Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1954 [PAGE 658]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1953]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

655

This is consistent with previous reassignments of funds from this source made by the Board of Trustees for various Research and Educational Hospitals projects.

On motion of M r s . Watkins, this reassignment of funds was approved and the Physical Plant Department was authorized to do the remodeling work recommended. This action was taken by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Bissell, Mr. Grange, Mr. Herrick, Mr. Hickman, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Megran, M r . Nickell, M r s . W a t k i n s ; no, none; absent, M r s . Holt, Mr. Stratton.

PETITION AND PROPOSAL FROM THE FACULTY OF THE CHICAGO UNDERGRADUATE DIVISION

A delegation of members of the faculty and students from the Chicago Undergraduate Division, and representatives of civic groups, appeared before the Board to present a petition and a proposal for establishing a four-year university in Chicago, the immediate objective being to expand the present curricula offered at Navy Pier from two years to four years of university work. During this presentation, M r s . Doris S. Holt took her place with the Board. T h e delegation from the faculty was headed by Professors John D. McNee, Jr., Chairman, David K. Maxfield, Secretary, and Lucille Derrick, T r e a s u r e r of the Council of the Faculty of the University of Illinois in Chicago. Copies of the petition and of other documents formally presenting the proposal of the delegation were distributed to all members of the Board. Copies of all of these documents were also filed with the Secretary of the Board for record and are a part of the minutes of this meeting. In addition to these officers, the following members of the Council of the Faculty spoke: Professors Canio Radice, Benjamin Lease, William D. Grampp, and D. W . Riddle. Student representatives who spoke were Messrs. Herbert Fisher, Peter Wolf, William Scott, and Miss Roberta Pinsky. Representatives of civic groups who spoke for the proposal were M r s . Harriett Roberts and Mr. Lawrence Kowalski of the Parents' Association of the University of Illinois in Chicago, and Mr. John Sanchez of the Back of the Yards Council. Members of the Board asked questions of the speakers for the delegation and discussed with them specific points relating to the petition. Mr. Bissell suggested that consideration be given to starting the proposed expansion of the curricula with offering three years of college work in certain areas. Mr. Megran stated that it is the desire of the Board and of the administrative officers of the University to avoid any, suggestion of a controversy in the consideration of this matter; it is just a question of finding a solution which will serve the best interests of the public. President Stoddard stated that he regards the proposal submitted by the faculty and the representations made as an indication of a healthy interest on the part of both students and faculty in the educational programs offered at Navy Pier. H e added that it would be unfortunate if the faculty and students were here to protest the operations at Navy Pier.