More About Memphis
“Memphis Shakes You, Memphis Wakes You, Memphis Moves You”
Memphis is an incubator for all sorts of music including country, gospel, hip hop, opera, classical, rap and soul with approximately 150 live music venues every weekend. And juxtaposed against the music scene are various art museums and galleries. A city ordinance even requires that one percent of the budget for each city improvement be spent on visual art.
Memphis is a vividly green city, and visitors are frequently surprised by the number of trees and the amount of parkland. The Rhodes campus and adjacent Overton Park and the Memphis Zoo, with resident giant pandas, create a lovely oasis in the midtown area.
Then there are speculations about our city. For instance, questions and comments we have received from prospective students and their families include:
I’ve heard that parts of Memphis are unsafe. Is that true?
Certainly Memphis is constantly seeking ways to reduce crime, as is the case in most cities across the country. But to put it in perspective, Memphis has less violent crime than many large cities like Dallas and Tampa/St. Petersburg. On campus, thanks to the culture of integrity reinforced by the Honor System, and the professionalism of the Campus Safety force, crime is minimal.
Some people say that Memphis is racially polarized. Is this true?
Race has played a large role in the shaping of this city. Because of its location on the Mississippi River and the role of cotton production historically in the region, Memphis has faced racial tensions over the years. But unlike some places with a significant minority population, Memphis has begun to face its past and taken important steps to address the complex issues associated with race. Thus far the results have led to the vast majority of Memphians realizing that they are more alike than different, and they live, work and play together in mutual appreciation.
Memphis offers, in the words of Los Angeles native Caleb Standafer ’07, “a delightful place to go to college.” With its organizations and resource centers, entertainment venues and historical sites. Memphis is a rich laboratory for Rhodes students of all disciplines, from anthropology to zoology. In the words of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, “Memphis shakes you. Memphis wakes you. Memphis moves you.”
