Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 1181]

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1174

BOARD O F T R U S T E E S

[June 27

ally interview each applicant and report fully thereon as requested by the Committee together with such alumnus' recommendation as to the desirability of such applicant. d. T h a t primary importance be attached by said Committee to the aforesaid recommendation of such alumnus. e. That such requirements be at all times elastic enough to eliminate the possibility of admission being denied to an applicant who is unusually qualified in any respect. 3. That, if possible, there be included in the membership of such Committee the Executive Director of the Alumni Association. LETTER FROM ILLINOIS FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION P r e s i d e n t Livingston presented also a letter from t h e Illinois F i r e m e n ' s Association, Incorporated. T h i s letter w a s r e f e r r e d t o t h e P r e s i d e n t of t h e U n i v e r s i t y . June 20, 1946 Honorable Park Livingston 20 North Wacker Drive Chicago 6, Illinois

DEAR M R . LIVINGSTON:

T h e Fire College Committee of the Illinois Firemen's Association has decided to introduce a bill in the General Assembly at the first opportunity in either a regular or special session, requesting an ample appropriation for the construction of a Model Fire Station at the Wright Street location on the Champaign-Urbana Campus of the University of Illinois, in accordance with plans approved by the National Board of Fire Underwriters. Having come to the above decision, we wish to withdraw our objections to the expenditure of all funds referred to in a letter addressed to you by President Willard of t h e University of Illinois under the date of June 12, 1946, except Item E referring to the remodeling of its present fire station. This amount is listed at $16,225.00. T o this we continue our objections because of the hazards involved and to the inaccessible location of the present station. It is believed that if the University of Illinois authorities will cooperate in supporting the proposed bill for a new station, it will be approved, and we believe that the proposed facilities can be built in ample time to house the new equipment to be acquired. Respectfully submitted for the Committee by

W I L L I A M R. STONEHAM, R. W . A L S I P , Secretary President

ARTHUR CUTTS WILLARD M r . Nickell presented t h e following tribute to President Willard. O n m o t i o n of M r . N i c k e l l , t h i s t r i b u t e w a s u n a n i m o u s l y a d o p t e d , b y r i s i n g vote. Dr. Arthur Cutts Willard, an eminent engineer, teacher, author, and conductor and director of research, became the ninth President of the University of Illinois on July 1, 1934. A t that time, the nation was in the midst of a worldwide economic depression. T h e resources for the operation of the University were decreased, and nothing seemed available for expansion. Nevertheless, Dr. Willard, by initiating and securing the passage of legislation to implement the construction of buildings by Federal grants, loans, and by the use of income, carried out a substantial building program without State appropriations. During his presidency, the enrollment of students in the University has reached the highest peak in history, and the General Assembly made the largest appropriations ever given for operation and for buildings. On t h e outbreak of World W a r I I , President Willard was prompt to place all the facilities of the University at the disposal of the Nation. Thousands of soldiers and sailors were housed and trained here. Important research was conducted in many fields. More than twenty thousand students and six hundred