Millikin University
Millikin University is a private university in Decatur, Illinois. It was founded in 1901 by prominent Decatur businessman James Millikin and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Media. Decaturian. The "Decaturian", also known as the "Dec" (official nickname), is the bi-weekly student newspaper. The "Decaturian" was established in 1903 and its issues are archived online from 1903–1951, made possible by the Digital-Decaturian Project. WJMU 89.5 The Quad. WJMU is Millikin University's student-operated freeform format radio station. In addition to its musical responsibilities, WJMU also creates its own public service announcements, liners, news, Millikin  sports programming and promotional materials. On April 25, 1922, a license was issued to the university for a new AM broadcasting station, operating on a wavelength of 360 meters (833 kHz). This station was randomly assigned the call letters WBAO, which came from a sequential roster of available call signs. It maintained a limited schedule of university broadcasts. On May 25, 1928, the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) issued General Order 32, which notified 164 stations, including WBAO, that "From an examination of your application for future license it does not find that public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served  by granting it." On September 1, 1928, the FRC listed "Stations WJBL and WBAO" as one of the "consolidations which have been approved by the commission, or imposed on the stations by the commission". WBAO was formally deleted on October 1, 1928, and it was announced that programs previously broadcast by that station would now be heard over WJBL. Rankings. In 2021, "U.S. News & World Report" ranked Millikin University #12 in Regional Colleges Midwest, #11 in Best Undergraduate Teaching, and #29 in Best Value Schools, noting that the university had selective admissions and a student-faculty ratio of 10:1. Athletics . Since their first year of athletics in the 1903–04 academic year and prior to joining the NCAA Division III and the CCIW in the 1946–47 season, Millikin primarily competed as an Independent of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Millikin University teams have since participated in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III. The Big Blue are a member of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, wrestling, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf , soccer, softball, triathlon, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and volleyball. Notable alumni. Athletes and coaches. Millikin University was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1910 to 1937.