Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1886 [PAGE 52]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

44

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OP TRUSTEES—JULY, 1885.

The Board met at 82 LaSalle street, Chicago, 111., on July 1, 1885, at 10 o'clock A. M., at the call of the President, pursuant to adjournment. Present: Trustees Landrigan, Cobb, Pearman, Paden, Follansbee, McLean, Eisenmayer, Millard and Earle. Absent: Governor Oglesby and Trustee Bennett. The oath of office was administered to Trustees Landrigan and Earle. The Regent submitted the following report, which was read and laid over for further consideration:

To the Trustees of Me University of Illinois: GENTLEMEN: Since the date of your last meeting all matters which were then pending before the General Assembly at Springfield have been determined favorably to the University and its interests, including the bill making appropriations for the expenses of the years 1885 to 1887, the bill changing the name of the University, and the bill authorizing the transfer to this University of the State Laboratory of Natural History, which has hitherto been connected with the Illinois Normal University. The kindly feeling which exists towards this institution generally through the State, as evinced by the public and private expressions of legislators, and the cordial support received by the several measures in which the University is interested, may well be considered as grounds for encouragement. The suspicions aroused by the mistaken assertions of interested partisans that the proposition to change the name of the institution was grounded in a purpose to change its character, must be entirely allayed in candid minds when the facts come to be understood. To meet this point, as the discussions upon the bill were going forward, I presented to senators a memorial, which, that it may go permanently upon record,I desire, if it meets your approval,to make part of this report: To the Hon. , Senator: DEAE SIE : It had not been the purpose of the undersigned, the Regent of the Illinois Industrial University, to enter into the discussions which would arise upon the proposition to change the name of that institution, believing as he does that this proposition when fully understood would commend itself to all unprejudiced minds. But the turn which the discussion has taken, and the assertions freely made, that the change proposed is the off-spring and the evidence of a covert purpose to change the essential character of the University—a change from a school of science bearing practically upon the varied industries of the people to a "mere literary and classical college"—leads me to trespass briefly upon your attention. This duty seems incumbent upon me because, standing as I do between tne Trustees on the one hand and the Faculty on the other, I may be supposed to know, if any one knows, the facts as to their purposes and wishes in this matter. I desire, therefore, formally, with emphasis, and without any reservation, to assert that neither heretofore has there been, nor is there now, any purpose or wish to change the character of the University, as suggested, in the minds of any persons intrusted with the conduct of its affairs, The original law of Congress is the pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night, guiding in all the plans and designs of Trustees, Faculty and Regent. " ITS LEADING OBJECT shall be to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, * * * without excluding other scientific and classical studies, * * * in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions of life." Act of Congress, 1862, Sec. 4. But as this purpose is charged as a covert purpose, a simple denial, however complete and emphatic, may not be enough. The only other answer that can be made is an appeal to the acts of those whose designs are questioned—to consider what has been done during the five years in which the University has been under its present administration. For this entire period we confidently affirm that the whole of both effort and result has been to develop and strengthen the technical or industrial side of the University.