Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 956]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1944]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

953

University to establish a College of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at Champaign-Urbana as soon as possible. I also submit for record a copy of my reply thereto. Dr. Arthur Cutis Willard, President, May 24, 1944 The University of Illinois, and, Honorable Park Livingston, President, Board of Trustees, The University of Illinois.

GENTLEMEN :

F o r some time I have been giving careful consideration to the proposals from within the university and from leaders in practically every phase of agricultural activity in the state for the establishment in Illinois of a college of veterinary medicine and surgery, meeting the highest standards of facilities and personnel. The need for such an institution in Illinois is thoroughly demonstrated by the fact that there is a serious shortage of veterinarians in the state and that seventy-five per cent of the veterinarians now practicing in Illinois are past the age of fifty years. Adequate training in veterinary science is not now offered in Illinois and the existing first rank schools of the country cannot accommodate the young men and women of our state who desire that training and whose services are needed now and will be more sorely needed in the future. A national survey conducted by experts in this field has recommended that an additional first class veterinary college should be established in the middle west, preferably in Illinois. Furthermore, the work that has been accomplished by the Division of Animal Pathology and Hygiene at the University of Illinois has proved the values which accrue to agriculture and to the public generally from research in the fields of animal diseases, animal pathology, improvement of the food supply, and the protection of the public health. T h e enlargement of this program which would be made possible by a college of veterinary medicine and surgery would be of untold value to Illinois' tremendous livestock, dairy and poultry industries. The livestock industry of Illinois alone is valued in excess of $500,000,000, and sales of livestock and livestock products amount to more than $625,000,000 per year, this being approximately sixty-five percent of the total sales of agricultural products produced in the state. F o r the protection of this industry there are in Illinois only 700 veterinarians in general practice and available for the protection of our livestock industry. The demands of war have emphasized the necessity of the protection of our farm animals, and the great loss not only to the farmers, but also to the nation through impairment of animals by disease or improper care. The General Assembly of Illinois in 1919 adopted an Act authorizing the establishment of a College of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at the University of Illinois, but appropriations for the establishment of such a college have not been made. Today there is urgent need and insistent demand that the project be now carried to completion. Therefore, I urge the university, through the President and the Board of Trustees, to take immediate action for the establishment of a College of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery on the Champaign-Urbana campus of the university at the earliest feasible date. I believe that construction and equipment of this college in the most modern manner and the staffing of it with the finest personnel obtainable should be first on the post-war program for the University and for Illinois agriculture. I feel that in our post-war planning too little attention is being given to the needs of the farms and the farmers. Agriculture is always the backbone of the general prosperity of our state and in war or peace the farms and farm products of Illinois are a very important source of our national strength. I am sure that the establishment of this veterinary college in our state university will contribute to the permanent welfare of all the people of Illinois. Yours very sincerely,

D W I G H T H. GREEN

Governor