Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1956 [PAGE 465]

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462

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[July 20

versely to the proposal on the grounds of ( a ) less convenient location for service to students and (b) removal of hospital space from availability when the University is growing and local hospitals are crowded (extract enclosed) (Enclosure D ) . T h e problem has also been studied by the Daily Illini which editorally expressed favor with the move subject to certain conditions (copy attached) (Enclosure E ) . T h e Dean of Students and his associates have been strongly opposed to the change although admitting that the move would provide better physical facilities for the Health Service. The principal reasons are ( a ) greater inconvenience for students and (b) reduction of total amount of hospital facilities. I also referred the advisory committee report to the chairman of the former committee, Professor N. A. P a r k e r . I enclose a copy of his comments which are favorable to the change and which he summarizes as follows: " a ) I concur in the four recommendations except that I am not convinced that we need to set up dispensaries, "b) I believe that the off-center location of McKinley Hospital is no great disadvantage and may even be an advantage." (Enclosure F ) I also referred the problem to the Building P r o g r a m Committee for consideration from the standpoint of the best use of space and the greatest advantage to the University as a whole. This committee has not yet reported. T h e Physical Plant Department was asked to estimate the cost of the move. T h e total cost is estimated at $33,100, which includes: ( a ) A new drive and parking lot $9 800 ( b ) A new system of air supply 4 500 thus leaving the actual cost of relocating the Health Center at $18,800. This is for fundamental needs only, having in mind that the arrangement is intended to be temporary. It makes no allowance for adaptation of present quarters to new uses. The drive and parking space could be eliminated or reduced, and the improvement of the air supply is needed chiefly because of the resulting removal of a research laboratory from the third floor to the basement and only indirectly results from moving the Health Center. A composite of these various opinions may be stated about as follows: (1) All concerned recognize the operational advantage of bringing the two activities adjacent to each other since they are under the same administration (which was not true in former years) and complement each other to a considerable degree. (2) Such a move would result in use of space now standing idle most of the time and would release space which could promptly be put to many other good uses. The objections to the move are primarily: (1) Less convenience to a majority (though not all) of the student body in the accessibility of the Health Center (2) Removal of hospital facilities from availability in case of need, especially that which might result from an epidemic (3) Are the advantages sufficient to offset the cost involved? T h e advisory committee had coupled its recommendation with the proposal that a branch infirmary be retained at or near the present location. That is not looked upon with favor by Dr. Dyke, and I do not consider it a practical arrangement. T o do this would defeat one of the principal objectives of the change, the unification of the services. It would also prevent use of space for other purposes. On the matter of convenience, students are the only ones who would be affected since staff members would probably find the new location even more convenient than the present one. Students must now go to McKinley at times other than between 8 and 5 on week days and 8 and 12 on Saturdays. It appeafj likely that students could adjust themselves rather rapidly to the change. I held a conference with the student committee, and the student leaders agreed to give the matter further consideration in an effort to develop a better conception on the part of the student body of the problems involved and the reasons for the change.