Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1894 [PAGE 196]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

PROCEEDINGS OF HOARD OF TRUSTEES.

197

character and effect and may therefore result in good.": The faculty now has t h e subject of the freshman sociable and attendant affairs before it, without, however, having yet reached full conclusions as to what should be, and what can be, done.

UNIVERSITY E X H I B I T AT COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION.

The most notable event in our country during the year was t h e ! holding of the World's Columbian Exposition. As this occurred within the territorial limits of our own state, special importance was attached to it for the people of Illinois, and no less from the educational point of view than from any other. The exposition has everywhere been acknowledged to be the greatest and finest of t h e great world's fairs. I t was therefore the higher honor to be greatest and best in any one of its departments. The University of Illinois made by far the most extensive and most representative exhibit shown by any educational institution whatever, and this means the largest exhibit ever made on the earth by a single institution of the kind. No inference is intended here t h a t the University of Illinois has greater possibilities than several others in America for an exhibition of equipments and results; but «the facts as they exist are abundantly worthy of record and ought to be highly gratifying to the friends of this institution. I t is now and always will be impossible to determine how much benefit to the University comes or will come from the showing made; but that good does and will come from it is certain, and t h a t it is worth its full cost is unquestionably true. As an indication of the general progress in educational affairs in our own country it was exceedingly suggestive, and creditable, alike to the University and to the commonwealth. The return of the exhibit, together with the other articles secured at the Exposition for the University, requires the use of nine cars, of which six have been received and unloaded. I t is impossible to give credit to the persons who, without compensation, chiefly contributed to make the exhibit and its pronounced success. The amount of extra labor involved, on the part of men already overburdened, may be readily understood to have been very large, but can be fully appreciated by those only who were actively engaged in the work. I t ought at least to be known t h a t the University exhibit was planned and carried into execution by university men, though a certain part of the handicraft labor under their direction was paid for from the state appropriations by the authority of the Illinois Board of Commissioners. When all the accounts are summarized it will be found t h a t the expenditures made from the university funds also amount in the aggregate to a large sum. I t is undoubtedly money well expended, but it is probably more than was anticipated when the plans were formulated and accepted. The University has by no means been a simple recipient, as appears to be thought in some quarters. The unloading, unpacking, and placing in position of the material now coming in seems to be beyond the power of persons now employed, and I therefore ask your approval of an arrangement just- made by which Mr. W. J. Eraser began this work yesterday morning for one month at 350.

EMPLOYMENT OF INSTRUCTORS.

When the professors were annually employed, this wTas regularly done at your June meeting; and in part, perhaps, this was the reason t h a t all appointments upon the corps of instruction were made at t h a t time. I respectfully recommend a change in this practice and that, whenever deemed feasible, such appointments for the ensuing year be made not later than the March meeting. Justice to those whose tenure of office is for a single year requires t h a t they should be given notification of reemployment, or otherwise, at a time in the school year when other possibilities are open to them, and experience has abundantly show a tiiat new instructors should be sought for before the field has been gleaned