . Another major change was the resignation of Chancellor Kuipers . She was replaced on an interim basis by Douglas Hastad , who was named the university ' s fourth chancellor and ninth leader by the UW System Board of Regents in 2001 . In the 2001 – 2002 academic year , the university ' s athletic teams won four national championships , three NCAA Division III championships ( indoor track and field , outdoor track and field , and cross country ) , and one NCGA title ( women ' s gymnastics ) . Joe Gow became the fifth chancellor and 10th leader of UW – La Crosse on February 1 , 2007 . He replaced Douglas Hastad , who left to become president at Carroll College , in Waukesha , Wisconsin . His official inauguration took place on October 19 , 2007 . Gow often personally e - mail s the entire student body to inform them about student accomplishments and upcoming university events . An accomplished guitar ist , he performed at the Cartwright Center ' s " Cellar " restaurant for students after taking over as chancellor . The university supports cultural events , regional and national conferences , prominent speakers , applied research , health care , professionals with varying expertise , a large workforce , and numerous faculty , staff and student community volunteers . The percentage of the university ' s budget that is state funded has declined over the past few years . In 1996 , students paid 35 % of the cost of their education at UW – L and the state the remaining 65 % . By 2005 , the student share had grown to 51 % as the state ’ s shrunk to 49 % . The university has felt the strain caused by decreased public funding . The university ' s centennial campaign and " growth and access " agenda are both aimed at providing the necessary financial resources to deal with the decreased state funding . The university ' s plans for the future revolve around increasing access to UW – L for talented students of all backgrounds and expanding student research and academic opportunities . Both the centennial campaign and " growth and access " agenda are major tools meant to lead the university to these goals . Construction for a new academic building , Centennial Hall , began Spring 2009 and the building opened for the Fall 2011 academic year . Built at a cost of $ 44 million , it houses 44 classrooms , two auditoriums , the Academic Advising Center , Counseling and Testing Center , Multicultural Student Services , Office of International Education , and Student Support Services . Students in the Spring of 2012 , overwhelming voted in favor of a new student center , to replace current Cartwright Student Center . Cartwright opened in 1958 and an addition was built in 1984 . Construction for the new student center would occur during the 2014 - 2015 academic year , with an opening in Fall 2016 . The new student center edifice was designed to emulate Grandad Bluff , a defining feature of La Crosse . Campus . The campus is located in a residential section of La Crosse . The extensive landscape of grassy fields , trees , flowers , and other vegetation gives the campus a distinct park - like feel . The university has limited vehicle traffic on campus . In 2006 , UW – La Crosse received a " Grand Award " at the 2006 Green Star Awards competition for its campus landscaping from the Professional Grounds Management Society . To the east of campus are the La Crosse bluffs , of which the most prominent is Grandad Bluff ( mentioned in Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain . Downtown La Crosse and the Mississippi River are about a half mile west of campus . Hoeschler Tower ( 1996 ) , located in the heart of UW – L , is the focal point of campus and a popular destination and meeting place for students . It is also the site for many university and student events , such as concerts , fundraisers , the clocktower dance , memorial services , and the traditional hanging of the lantern . Sidewalk chalk is used as a means of communication among students throughout the warmer months . It is used to advertise future events , share personal ideas , and promote political agendas , among other things . Students can live in one of the university ' s residence halls . The newest residence hall , Eagle Hall , opened Fall 2011 and houses 500 students and the new center for residence life . A new , on - campus apartment style residence hall was completed in 2006 . Two 1950s - era residence halls , Trowbridge Hall and Baird Hall , were demolished in spring 2009 to make way for a new academic building , Centennial Hall , which was completed in the fall of 2011 and is the largest academic building on campus . Further construction plans include constructing a new student building to replace an aging Cartwright Center , a new science building to replace an aging Cowley Hall , and a parking structure to replace gravel parking lots