Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 12]

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1944]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

9

the University he has implemented his program in a variety of ways which represents a permanent contribution to the University. H i s leaving represents a great loss. RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO PATENTABLE DISCOVERIES (7) T h e Faculty Committee on Patents submits the following report: 1. Professor J. R. Fellows of the Department of Mechanical Engineering has requested that an application be authorized for a patent on the special refractory shapes to be used to form the baffle wall and air passage and combustion chamber in the Illinois smokeless furnace which he has designed. It is the judgment of the Committee that the discovery is an improvement of such a nature that it should be protected by a patent if possible. T h e Committee recommends that the Board off Trustees authorize an application for a patent on this improvement. Patents have already been secured on two smokeless burners he has developed. 2. Professor D. W . Kerst of the Department of Physics has asked that application be made for patent protection in Canada and Great Britain on the magnetic induction- accelerator (the betatron) he has invented and developed. An application for a United States patent was filed in the United States Patent Office on May 4, 1944 (Serial No. 534,060). Application for foreign protection under the International law must be filed within one year from May 4, 1944. Professor Kerst is of the opinion that the most likely foreign markets for the betatron after the war will be in Great Britain and Canada and that the British and Canadians are much interested in using the betatron. Patents have been taken in his name on related discoveries in Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, and other countries. T h e Committee recommends that the Board of Trustees authorize an application for patent protection in Great Britain and Canada. I concur in these recommendations. O n m o t i o n of M r . D a v i s , t h e s e a p p l i c a t i o n s w e r e a u t h o r i z e d a s recommended. APPROPRIATION FOR LECTURES (8) On February 24, 1944 (Minutes, page 871), the Board on my recommendation made a special appropriation of $2,000 for lectures on topics of current interest by nationally known speakers. During the semester just ended, a series of five lectures has been given (see list below). They were well attended and the series created much interest. In some instances the lectures created strong protests on the part of a number of members of the staff. A careful review of the situation does not indicate that this fact should deter the University from presenting lecturers who can express different points of view on controversial issues, since the discussion of some such subjects affords one of the most effective means of bringing the students and the staff of the University into close relation with current affairs. Accordingly, I recommend that the series be continued for the year 19441945, again without any permanent commitment, and that a special nonrecurring appropriation of $3,000 be made for this purpose from the General Reserve.

SUMMARY OF LECTURES GIVEN

GREGOR A. ZIEMER, lecturer, author, and radio commentator; alumnus of the University, Class of 1922: " T h e Crusade of 1944." (March 6, 1944) ALEXANDER KERENSKY, former Premier of Russia: "Russia and the International Situation." (March 17, 1944) UPTON CLOSE, journalist and radio commentator; authority on the F a r East: "Our W a r in the East." (April 10, 1944) GEORGE FORT MILTON, journalist and historian; formerly on the executive staff of the President of the United States: " T h e Art of Being President." (May 4, 1944) JOHN T. FLYNN, journalist, author, radio commentator, and lecturer: "Prologue to Fascism." (May 18, 1944)

On motion of Mr. Davis, this appropriation was made as recommended, by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Davis, Mr. Jensen.