Founded in 1873 by Cornelius "The Commodore" Vanderbilt and Bishop Holland N. McTyeire, Vanderbilt University came into being to help heal the wounds of the nation after the Civil War. The idea sparked when McTyeire, a Methodist bishop, visited the wealthy railroad tycoon Vanderbilt in New York to ask for funding for a university in the South. Vanderbilt, who wanted to contribute to strengthening the union between the North and South, decided to donate $1 million to build the school, which was the largest charitable gift in American history at that time. Today, the university is a private institution governed by an independent Board of Trust. Today, Vanderbilt University is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and its news site serves as the voice of the campus community. They cover a wide range of topics including major scientific research breakthroughs, campus events, and student achievements. Additionally, they report heavily on university athletics, providing updates on the Vanderbilt Commodores teams that play in the highly competitive Southeastern Conference (SEC). One interesting fact: A unique fact about Vanderbilt University is that its founder, Cornelius Vanderbilt, never actually saw it. Despite donating a massive fortune to build the university and having it named after him, "The Commodore" never visited Nashville to set foot on the campus he created.