Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 1119]

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1112

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[May 29

patent these compounds just in case some kind of synthesis might be prepared in the future which would be useful in medical science, it is unlikely that a commercially feasible synthesis will be developed and therefore they do not believe the University should secure patents. The Faculty Committee on Patents has considered this matter and recommends to the Board of Trustees that the University do not file patent applications but that P a r k e Davis and Company do so. Professor Britton commented on this matter. O n m o t i o n of M r . N i c k e l l , t h e r e l e a s e of p a t e n t - r i g h t s o n t h e s e discoveries was authorized as recommended. INSTITUTE OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS (25) A recommendation that the name of the Institute of Labor Relations be officially changed to the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations, and that an advisory committee for this Institute be set up, composed of fifteen members, five representing organized labor, five representing management, and five representing the general public.

After discussion, and on motion of Mr. Williamson, the name of the Institute was changed as recommended, and action on the composition of the advisory committee was deferred.

STATEMENT ON STUDENT HOUSING (26) The Federal Public Housing Authority has offered the University 975 additional housing units, each capable of holding either one family or two single students. Not all of these units are required to provide facilities for enrollment of 15,000 if the Ice Skating Rink (capacity 432) and the Stadium (capacity 306) are used as authorized by the Board at the April meeting. Applications for admission and readmission are exceeding previous estimates, but having fixed our enrollment for Urbana at a maximum of 15,000, I am unwilling to increase this maximum because of the impossibility of securing staff and staff housing even for 15,000. It appears that the summer session enrollment may exceed 9,000, most of whom will want to re-enter in the fall. In view of these facts, it does not seem wise to change the plan of using University buildings for housing, since it is only in University-owned buildings that we can provide any more housing for nonveterans. The cost of the entire temporary housing program, including units already in use or previously assigned and under construction, and all additional units as above described after allowing for estimated expenditures to be assumed by the Federal government, is approximately $1,336,650. The only source of funds for this expenditure is the $1,500,000 appropriation for students' residence halls and equipment. The Governor has already assigned $500,000 from this fund for temporary housing and $64,125 for plans for permanent students' residence halls. T o carry out the temporary housing program above described, a further assignment of $836,650 will be necessary. This leaves us in a serious position with respect to the permanent student housing program, since only $90,225 would remain in the $1,500,000 appropriation that could be used for this purpose. T h e only other money in sight at this time for such a program is the unassigned balance of the Contingent Fund, $250,950, which would make a total of only $414,300 available for permanent construction, including $64,125 for plans and specifications. The cost of the Women's Residence Hall (which is the No. I item on this program and for which plans are practically ready) is estimated at $1,515,000, but no one knows what the bids may be. It will be difficult, if not impossible, to finance even this item with only $414,300. T h e apartment project (which is Item No. 2 ) , estimated to cost $1,000,000, seems completely out of the question if the Women's Residence Hall is undertaken. There is a very remote possibility of securing Federal aid for one or the other of these items if bills now before Congress are passed. However, in order to protect our total assignment of 975 units (or 1950 single) and provide funds for the same in case the Board should decide to revise its action of April 18, I have in the interim between Board meetings, sub-