the alma mater of the university of pittsburgh was adopted soon after the university changed its name in 1908 from the western university of pennsylvania to its current moniker. lyrics were written by george m. p. baird, class of 1909 and were set to the tune of what was then the austrian national anthem (adopted as the german national anthem in 1922). a new tune for the "alma mater" hymn was composed by charles w. scovel, class of 1883, but it was not widely adopted and was either lost or became obscure.