Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1938 [PAGE 835]

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1938]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

P L A N S FOR N E W CLASSROOM BUILDING

833

The Director of the Physical Plant Department submits for the approval of the Board small-scale building plans, including floor plans, perspective, and elevations of the new building, to replace the space lost in University Hall. Following is a comparative schedule of proposed space assignments other than for general classrooms. Present Areas Proposed Areas Sq. Ft. Sq. Ft. College of Education 6890 9 906 School of Journalism 12 280 15 781 Psychology Department 14 235 13 183 I recommend approval of the space allocations, and if the plans submitted meet with the approval of the Board, I recommend further that the Physical Plant Department be authorized to submit working drawings and specifications to contractors for bids. It is important that work on this building be started at the earliest possible date. I therefore recommend that if the Board cannot meet when bids have been received the Executive Committee be authorized to award the contracts to the lowest bidders, provided they are within the funds available for this building.

On motion of Mr. Cleary the space allocations and the plans were approved, and authority was granted as recommended.

LEGISLATION TO AUTHORIZE FINANCING OF STUDENT CENTER BUILDING AND DORMITORIES T H R O U G H BOND ISSUES (15) A report that the President of the Board of Trustees, the President of the University, and the University Counsel had a conference with the Governor on June 2 concerning legislation which would enable the University to finance selfliquidating buildings, specifically a Student Center or Union Building and dormitories, through bond issues. The Governor was requested to approve the introduction of a bill for an act which would empower the State, through the Board of Trustees, to apply for and obtain grants, or loans, or both from the United States Government in order to erect such buildings, which bill would authorize the Board to issue bonds not in excess of $900,000 for a Student Center Building and not in excess of $350,000 on each project for dormitories.

This report was received for record. The following telegram, signed by the six members of the Board who were present, was sent to Governor Horner.

June 9, 1938 Governor Henry Horner, The Capitol, Springfield, Illinois An unprecedented opportunity for our State and University to obtain a federal grant for a student union now approved by all divisions of Public W o r k s Administration will be lost unless suitable legislation is passed at this special session. Unless bill is promptly introduced it cannot be enacted before July I, and after July 1 will be too late. Likewise our application for dormitory will fail without such legislation as explained to you last Thursday. Kindly wire consent care of Blackstone Hotel, where Board is now in session, to introduce bill discussed with you. Introduction of bill will not commit you to support it unless you feel that it adequately safeguards or can be amended to safeguard State's interest. Individually and collectively we most urgently ask your favorable consideration of this legislation which can place more than a million dollars worth of badly needed buildings on the campus of the University without cost to the taxpayers of Illinois.

OSCAR G. MAYER, President K A R L A. MEYER HAROLD A. POGUE Mrs. GLENN E. P L U M B J A M E S M. CLEARY L O U I S C. MOSCHEL