After 1859, the East Alabama Male College was maintained by the [[Methodist]] [[Episcopal]] Church South (Reverend William J. Sasnett was the school's first president). The school closed in 1861 due to the [[Civil War]], but reopened, with economic hardships, 5 years later; these economic problems were resolved when Auburn became the South's first land grant college.<ref name="history"/> | After 1859, the East Alabama Male College was maintained by the [[Methodist]] [[Episcopal]] Church South (Reverend William J. Sasnett was the school's first president). The school closed in 1861 due to the [[Civil War]], but reopened, with economic hardships, 5 years later; these economic problems were resolved when Auburn became the South's first land grant college.<ref name="history"/> |