[6] Originally founded as a normal college, the university today provides programs in a variety of disciplines, combining a strong liberal arts tradition with a focus on research.

The university is home to hundreds of student organizations, twenty-seven fraternity and sorority chapters, and a nationally-recognized competitive flight team.

[18] Stagnation occurred with the onset of the Great Depression and the sudden deaths of university presidents Henry Shryock and Roscoe Pulliam.

[22][23][24] New educational programs, administrative positions, and physical facilities were added, financed by a growth in student population and state-supported bonds.

Formal explanations focused on Morris' declining health, but campus unrest due to the Vietnam War, the burning of the Old Main Building in 1969, financial scandals, and distrust amongst SIU's Board of Trustees are speculated to have played a role.

[18][34][35] Tensions with the surrounding community resulted in a ban on Halloween celebrations in the mid-1990s as students living in university dormitories were sent home for the holiday.

[37] In recent years, a focus on research, building renovations and expansions, and stabilizing enrollment numbers have improved the university's position.

[38][39] Student celebrations like the ones seen in Saturday Night Live's Roadshow have now largely been replaced with the traditions of "Unofficial Halloween" and "Polar Bear".

The majority of SIU's instructional and research facilities are enclosed on or within Lincoln Drive, which circles the university's main campus on three sides before connecting with South Illinois Avenue.

One of the more recognizable buildings on campus is Pulliam Hall, the home of the School of Education and the location of SIU's iconic clock tower.

[47] The College of Liberal Arts primarily occupies Faner Hall, whose design and size have made it a controversial symbol of the campus.

[48] Faner is also the home of the University Museum which holds over 70,000 unique artifacts ranging from local history to original renaissance tapestries.

It also provides access to the statewide automated library system (I-Share) and an array of online collections such as The Lancet, JSTOR, and The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

[43] While arson related to Vietnam War unrest continues to be suspected as the primary cause for the 1969 fire, this theory has never been conclusively proven.

Altgeld Hall, which served as the university's science and astronomy building before being given to the School of Music, is affectionately known as "The Castle" due to its distinctive design.

Shryock Auditorium is a large performance hall capped by an iconic domed roof, which was once made entirely of stained glass.

Anthony Hall was the university's first permanent dormitory structure; today it serves as an administrative office for executive staff.

SIU's campus is located near Giant City State Park,[58] Shawnee National Forest,[59] and several other areas popular for hiking and camping.

The campus also maintains a tagged category of its diverse tree inventory, which includes a rare Dawn Redwood planted in 1950 by William Marberry.

Many of SIU's Chancellors after this period were selected to serve in an interim capacity, a problem which persists in limited cases to this day.

[73][74] The various colleges, schools, and academic departments which make up SIU have been reorganized and renamed countless times since the university's founding.

Only the College of Liberal Arts can trace an unbroken lineage to the year SIU was officially granted limited university status in 1943.

[77] The college offers experiential opportunities for students in the form of a 2,000+ acre working farm, tree improvement center, and other hands-on activities.

On-campus housing at SIU has developed steadily from the completion of a second women's dormitory in 1953 to the expansive system of tower blocks and apartment buildings that exists today.

[26] The first fraternity and sorority appeared on SIU's campus in 1923, although the introduction, chartering, and growth of many of the Greek groups on-campus today occurred during or after the 1940s.

[88] Past editions of The Daily Egyptian and other SIU student newspapers going back to 1888 are maintained on-campus by Morris Library.

Many leaders in the law enforcement community both locally and at the state and federal level began their careers as a Saluki Patrol.

Participation peaked in the late 1980s and 90s, drawing crowds upwards of 20,000 people and receiving coverage on CNN's Good Morning America.

These events coincide with the DuQuoin State Fair and the annual football game between SIU and SEMO, called the "War for the Wheel".

[134] Notable SIU alumni include: Media related to Southern Illinois University Carbondale at Wikimedia Commons