UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
N A V I G A T I O N D I G I T A L L I B R A R Y
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Nevins) [PAGE 284]

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ADMINISTRATIVE LIBERALISM

265

law, are nominated at the regular party conventions— this because the expense of putting a name on the primary ticket is heavy. The result is that more emphasis than formerly is thrown upon the nominations. For over twenty years the alumni have taken an effective interest in the choice of the nominees, and have usually had a hand in drawing up the party slate, though this has to be managed cautiously, for the State is jealous of the public nature of the office, and frowns upon any move towards internal control. Politics has played virtually no part in the proceedings of the Board; on the other hand, sectional affiliations and various economic or financial interests have sometimes played a disagreeable part. Thus one member once tried to obtain special privileges in the granting of contracts to the district in which the University is located, and had to be checked. The members have usually been very fit, and though nominations may be careless, none is ever willfully bad. This fact represents the State's good sense and idealism, for it will brook no meddling with public educational institutions3|The asylums and charitable interests have sometimes been the football of partisan interests; the normal schools, very seldom; and the State University, neveiy|f Certain of the Trustees have assumed an important part in the development and growth of the University, serving it with a generous expenditure of energy and time; most prominent among these are S. A. B«§| lard, who served continuously from 1889 to 1907, afiHI was twice president of the Board, and W. L. Abbo|||$ another alumnus, who has served since 1905 and b e n president much of that time. A President solicitous of his own^Independence B 8 grasp the necessity for the compar^^e independent of deans and departmental heads in their own fields; and