Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1892 [PAGE 186]

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PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

189

I t was found t h a t the grass has been cut on our lands in a good many places; t h a t several tracts of from four to fifty acres have been cultivated, and t h a t four considerable areas have been fenced up as pastures. Your committee expects to be able to collect some rents for past occupancy, and to provide t h a t hereafter the land shall not be used unless leaser! in advance. In May last Mr. Frank Topka sent in a proposal for t h e N. W. i , 6, 116, 32, and the regular contract was given him. He has recently informed us t h a t he made a mistake in his proposal, and t h a t he wants, instead of the contract he now has, one for the N. W. i. (:, 116, 34, which joins his farm, the first-named tract being twelve miles east of him. If there be no objection, your committee will give Mr. Topka the contract he wants upon his making due assignment to the University of t h a t which he now holds. Respectfully submitted,

IWIHATTXT^ I Committee on

T h e r e p o r t of t h e c o m m i t t e e w a s a p p r o v e d , o n m o t i o n of M r . Cobb. T h e following c o m m u n i c a t i o n from t h e P r e s i d e n t of t h e A l u m n i A s s o c i a t i o n of t h e U n i v e r s i t y w a s t h e n r e a d :

CHAMPAIGN, 111., December 8, 1891.

To the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. GENTLEMEN : During the past two years t h e Alumni Association of the University of Illinois has undertaken' the task of compiling a complete directory of all the graduates of the institution. No such record is kept a t the University, and the work was not an easy one. Our second edition was issued this fall, containing also a brief resume of last commencement happenings, and a statement of University affairs. Our efforts in this direction have brought responses from hundreds of old graduates and students, which are a convincing proof t h a t the University of Illinois still holds a large place in the hearts of her sons and daughters. Among t h e settled customs of t h e association is t h a t of holding a grand reunion, banquet, etc., every ten years. 1892, being t h e twentieth anniversary of our first commencement, is the season toward which many of our number are looking, expecting to return here at t h a t time. Some of the societies are already planning reunions, which will attract many. Our Alumni Association has appointed a strong committee, which is already a t work, and has plans partly perfected, somewhat as follows: Tuesday of commencement week being Alumni Day, we have decided to ask that appropriate rooms in University Hall be assigned to us for Tuesday evening, and t h a t t h e evening be given over entirely to social features, informal, of course, and t h a t Trustees, Faculty, and former members of these bodies who may be present, and Alumni be expected to participate. Wednesday, after commencement exercises, we have thought a proper time to give an ALUMNI D I N N E R (or call it a University, or Corporation Dinner), perhaps in the Chapel, to include Alumni, Faculty, Trustees, and such guests as might be asked; said dinner to be got up in t h e best style possible, and to conclude with toasts, etc. We are making special efforts to secure the presence, on these occasions, not only of Alumni, but of our former Regents, Gregory and Peabody, and of other lights of the old days. In a few days we send out our first notices, to all graduates, calling their attention to our " ^ i g i n t e n n i a l , " and asking for replies, stating, if possible, " I am coming."