on the north side of campus . Plans for campus developments over the next five years call for a new academic building with associated campus landscape improvements and a new stadium and outdoor athletics complex . Notable and historic buildings . Maurice O . Graff Main Hall - Graff Main Hall ( 1909 ) , the original building on campus , contains the chancellor ' s office , a 787 - seat auditorium , classrooms , the departments of Philosophy , Psychology and Modern Languages , and other administrative and student services offices . It was designated a historic site by the city of La Crosse , Wisconsin in 1984 and is on the National Register of Historic Places as the Main Hall / La Crosse State Normal School . Wittich Hall - ( 1916 ) The original physical education building , houses faculty and staff offices , gymnasiums , a track , multipurpose and meeting rooms , a strength training center , a therapeutic / rehabilitation swimming pool , the Musculoskeletal Research Center , and the Special Populations Exercise Program . The building has been renovated for use in the preparation of special / adapted physical education teachers and therapeutic recreation specialists . Administrative , faculty , staff , and graduate assistant offices for the Department of Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation are located in Wittich Hall . The building is also the primary practice site for the Women ' s Intercollegiate Athletics Gymnastics team . Wittich Hall , the Physical Education Building of the La Crosse State Normal School , was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 as the Physical Education Building / La Crosse State Normal School . Thomas Morris Hall - Morris Hall ( 1939 , 1966 , remodeled 1996 ) first opened in January 1940 as the LaCrosse State Teachers College Training School Building . Today , Morris Hall houses the instructional and administrative facilities for the School of Education including the Department of Educational Studies , the Master of Education - Professional Development Program ( ME - PD ) , the Learning Communities Programs , the Office of Student Teaching and Internships , the Office of Continuing Education and Extension , and the Frederick Theater . Morris Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places . Eugene W . Murphy Library - Murphy Library ( 1969 , remodeled 1995 ) , is centrally located on campus . It was named for Eugene W . Murphy in recognition of his 22 years of service to UW – L and the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents . At the time of its construction , the library cost US $ 2 . 5 million to construct . As of 2007 , Murphy Library had a total of 691 , 282 books , bound periodicals , and government documents . The library also offers electronic resources , such as journals and databases . In 2006 , the library opened Murphy ' s Mug Café , which is managed by the campus dining services . Health Science Center - The US $ 27 million Health Science Center ( 2000 ) was a project of the La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium . The building includes laboratory facilities for the Medical Laboratory Science , Nuclear Medicine Technology , Occupational and Physical Therapy , Physician Assistant , and Radiation Therapy programs . Biology and microbiology research laboratories are also available for medical research . Laboratories and classrooms , including distance education classrooms , are shared by all educational programs at the center . A student health center , including a physical therapy clinic , is located on the main floor and serves UW – L and neighboring Western Technical College students . Cleary Alumni and Friends Center - The Cleary Alumni and Friends Center was built in 1995 by the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse Foundation and donated to the university . Members of both the university and the greater La Crosse community meet and take advantage of the conference center , smaller conference rooms , and large banquet hall . The Cleary Center houses the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse Foundation offices and the Alumni and University Relations advancement offices . Centennial Hall - Centennial Hall , the newest academic building on campus since 1974 , opened in fall 2011 . It is located in the center of campus and holds 46 classrooms , including two 250 - seat auditoriums and various academic and student advising departments . A large , open entryway in the building opens up to the Hall of Nations . The room will hold flags from 44 countries , representing the diversity of UW - L ’ s international students . Recreational facilities . Cartwright Center - Cartwright Hall ( 1959 with additions in 1965 and 1985 ) , is the student union . It is home to the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse Bookstore , Textbook Services , TV and reading lounges , a computer lab , student organization offices and resources , the Involvement Center , Pride Center , and meeting rooms . Cartwright Center is also home to the Valhalla theater with a built - in stage and seating for 900 and the Port ‘ O Call fireplace lounge . Mitchell Hall - Mitchell Hall ( 1965 ) is a recreational , teaching , research , and service facility located adjacent to outdoor practice fields , 16 tennis courts , soccer fields , and Veterans Memorial Stadium . Facilities include a swimming pool , basketball courts , wrestling room , dance studio , racquetball courts , and a strength and conditioning center . The field house located in Mitchell Hall has a 4 - lane 200 - meter polyurethane track , long and triple jump pit , pole vault boxes , nets for tennis , badminton , volleyball , golf , softball / baseball hitting , and a climbing wall . Recreational Eagle Center - The Rec Eagle Center ( 1997 ) houses Intramural and Student Recreational Sports . The building includes a field house , a 200 - meter elevated running track with warm - up areas , a strength and conditioning center , a climbing gym , a child care center , TV lounges , locker rooms / shower rooms , and various multi - purpose activity rooms . The Rec Eagle Center regularly hosts campus activities , such as Rectoberfest and the 5K Turkey Trot Run / Walk . Student demographics . As of the fall 2013 semester 10 , 427 students were enrolled at UW – La Crosse . There were 9 , 630 undergraduate students , 797 graduate students , 764 multicultural students , and over 400 international students representing 37 states and 44 countries . UW – L has a student / faculty ratio of 21 : 1 and an average class size of 24 . Academics . UW – La Crosse offers 90 undergraduate programs in 44 disciplines , and 26 graduate programs and emphases in eight disciplines . Microbiology and exercise and sport science are designated as UW System Centers of Excellence , and the College of Business Administration holds international accreditation . UW – La Crosse also offers Wisconsin ' s only nationally - accredited degrees in recreation management and therapeutic recreation , the UW System ' s only nuclear medicine technology program , and offers one of two Midwest undergraduate archaeology majors . Colleges and schools . The university is organized into three colleges : the College of Business Administration , the College of Science and Health , and the College of Liberal Studies , which houses the School of Arts and Communication and the School of Education . College of Business Administration . The College of Business Administration ( CBA ) is professionally accredited by AACSB International ( The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business ) . It provides undergraduate programs , along with a graduate program in business administration . College of Liberal Studies . There are 56 undergraduate and seven graduate degree programs in the humanities , social sciences , arts and communication , education and interdisciplinary programs that comprise the College of Liberal Studies ( CLS ) . The CLS is divided into two schools , the School of Arts & Communication and the School of Education . The School of Arts and Communication has programs that concern the human condition as it is conveyed through artistic and communicative endeavors . The School of Education contains teacher education programs housed in a variety of departments and colleges across the university . Teacher education programs are accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary School ' s Higher Learning Commission . College of Science and Health . The College of Science and Health ( SAH ) accounts for just over half of UW - L ' s total enrollment . The 11 departments of The College of SAH offer 47 undergraduate and 14 graduate degree programs . In addition to a degree 14 pre - professional programs are offered . The Athletic Training , Chemistry , Clinical Laboratory Science , Medical Dosimetry , Nuclear Medicine Technology , Occupational Therapy , Physical Therapy , Physician Assistant , Radiation Therapy , Recreation Management , and Therapeutic Recreation programs are all fully accredited . The college also offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy ( DPT ) degree which was ranked # 39 in the nation by " U . S . News & World Report . " The doctoral offering is a 34 - month program with roughly 45 students . Interdisciplinary Centers . The following university centers and institutes bring multiple SAH departments together in a common research effort . Engineering dual degree partnerships . UW - La Crosse partners with the University of Wisconsin – Madison , the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee , the University of Wisconsin - Platteville , and the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in