Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1952 [PAGE 1251]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[January 21

few years to secure reservations of channels from the Federal Communications Commission for the use of educational institutions were based on fictitious economic assumptions; it follows that the question may well be raised as to whether the television program planning has been equally unrealistic. Recommendations of the ILLINOIS BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. 1. The University of Illinois abandon all consideration of commercial television station operation. 2. The University of Illinois abandon its plans for a non-commercial television station at this time. 3. The University of Illinois establish a television training course as part of the University curriculum. 4. If a conclusion is ultimately reached that a need exists for a complementary educational television transmitting station in a geographical area contiguous to • University of Illinois educational operations, that the Board of Trustees submit a complete analysis and proposal to the State Legislature, requesting construction and operating funds, so that the people of Illinois may be fully informed. 5. Finally, the ILLINOIS BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION re-states the position taken by its membership opposing the reservation of channels for educational TV broadcasting, and suggests that the University of Illinois withdraw its support of the proposals of the Joint Committee for Educational Television to the Federal Communications Commission. At the request of the IBA representatives, Mr. Livingston discussed the report made by the Board of Trustees Committee on Television to the Board at its meeting on November 23, 1951, and stated that the Board voted approval of the Committee's recommendation "that the University resolve to construct and to operate a television station on a non-commercial basis, and to petition the FCC to permit some commercial use of the reserved channel until such time as the area is adequately served by commercial television stations." All members of the IBA Committee participated in a discussion of the several points in the formal statement which had been presented by Mr. Livesay. Messrs. Livingston, Herrick, Stoddard, Schramm, and Hudson spoke for the University. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Livingston stated that the formal statement of the Illinois Broadcasters Association and a report of the discussion which took place at this meeting would be presented to the Board of Trustees of the University, and that there would undoubtedly be further conferences.

The report was discussed by Messrs. Livingston, Herrick, and Stoddard. At the conclusion of this discussion, Mr. Livingston stated that a further conference will be held with representatives of the Illinois Broadcasters Association on a mutually agreeable date, and that all members of the Board were invited to participate.

MEMORIAL TO ORVILLE M. KARRAKER

Mr. Nickell offered the following resolution:

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois records witlr profound sorrow the death on December 16, 1951, of Orville M. Karraker, a former member and one time President of this Board. Mr. Karraker devoted much of a long and useful life to public service. He graduated from the Southern Illinois Normal University, now the Southern Illinois University, in 1899 and later served his Alma Mater for one year as a trustee. In Harrisburg, Illinois, where he spent much of his life, he served in such public offices as high school principal for two years, as a member and President of the Board of Education for fifteen years, and as Mayor of that city for one term. He was a successful banker and was President of the First National Bank of Harrisburg for many years.