Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1918 [PAGE 646]

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640

BOARD GF TRUSTEES

SCHOOL OF M I L I T A R Y AERONAUTICS

[February 16,

(1) Reports from the United States School of Military Aeronautics by Doctor David Kinley, Vice-President of the University, who is in charge of the relations of the School to the University, covering the weeks ending January 26, February 2, and February 9, 1918. From these reports it appears that the number enrolled on January 28 was 599, on February 4 586, on February 11, 584. Arrangements were entered into with Mr. W. R. Bradley for the lease of the upper part of this building in connection with Barracks No. 1 (Y. M. C. A. Building), subject to the approval of the Board. AnjcarneSt request is made to enlarge the present Gymnasium. Annex to provide increased facilities for gunnery instruction; also for the assignment of Engineering Hall for the sole use of the School of Military Aeronautics; also to supply a garage, as the War Department is sending trucks and automobiles for the use of the School. The necessary appointments have been made to provide for the better equipment and administration of the School. The Comptroller reported on February 6 that the amount due from the Federal Government for tuition was $9,658.48, and that the amount due from students on account of mess hall for barracks No. 1. (Y. M. C. A. Building) was $10,097.67, and for barracks No. 2. (Woman's Residence Hall) $6,883.67. The use (tho not exclusive) of the Armory has also been assigned to the School of Military Aeronautics. Instructions from Washington have made it necessary to change the method of instruction in gunnery so that small instead of large classes can be handled. This has necessitated an increase in the number of instructors in that subject. Permission was given to the School of Military Aeronautics to place the rifles belonging to the School in the rifle racks in the Armory. A place for trap shooting was assigned to the School on the new Athletic Grounds near the Illinois Central Railroad. We are having some difficulty in financing the arrangements with the Y. M. C. A. for the use of the Y. M. C A. Building as Barracks, It will be rememHered that the Board authorized the closing of a contract with the Y. M. C. A. for the use of the building for one year (see page 54^)- This arrangement was based on the hypothesis that the building could be put into useable shape for the barracks of the School at a cost of $5,000, and further on the supposition that the Y. M. C. A. could conduct a satisfactory mess for the School in the quarters in the basement of the building. Neither of these suppositions has turned out to be correct. It has become necessary, to satisfy the Commandant of the School, for the University to take over the management of the mess for the entire School, not only in barracks No. 2. (Woman's Residence Hall) but also in barracks No. 1. (The Y. M. C. A. Building). Incidentally it has been necessary to enlarge very much the space Used for the mess in the basement of the Y. M. C. A. Building and to provide a much larger equipment than was anticipated. The original estimate was based on two hundred students as an average enrollment, but for some time past it has been about six hundred. The building moreover was not in a satisfactory condition to house so many men, and some fundamental recon-