a program that allows students to complete three years of study at UW - L before transferring to the partnership university for two years to complete the science or engineering portion of a dual degree . Rankings and recognition . In 2014 " U . S . News & World Report " ranked UW – L # 26 among the Midwest regional public universities offering bachelor ' s and master ' s degrees . In 2012 a Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance report placed La Crosse and UW - Eau Claire among the most selective schools in the UW system , behind UW - Madison . In 2014 " Kiplinger ' s Personal Finance " , ranked the university fourth on its list of the " 25 Best College Values Under $ 30 , 000 a Year " . In 2007 , the " Princeton Review " named UW – La Crosse one of America ' s " Best Midwestern Colleges " and an " America ' s Best Value College " . " Men ' s Health " magazine ranked UW – L the 10th fittest campus in the country in 2005 and 12th fittest in 2006 . In 2006 , the school was named one of the nation ' s top 100 LGBT - friendly universities by " The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students " . The rankings were determined by examining institutional policies , commitment and support , academic life , housing , student life , counseling and health services , campus safety , and recruitment and retention efforts . In 2009 , UW - L received the U . S . Department of Commerce Export Award for its international student recruiting and programs . UW - L has hosted the National Conference on Undergraduate Research twice , in 2009 and 2013 . Student life . UW – La Crosse offers over 175 different student organizations in a wide range of pursuits , everything from academic to religious , cultural to athletic , political to social , and many others . The Physical Education Club , which was formed in 1912 , is the longest continuously operating organization at the school . Greek life plays a small role at UW – L . Only about 1 % of males and 1 % of females in the student body are members of a social fraternity or sorority . The four social fraternities represented on campus are Delta Sigma Phi , Sigma Tau Gamma , Sigma Alpha Epsilon , Chi Phi , and the two sororities represented are Alpha Xi Delta and Alpha Phi . Delta Sigma Phi is the only Greek organization on campus with a fraternity house . The Eta Rho chapter of the Delta Sigma Pi professional business fraternity is a coed option for students of the College of Business Administration . Oktoberfest . Oktoberfest , USA is an annual celebration held on the final week of September and beginning of October . During the first weekend the town ' s population will triple to quadruple , attracting 150 , 000 - 200 , 000 visitors . Although UW - L has tried to distance itself from the event , support among students remains strong . The town of La Crosse has the most bars per capita in the nation and not surprisingly $ 6 million enters the economy during the event . Media . The Racquet is a student - produced newspaper distributed weekly during the academic year . The paper , which began in 1910 , contains student - produced articles about campus , community , state , and national events . " The Racquet " is composed of two major divisions : news and features . The majority of " The Racquet ' s " annual budget is generated internally , but a small portion is contributed via student fees . In 2013 , The Racquet was ranked # 32 in the nation and # 1 in Wisconsin in the Top 100 College Newspapers for Journalism Students . The Second Supper is a satirical newspaper published by students and is recognized by the student government . " The Second Supper " is published weekly from its headquarters in downtown La Crosse , serving western Wisconsin through the cities of La Crosse and Eau Claire . The Catalyst is a student - produced and edited quarterly publication of student - submitted essays , short stories , and poetry . Each edition has a different theme . " The Catalyst " intends to provide a channel for creative intellectual inquiry in order to provoke campus and community discussion . School traditions . The Eagle mascot . The university ' s school colors are maroon and gray . The university mascot , which was adopted in 1989 , is the Eagle . UW – L men ' s athletics teams had previously been known as the Indians ( 1937 – 1989 ) , Red Raiders , Hurricanes , Racqueteers , and Peds and Maroons . The women ' s athletic teams were known as the Roonies , derived from the university ' s school colors of maroon and gray , since the inception of female intercollegiate competition in the early 1970s until November 1990 when they also adopted the Eagle mascot . Since the adoption of the Eagle mascot , the band ' s mascot has been the Screaming Eagle , having previously been known as the Marching Chiefs . UW – La Crosse ' s