Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 299]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

296

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[November 30

and says that this should be evident to local tax officials as well as others. In view of the rather persistent attempt on the part of certain officials to tax University properties, this mild rebuke from the highest court in the State is timely and should be effective. In this connection I remind you that local assessors assessed the furniture in the Men's Residence Halls, the Union Building, etc., for 1943 taxes after Mr. De Long from the Business Office and I had taken University records to the Board of Review and showed them that the University was and is the sole and exclusive owner and the properties are therefore exempt! I advised against paying these taxes, but the situation should be watched and the University should be prepared to take suitable steps, should an attempt be made to collect them by distraint or otherwise.

SVEINBJORN JOHNSON

On motion of Mr. Jensen, this report was received for record, and Judge Sveinbjorn Johnson was relieved of further responsibility for any legal matters previously assigned to him, and was requested to turn over to Dean Albert J. Harno, Legal Counsel, all things now in his hands pertaining to the legal business of the University.

LEGAL SERVICES, INSURANCE, ETC.

At this point, President Livingston requested the Secretary to read the minutes of previous meetings of the Board, from 1940 to date, relating to (a) the status and employment of Judge Sveinbjorn Johnson; (b) the employment of Chapman and Cutler; (c) the employment of Mr. Newton C. Farr; (d) insurance on University buildings and property. The Comptroller presented a statement showing expenditures for employment of outside legal counsel, in addition to the salary of the regularly appointed University Counsel from 1926 to date; and also a statement of the cost of insurance on University buildings and property from 1940 to date. After full consideration and discussion of the details of these matters, and on motion of Mr. Jensen, the Board voted without dissent to adopt a resolution (to be drafted later in the day; see page 310) to the effect that, having carefully examined the record, the Board finds nothing therein to justify statements made during the recent election campaign attacking the integrity of members of the Board of Trustees.

REPORT ON JUNIOR COLLEGE PROBLEM IN ILLINOIS

(7) The Board of Trustees has requested that a study be made of the junior college problem in Illinois. The Advisory Committee to the Bureau of Institutional Research was asked to make such a study. I submit herewith a "Summary of Facts and Policies Regarding a System of Junior Colleges for the State of Illinois," which has been submitted by Provost Coleman R. Griffith on behalf of the Advisory Committee to the Bureau of Institutional Research. I recommend that this matter be referred to a Committee of the Board for study. The full report of the Advisory Committee is in preparation and will be available shortly.

On motion of Mr. Jensen, the President of the Board was authorized to appoint a special committee to study this matter in conference with the President of the University and the Provost and to present its recommendations at the December meeting of the Board. President Livingston appointed the following special committee: Mr. Jensen, Mr. Nickell, Mr. Fornof, Mr. Davis.