Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 342]

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1939]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

339

2. Miss Beulah J. Houston, Stenographer in the Appointments Committee, five days sick leave with pay in addition to the regular amount of sick leave allotted her under the University Statutes and the regulations of the Civil Service Commission.

On motion of Dr. Meyer, these leaves were granted as recommended.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS (5) It has been proposed that the University ci Illinois establish a National Institute in Public Affairs, to be financed entirely through grants of private funds. T h e organization and functions of such an agency would include: 1. A research unit for the development of economic, civil, and social concepts important to American democracy. T h e program of research would deal with problems in public affairs and would carry on research in Economics, Sociology, and Education. T h e purpose of this program would be to ascertain the truth and to educate the public in sound fundamental concepts. 2. T h e dissemination of the information developed by the research unit to the public through established channels of communication including the radio, through organizations and other groups of citizens. T h e facts coming from the research unit would be put into the simplest language for public consumption, whether they are relayed to the public through the printed word, radio, or in other ways. All of the heretofore used channels of communication would be utilized, but special emphasis would be placed on organized groups. F r o m an economic point of view emphasis has been placed in recent years on the changing economic and social conditions and the necessity for a continual change. T o maintain the proper balance in the thinking of the American people there is a need for emphasizing certain basic and immutable economic principles which are not subject to change. It is important not only to determine these truths but to present them to the public in such a way that they will be understood. F o r this purpose the radio offers an effective method of disseminating information. It is proposed that this program be used first on Radio Station W I L L and if successful it be offered to the national chains of radio stations. A part of the research program would be the provision of scholarships and fellowships for outstanding graduate students interested in problems of public affairs. Such students might study at the University of Illinois or elsewhere but would be on the staff of the Institute. Another function would be the sponsoring of a public conference of national importance at which would appear experts in various fields. Such a project would require a great deal of autonomy. Its staff would not necessarily be made up from the present faculty of the University, although some of them might devote part time to the work. It would require a great deal of money to set up a project of this kind, but it is believed that there are individuals and organizations of means which would be interested in making large grants of funds for such a program.

The President of the University was requested to present further information on this matter.

APPROPRIATION FOR PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM (6) Additional equipment is needed for the University's public address system, specifically the purchase of amplifiers and speakers of sufficient capacity to provide service at the football games and capable of being broken down into smaller units for use at other public functions. Accordingly I recommend: I. T h a t an assignment of $2400, or so much thereof as may be needed, be made from the General Reserve Fund for this purpose.