Riverport University

Riverport University

Riverport University (or the University of Riverport) is where the time-travel science experiment is conducted that causes time to start breaking down.

Home to the Riverport Rexes, the university was founded in either 1878 (according to campus maps), or 1865 (according to the crest in the underground area under the quad's central statue).

Concept Art

Background Information

• The large crest in the underground section visible under the quad central contains the university motto: "Te occidere possunt sed te edere non possunt nefas est." This translates to "They can kill you, but they cannot eat you, it is against the law." This was originally the motto of the fictional Enfield Tennis Academy in David Foster Wallace's novel Infinite Jest.
• Many of the building names at Riverport are named after authors, particularly authors of time-travel science-fiction.
  • Bulgarin Hall is named for Faddei Venediktovich Bulgarin, who wrote Plausible Fantasies, a story about the 29th century
  • The Thomas Cole Center for global studies may refer to the artist Thomas Cole.
  • The Conger Memorial is likely a reference to Philip K. Dick's short story "The Skull," where a council of powerful men give a prisoner named Conger the skull of a religious leader, and send him back in time to discover that leader's identity and assassinate him.
  • Marston House may be a reference to Edward Marston, the pen name of Keith Miles, who writes historical fiction.
  • The Pratchett Memorial Chapel is likely a reference to Sir Terry Pratchett.
  • Weider Hall may be a reference to Ben Weider, a Napoleonic historian.
  • The Willis Building may be a reference to Bruce Willis, who starred in 1995 time travel film 12 Monkeys.
  • The Hartnell Building is likely a reference to William Hartnell, the actor who portrayed the first incarnation of Doctor Who.
  • Gilliam Hall is likely referencing Terry Gilliam, writer and director of the 1981 film Time Bandits.
  • L'Engle Hall is a reference to Madeline L'Engle, author of A Wrinkle in Time.
  • Moorcock Hall is a reference to author Michael Moorcock, who wrote several novels involving time travel, including Behold the Man and The Dancers at the End of Time.
    • The Quantum Suicide episode of "Night Springs" in Alan Wake features Doctor Barclay Colvin, a researcher at the "Moorcock Institute."
  • The Edward Norton Lorenz Memorial Library is a reference to Edward Norton Lorenz, the founder of chaos theory.