Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 953]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

946

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[December

n

W h e n this action was taken, the war with Japan was not over. While the war in Europe was over, there was no expectation that any large number of those in the armed forces would be returned to civilian life immediately and that the residence halls facilities would be needed to house returned veterans before September of 1947 as originally planned. With the termination of the war in August, conditions have changed very rapidly. T h e number of veterans returning to the University of Illinois is much greater than originally anticipated. There is not sufficient private housing available in Champaign-Urbana to meet the demands. T h e University needs additional student housing immediately. T o meet this situation the University has secured from the National Housing Agency an allocation of 275 portable shelter houses now at Charleston, Indiana. T h e Governor has released $500,000 from the appropriation of $1,500,000 " F o r construction of students' residence halls and equipment" and has authorized the expenditure of this amount ($500,000) for the installation of portable housing for war veterans and their families. As further steps in the construction of housing facilities for students, the Director of the Physical Plant Department and the Dean of Students recommend: 1. That the construction of an apartment-type of residence hall be deferred since the funds allocated for this phase of the program will be needed for temporary housing. 2. That the balance in the State appropriation for student residence halls be used for the construction of residence halls for unmarried students. It is proposed that these units will ultimately be women's residence halls but that they be used for housing single veteran students as long as there is need for them. It is further proposed that if the State appropriation is not sufficient it be supplemented through bond issues. 3. That the action of the Board on June 30, 1945, appropriating $25,000 for the purchase of the T. A. Clark property on Illinois Street as part of a site for the apartment-type of residence hall be rescinded and that these funds be a p plied to the temporary housing project. I concur in these recommendations except as to item 3, on which I recommend that the original action of the Board stand and that the University purchase this property for future use. O n m o t i o n of D r . M e y e r , t h e f o l l o w i n g a c t i o n s w e r e t a k e n : r . T h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of a p a r t m e n t s f o r m a r r i e d s t u d e n t s w a s deferred. 2. T h e u s e of t h e r e m a i n i n g f u n d s f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of r e s i dence halls for u n m a r r i e d students w a s authorized. 3 . T h e e m p l o y m e n t of S h a w , N a e s s , a n d M u r p h y a s a r c h i t e c t s w a s confirmed. ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION FOR OBSERVATION GALLERY FOR UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL (13) On May 12, 1945, the Board approved a request for an appropriation of $1,200 to provide for an observation gallery in the University High School. T h e Physical Plant Department requested bids from contractors at that time without receiving a single bid. Recently it has again been offered for reconsideration and bids received, the lowest bidder being George Bennett in the amount of $2,357. Other costs total $843. An additional appropriation of $2,000 is now needed to complete this project. I recommend an additional appropriation of $2,000 for this purpose and request authorization for the Comptroller and Secretary to approve the award of the contract to the lowest bidder, George Bennett.

The Provost commented on this matter. On motion of Mrs. Grigsby, this appropriation was made as recommended, by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Davis, Mr. Fornof, Mrs. Grigsby, Mr. Livingston, Mr. McKelvey, Dr. Meyer; no, none; absent, Mr. Green, Dr. Luken, Mr. McLaughlin, Mr. Nickell, Mr. Williamson.