Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 338]

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1943]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

335

REQUEST FOR SERVICES OF PROFESSOR DONALD W. KERST (32) T h e W a r Department has requested the University to release Professor Donald W. Kerst, of the Department of Physics, for services on a project which is considered of major importance to the war effort. T h e character of this work cannot be revealed because of the extremely secret nature of the project on which the W a r Department wishes Professor Kerst to serve. T h e request for his release originally came from the Office of the Chief of Engineers and is now being made by the Secretary of W a r , who urges Professor Kerst's release. About a year and a half ago when Professor Kerst returned to the University from a leave of absence without pay granted him so that he could develop his betatron at the General Electric Company, he agreed to stay at the University for several years to develop the betatron project. H e recognizes that obligation and has every intention of fulfilling it. Therefore, any decision regarding his release has been, and still is, in the hands of University officials. T h e original request for Professor Kerst's release was not approved; but because the request now comes from the Secretary of War, who asks that it be presented to the Board of Trustees, I am so doing. O n m o t i o n of D r . L u k e n , M r . D a v i s a n d P r e s i d e n t W i l l a r d w e r e a u t h o r i z e d a n d r e q u e s t e d t o r e p r e s e n t t h e B o a r d in c o n f e r e n c e s w i t h t h e W a r D e p a r t m e n t l o o k i n g to t h e r e t e n t i o n of P r o f e s s o r K e r s t in his present position. REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF APRIL 2 3 , 1 9 4 3 A t t h i s p o i n t , t h e S e c r e t a r y p r e s e n t e d f o r r e c o r d t h e m i n u t e s of a m e e t i n g of t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e : The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois met at the University Club, in Chicago, at noon Friday, April 23, 1943. Present: Mr. P a r k Livingston (Chairman), Mr. Chester Davis, and Mr. Frank A. Jensen, members of the Committee; President A. C. Willard; and Judge Sveinbjorn Johnson, University Counsel. Fees of Sears and Short The Executive Committee considered the matter of determining the fees to be paid to Messrs. B. F. Sears and C. F. Short in the recent mandamus proceedings in the Supreme Court as referred to the Committee by the Board on March 20, 1943 (Minutes, page 314). On motion of Air. Jensen, an advisory committee of three members was created, to be chosen from past-presidents of the State and Chicago Bar Associations and ex-justices of the Supreme Court of Illinois, to advise the Executive Committee on the matter of legal fees requested by Messrs. Sears and Short for legal services rendered in the case of The People ex rel. The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, Petitioners, v. George F. Barrett, Attorney General, et al., Respondents. On motion of Mr. Davis, the Executive Committee voted to select this advisory committee from the following panel: Mr. John D. Black, Mr. Benjamin Wham, Mr. Herbert M. Lautmann, Mr. Charles P . Megan, Mr. William D. Knight, Judge W a r r e n H . Orr, Mr, Floyd Thompson, Mr. Elwyn R. Shaw. Coal Contracts Awarded The Executive Committee considered the following letter from President Willard. April 16, 1943 Honorable P a r k Livingston, Chairman | r .. n „ •_ , ., Honorable Chester R. Davis ^ T T & Honorable Frank A. Jensen j B o a r d of T ™ s t e «

GENTLEMEN:

The Comptroller and the Purchasing Agent recommend the purchase of approximately 5,000 tons of Westville screenings coal from the Peabody Coal Company, to be placed in storage for future use. In order to take advantage of the price offered, it is necessary that the coal be purchased immediately and deliveries completed before the end of April.