Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1942 [PAGE 429]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

4'2b

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[August 5

of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States by force or violence." It should be made clear to each and every signer that the signing of this affidavit will be prima facie evidence that the signer does not advocate or is not a member of an organization that advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States by force or violence. I am submitting this for the information of the Board.

On motion of Mr. Davis, the Secretary was instructed to add to this oath an affirmative declaration of support of the government, and the matter of the extension of the oath to non-federal employees was referred to the Committee on General Policy for consideration and recommendation.

D U R A N D HOSPITAL AND MCCORMICK INSTITUTE BUILDINGS (34) At one time the Board of Trustees was interested in acquiring the buildings oE the Durand Hospital and the McCormick Institute for Infectious Diseases, in Chicago, for use as a Men's Residence Hall. Later, negotiations for the acquisition of this property were discontinued because the Cook County Hospital was interested also in acquiring these buildings for its needs. More recently it was suggested that these buildings could be used as a home for nurses in the Neuropsychiatric Institute. T h e Director of the Physical Plant Department reports that the McCormick estate has given both buildings, together with the apartment houses in the same block, to the University of Chicago.

This report was received for record.

ALUMNI AND PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER (35) T h e following communication from the Alumni Association is submitted for consideration by the Board. July 30, 1041 President A. C. Willard University of Illinois Urbana, Illinois

DEAR PRESIDENT W I L L A R D :

In accordance with our conversation of yesterday I am pleased to give you information of a tentative character with respect to the future plans of the University Alumni Association. Sometime ago I was appointed Chairman of a committee by Dean Thompson to consider what might be done to revitalize the general Alumni Association. President Thompson and my office have been giving this matter considerable thought and it is our view that we should re-appraise our situation and make the Association a more effective agency for the University. Our committee has had a few meetings and we have made independent inquiry as to what might be done. While we are not at the present time prepared to give a formal report or outline we would, however, like to have your views and that of the Trustees with respect to our general idea and whether it appeals to you as having merit. As you and the Trustees are fully aware, the Alumni Association has not been as effective as it should have been during the last few years. There are a variety of causes, and I might say all of them are not directly traceable to the officials of the Alumni Association itself. Suffice it to say we are not doing a good job and we recognize that to be the case. Having in mind that this is merely a preliminary suggestion that has not even secured the approval of our committee, much less the directors and officers of the Alumni Association, we submit the suggestions solely for the purpose of getting your views and those of the Trustees with respect thereto. W e expect to be able to present concrete proposals on our program to you prior to the next meeting of the Board of Trustees. Specifically, we propose that an outstanding Alumnus be appointed to direct the affairs of the Alumni Association and that he have complete power to re-