Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1954 [PAGE 1294]

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1954]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

1291

AIR FORCE ACADEMY (25) W i t h the enactment of legislation by the United States Congress authorizing the establishment of an Air Force Academy and appropriating funds for the same, there has been renewal of public interest in Urbana-Champaign in securing the location of the Academy in that general area. Five years ago the United States Air Force prepared plans and drafted legislation for establishment of an Air Force Academy similar to the Military Academy at West Point and the Naval Academy at Annapolis. At that time it was anticipated that an interim academy would be established on a small scale (with approximately 300 cadets) before completion of the Air Force Academy at a permanent location. The Board of Trustees confirmed the action of the President of the University in inviting authorities of the Air University at Maxwell Field, Alabama, to establish the interim academy at the University of Illinois and authorized University officials to carry on negotiations with United States Air Force officials if the latter would consider the offer. Subsequently, the matter was dropped in the absence of necessary enabling legislation. It now appears that the Air Force Academy will be located at one of the existing United States Air Force bases. An important factor in the site selection will be proximity to metropolitan and other areas which offer cultural and educational facilities. This indicates that Chanute Air Force Base at Rantoul, Illinois, would be an excellent location because of its proximity to the University of Illinois and to Chicago. The University has taken no official action on the matter, but its officials have indicated to representatives of Urbana-Champaign and of Chanute Air Force Base, through the Joint Community-University Committee, willingness to cooperate in any way the University can in securing the location of the Air Force Academy in the general area of Champaign County, provided that this will not interfere with the primary purpose and operations of the University. The first requisite seems to be to secure a definite statement of the Governor as to whether he considers this the preferred location in Illinois. The Committee is working on this point. It has declared that it stands ready to join with the Governor in this effort. When it was formerly proposed that the interim academy be set up at the University of Illinois, its student enrollment was dropping off from the post-war peak and it would have been feasible to provide housing and instructional facilities for a temporary academy of approximately 300 cadets. (As a specific example, at that time the Gymnasium Annex was equipped and was being used as a dormitory, and it could have been made available as a barracks.) With the enrollment again on the increase, and considering other changing conditions, the University could not provide all of the essential facilities for an interim academy. Nevertheless, the University should stand ready to provide such services of its staff and such of its facilities as can be made available without undue interference with ongoing educational and research programs and without cost to the state. University officials must necessarily reserve judgment as to what the University can do until there is more information on what is specifically required.

This report was received for record. This concluded the presentation of reports and recommendations from the President of the University.

REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE ON E N D O W M E N T INVESTMENTS

Mr. Megran reported that the Finance Committee has approved the sale of the securities listed below and offered the following resolution required in order to complete the sale:

Resolution WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois is the owner of 45 shares of Southern California Edison 4.32 per cent preferred stock, 20 shares of Fiber Products common stock, 145 shares of Alabama Gas Company common stock, 8 shares of Standard Oil of New Jersey common stock, and WHEREAS, it is considered desirable that these stocks be disposed of, Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Board of Trustees that the above described shares of stock be sold and that H . O. Farber, Comptroller, and A. J. Janata, Secretary, be authorized to execute any and all documents necessary to complete such sale.

This resolution was adopted.