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For Miami of Ohio, see Miami University
The University of Miami is a private university in the city of Coral Gables in metropolitan Miami, Florida. The university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the southeastern United States and is particularly well known for its nationally-ranked programs in business, medicine, marine biology, and music. It has a student body of over 15,000.
The university was founded in 1925 by citizens of southern Florida and caused a stir with Miami University in Oxford, Ohio that was established in 1809 because of the closeness in names. Legend has it the president of the University of Miami, Florida wrote a letter to Alfred Upham of Miami of Ohio urging the older institution named after the Miami Indian tribe to change its name. Upham was receiving constant complaints from Miami University alumni that the University of Miami, Florida was referring to itself as Miami University in Florida. Miami of Florida later apologized for the problem and corrected the problem. Ironically, the current president of the University of Miami, Florida is a graduate of Miami University's Western College for Women program.
The athletic program is what the University of Miami, Florida is most famous for. A hurricane came in around the same time as the charter for the university. For this reason, the university adopted the moniker "Hurricanes" for its athletic programs. The university's orange, green and white colors represent the different parts of the orange blossom tree.
Its current president is former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala.
The university's Iron Arrow Honor Society is one of the most selective and prestigious student honors of any major U.S. university or college.
The university has been extremely successful in major collegiate sports, winning five national championships in American football and four in baseball. UM is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Its traditional athletic rivals include the Seminoles of the Florida State University and the Gators of the University of Florida.
The University of Miami was the site of the first U.S. presidential debate in 2004.
Famous alumni
- Betty Castor - president of the University of South Florida, former U.S. Senate candidate.
- Gloria Estefan - musician.
- Danny Graves - First Vietnamese-born professional baseball player (Cincinnati Reds).
- Jerry Herman - Broadway composer and lyricist, "Hello, Dolly!".
- Enrique Iglesias - musician.
- Michael Irvin - ESPN football broadcaster, former professional football player, Dallas Cowboys.
- Michael Johns - health care executive, former White House speechwriter.
- Jim Kelly - former professional football player, Buffalo Bills.
- Suzy Kolber - football sideline reporter, ESPN.
- Ray Lewis - professional football player, Baltimore Ravens.
- Ray Liotta - actor.
- Greg Louganis (did not graduate) - Olympic Gold-medalist diver.
- Marilyn Milian - judge, The People's Court television program.
- Alex Penelas - former Mayor and U.S. Senate candidate.
- The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) - professional wrestler, actor.
- Warren Sapp - professional football player, Oakland Raiders.
- Cristina Saralegui - television personality.
- Sylvester Stallone - actor.
- Vinny Testaverde - professional football player, Dallas Cowboys.
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