Founded in 1755, Moscow State University named after M.V. Today we will plunge into the history and mythology of this university, analyzing a dozen little-known facts and legends about it.
10. The area of the university accommodates 5 million people
This amazing record was set in 1997, when a concert of the French electronic music master Jean-Michel Jarre took place there. It’s possible that you haven’t even heard of this, but believe me, he knows how to make a show and the people gathered for good reason. This musician holds several similar records: in 1979 in Paris he gathered 1 million viewers, in 1986 in Houston already 1.3 million, in 1991 again Paris and 2.5 million, and Moscow like a cherry on a cake. There is still debate about the 5 million figure: some say it was 3.5 million, but even this figure is unbelievable.
9. Moscow State University gave gifts to Mao Zedong
From the first months in power, Mao Zedong focused on the Soviet Union, carrying out similar reforms and pursuing a similar policy. The relations between the states were extremely warm, so it is not surprising that Mao made a gift to the main university of the USSR and rector Ivan Petrovsky. The tapestry presented to him - an image of the main building in 1953, was hanged in the meeting room, which hosts receptions with the participation of foreign delegations. However, already in the late 1950s, relations between the USSR and the PRC, as well as Zedong and Khrushchev, personally worsened, so the party demanded that the tapestry be removed from the wall, but Petrovsky did not fundamentally do this. What is surprising - he was not even punished and left alone, like the picture.
8. Instead of the central building, they wanted to build a hotel
September 7, 1947, Moscow celebrated its 800th anniversary, and it was on this day that the foundation was laid for 8 high-rise buildings, including the main building of Moscow State University. True, according to the original plan, drawn up personally by Joseph Stalin, a 32-storey building with a hotel and residential apartments was supposed to be located on this site. The decision to build the main building of the university at this place was made only in March next year.
7. Students called to Africa from the MSU elevator
And also to America, England, Italy, France and other countries for which there was enough imagination. This became possible by pure chance, when in the 80s, when replacing a telephone switch, a new one was connected incorrectly. Workers mistakenly connected the ability to make international calls to all the devices of the university, so you could even call abroad from elevators (and there are 111 of them for a second). When students realized what kind of "freebie" fell into their hands, the elevators were jam-packed. The leadership of Moscow State University threw all the guards to protect the phones, but there were fewer "security" than elevators, so this was an unequal battle and the hooligans had fun as they could. All could be repaired only after 2 weeks.
6. Under the Moscow State University is a multi-kilometer abandoned bomb shelter
According to an old legend, under Moscow State University there is a whole city in which there is even a metro line. This, of course, is just a bike, but the bomb shelter is true. It was built in case of war, so that students and faculty can take refuge in it, therefore it consists of several floors and extends for more than one kilometer. The shelter is old and at the moment almost useless: most of the doors are brewed, and documents and plans have long been lost, so even its exact dimensions are not known to anyone.
5. Apple Alleys appeared due to the whim of Stalin
Yes, it was Joseph Vissarionovich who proposed planting alleys with apple trees, and he did it in his own corporate style. Present at the discussion of the architectural plan, he asked the responsible persons what would be planted in these places. Without giving them an answer, he himself made a proposal with apple trees, ending with the phrase “I hope no one is against”. Of course, no one began to object to Stalin and everyone unanimously supported this idea.
4. University was built by prisoners
This does not mean at all that architects and designers were also among the “sitters,” but this information is partially true. Archival records say that 10,000 ordinary workers accounted for the same number of prisoners working at a construction site.
3. Brides of Moscow State University bring flowers to the geographer
Everyone who has ever been near Moscow State University has seen sculptures by scientists at the entrance: a biologist and geographer, as well as a mechanic and art critic. The mechanic and geographer in these monuments are depicted by men, and the geographer is depicted standing, and the mechanic is sitting. Considering that there are women next to them, the people standing in the presence of the geographer’s lady were dubbed “educated” by the people, and the sitting mechanic is the other way around. It got to the point that newly-made wives bring flowers to the bred with the hope that their husbands will be like that too.
2. When not all Soviet families had a television, he was already in the dormitory of Moscow State University
This is not about the office of the rector or the assembly hall, but about the hostel, where there was a TV on each floor. In Soviet times, not all teachers could afford such a luxury, so students really could be envied. If you add a separate bathroom, comfortable double rooms and even pianos, it becomes clear why the hostel of the university considered it one of the best in Eastern Europe.
1. The spire of the main building weighs 12 tons
And not even the whole spire weighs so much, but only the star crowning it. Now it is no longer possible to go to him: he is all entwined with emitters and electronics for communication. The height of the main building together is 240 meters, which is another reason for pride: until the construction of Messeturm in Germany in 1990, it was the tallest building in Europe. Moscow State University held the height record in Russia until 2003, until Triumph Palace was built.