Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1918 [PAGE 623]

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1917]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

617

On motion of Mrs. Evans, the President of the University was given authority to extend this leave of absence with pay, if it seems consistent with the interests of the University Library.

C O M M I T T E E TO INVESTIGATE LOYALTY OF FACULTY

reports have gone out over the country concerning the reported some members of the Faculty of the University. In some of definite names were given. The following letter received today members of the Faculty explains itself. November 9, 1917 President Edmund / . James, University of Illinois

DEAR PRESIDENT JAMES :

(21) Certain disloyalty of these reports from certain

We, the undersigned members of the Faculty of the University of Illinois, have been cruelly and unjustly brought into nation-wide notoriety by unfounded and irresponsible charges of disloyalty to the Government of the United States. We declare most positively that we are, and always have been loyal and law-abiding citizens of the United States and have never been guilty of disloyalty to the Government in thought, word, or deed. If it be true, as is currently reported, that charges of disloyalty against us are to be presented to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, and the Board should think it worth while to consider them, we respectfully request that a full investigation be made, and that we be permitted to appear in person to defend ourselves against this untrue and unjust accusation. Respectfully submitted,

ARTHUR C. COLE Q. L. SHEPHERD W. A. OLDFATHER —-RICHARD C. TOLMAN JAMES G. STEVENS

On motion of Mr. Carr, the President of the Board was authorized to appoint a committee of the Board to consider this matter.

PURCHASE OF S I T E FOR CLINICAL BUILDING

(22) A letter from the Comptroller concerning the purchase of properties in the vicinity of Polk and Wood Streets, Chicago, as authorized by the Board (See page 544). November 9, 1917 President Edmund / . James, University of Illinois

M Y DEAR PRESIDENT JAMES :

I beg to advise you that I have received from Mr. W. L. Abbott, President of the Board of Trustees, a report on the purchase of properties in the vicinity of Polk and Wood Streets, Chicago, Illinois, as authorized by the Board of Trustees. The following is a summary of the transactions in relation to these properties ;