athletic teams sport an " Eagle in the L " and caricature , which was created in 1989 , when the sports teams took to the field as the Eagles for the first time . It was created by Dave Christianson , a 1973 art major graduate who penned the images after the UW – L men ' s teams adopted the Eagle mascot . Women ' s teams started sporting the Eagles moniker in November 1990 . The UW - L Eagle mascot was named " Colbert " in a vote by students during the 2008 - 09 school year . On October 10 , 2012 , Colbert was retired , and a new similar looking mascot was introduced , named Stryker . Hanging of the Lantern . The Hanging of the Lantern ' s tradition dates back to 1913 when UW – L students hung small lanterns in house windows near campus . In 1931 , longtime faculty member Orris O . White began a tradition of hanging one large lantern in the Maurice O . Graff Main Hall tower , above the building ' s south entrance . The act welcomed alumni who had returned home . " We ' ll hang the lantern in the old college tower over the south door . You won ' t need to look for the key – the door will be open , " declared White . Since 1931 , a lantern has hung each Homecoming . It hung on the south side of Graff Main Hall until 1997 when it was moved to the Hoeschler Tower in the center of campus . The tower ' s lantern hangs year - round , but is lit only during Homecoming . Lighting of the " L " . The Lighting of the " L " tradition began after a 1935 college prank . Bored on a foggy day , F . Clark Carnes and Bernie Brown hiked up Miller ' s Bluff , north of Grandad Bluff . They gathered and piled brush in the shape of a by " L " , started it on fire , and slipped down the bluff toward campus before police could locate them . When Brown and Carnes reached Veterans Memorial Stadium , the fog lifted and allowed the crowd to see the " L " . In recent years , the " L " has been lit by electricity and shines from Grandad Bluff . Athletics . The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse maintains programs in indoor and outdoor track , cross - country , gymnastics , and football , competing in the WIAC , which is in the NCAA ' s Division III . UW – L holds membership affiliation in the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) and the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association . UW – L has approximately 570 student athletes participating on 19 teams ( ten for women and nine for men ) , which have won 51 NCAA national titles in nine different sports , including 34 since 1991 . UW – L has also won 309 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships in school history . UW – L is one only of six institutions in NCAA Division III history to finish in the top 20 all 10 years of the Directors ’ Cup , which includes all 433 NCAA Division III schools . UW – L has won 26 men ' s track & field titles , the most in Division III history . The Eagles have won 14 indoor and 10 outdoor championships , both ranking first in the nation . With their national indoor and outdoor titles in 2006 , the Eagles have now swept the indoor and outdoor titles in the same season 10 times ( 1988 , 1991 – 1993 , 1997 , 2001 – 04 and , 2006 ) . The university won the NCAA Division III " triple crown " in 2001 - 02 , claiming the men ' s cross country title , men ' s indoor track & field title and men ' s outdoor track & field championship . With the national titles in cross country , indoor and outdoor track and field , UW – L holds the distinction of being only one of two NCAA Division III institution to win the " triple crown " ( The other being North Central College during 2009 - 10 ) . The Eagles also captured the 2005 NCAA Division III Cross Country title , the third in school history ( 1996 , 2001 ) . The gymnastics team has won a total of 12 national titles , a record in the NCGA , as well as a record 20 WIAC titles . UW – L won its sixth consecutive National Collegiate Gymnastics Association ( NCGA ) Championship in 2006 . The Eagles won seven Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ( WIAC ) titles in 2005 - 06 and finished in the top - four in 16 of 18 sports . UW – L also had nine WIAC Scholar - Athletes last year and eight WIAC Coach of the Year honors . The Eagles had 203 All - WIAC honors in 2005 - 06 . The UW – L football team plays its home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium . The football stadium and outdoor track was replaced by a new timed outdoor track , a football turf field , a new 10 , 000 + seat stadium / press box / field lights , plus surrounding soccer / athletic fields . It was paid for by sponsors and donations to UW – L . The university also has sports represented at the club level , including men ' s and women ' s lacrosse ( referred to as La Crosse lacrosse ) , men ' s and women ' s rugby union , men ' s soccer and many others .