Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1916 [PAGE 163]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1914]

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

L E A V E OF ABSENCE FOR DR. W H I T I N G .

163

(15) A recommendation from Dean Davenport that sick leave of absence, with pay, be granted to Dr. A. D. Whiting, until the close of the present semester, unless he should find himself able to return sooner to his University work. Dn motion of Superintendent Blair, this recommendation was approved. The vote was as follows. Ayes, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Blair, Mrs. Busey, Mrs. Evans, Mr. Hoit, Mr. Meeker, Miss Watson; noes, none; absent, Mr. Dimn'e, Mrs. Henrotin, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Moore, Mr. Trevett.

D I R E C T O R Y OF MATRICULANTS.

(16) A report of the present status of the Matriculants' or University of Illinois Directory. The directory will contain the names of all former students and of all persons who have ever been connected with the Faculty and Staff of Administration, approximately 25,000, supplying information as to the years of residence at the University, degrees, occupation, and present address. Names will be arranged alphabetically and geographically—in the latter case, grouped by cities and states. The directory will contain about twelve hundred pages. Three thousand copies of this book may be printed for about $4,500. On motion of Mr. Meeker, the price of the directory was fixed at $1.50 a volume, and the Comptroller of the University was authorized to let the contract for the printing of 3,000 copies of the volume as soon as the copy is ready. The vote was as follows: Ayes, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Blair, Mrs. Busey, Mrs. Evans, Mr. Hoit, Mr. Meeker, Miss Watson; noes, none; absent, Mr. Dunne, Mrs. Henrotin, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Moore, Mr. Trevett.

LAWES MEMORIAL, ROTHAMSTED EXPERIMENT STATION.

(17) A letter from the Dean of the College of Agriculture recommending that the sum of $500 be appropriated from the receipts of the Experiment Station as a contribution to the building of the Dawes Memorial at Rothamsted, England, in consideration of which a complete set of the Rothamsted Memoirs will be presented to the library of the University of Illinois. On the recommendation of President James and on motion of Mr. Hoit, the sum of $500 was appropriated for the Lawes Memorial. The vote was as follows: Ayes, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Blair, Mrs. Busey, Mrs. Evans, Mr. Hoit, Mr. Meeker, Miss Watson; noes, none; absent, Mr. Dunne, Mrs. Henrotin, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Moore, Mr. Trevett.

REQUEST FOR BIRD PRESERVE. URBANA, I I I . . , October 21, 191lh

(18) A letter from Prof. Ward, enclosing one from Prof. Smith, in regard to the necessity for a bird preserve near the University: MY DEAR PRESIDENT JAMES : During the past few years there has been much discussion concerning the difficulties encountered by this department in giving instruction that involves field work by virtue of the destruction of natural growth in the surrounding country. I am sending you herewith a letter from Prof. Smith. This was written last spring when he was trying to do instructional work in the course in ornithology. I talked it over with you informally at that time. Peeling it was possible for him to be overinfluenced by trivial difficulties a t the time the course started, I laid it aside and requested him to let me know later how the matter looked. There has been since then sufficient time for any temporary feeling of inconvenience to disappear and for us to get a definite view of the permanent conditions as they exist after the changes on which he comments. He feels that the situation is no better than he thought it was at that time and in some respects is even worse than it seemed to him then. The number of birds available for study was far smaller last spring, during the summer, and this fall than it ever has been before. The situation is serious because the demand for instruction in this line is real and is increasing. The high school teacher is expected to know the birds and to give instruction to students in ornithology. Much emphasis is laid upon bird study in the work of elementary grades and no textbook in nature study can be used or no course be properly given without spending considerable time on this phase of the topic. I t is hardly necessary to add that birds are now regarded as important agents in reducing and holding in check the insect enemies of our crops and gardens. The farmer and gardener has come to look upon them as his friends and allies and to consfder that teaching in our schools is far from adequate when proper attention is not devoted to them. Some way or other the University must protect its possibilities of instruction in this direction. If the patch of woodland northeast of the town were to be destroyed or to be opened to the ravages of hogs there would be no point within any reasonable distance at all for the study of bird-life. It is because I fear this condition which would result in the total elimination of our bird study, that I am writing you again about this matter. I think the letter of Prof. Smith is so clear and conservative that it ought to-be kept and that at some convenient time the matter ought to be given definite consideration in providing for University facilities. Would it not be a good thing for Prof. Smith to discuss the matter at some time before the Board of Trustees for example? Very sincerely yours,

.HENRY B. WARD.