University of California Berkeley - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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PRESIDENT ' S MESSAGE Blue and Gold this year celebrates its fiftieth anniversary. JL A quarter of a century ago, when some of us were students here, it was very simply printed, but full of student humor and interesting revelations. It has grown into a sumptuous volume, representative of the finest art of printer and binder. College annuals generally started as grinds on joshes on organizations, students, and particularly on faculty members. These latter always came in for their full share of humorous criticism and caricature. Customs change and today the professors seem to escape attention. Does this indicate that they are relatively less important on the campus, or that there is less of the inti- macy disclosing material for satire? One of the early numbers of The Blue and Gold was brought out by the fraternities, which have always figured to an important degree in the publication, but for many years it has been the editorial production of the Junior Class. There is a certain advantage in this fact, because through the history, pictures and other presentations of members of the Junior Class, the University becomes acquainted with the students at the moment when they take hold of their responsibilities as Seniors. The last quarter century has witnessed rapid development. All are observant of the fact that almost never is our beautiful campus free from the disturbance of new construction or alteration. With respect to the central teaching structure of the University, it is true that we may be reaching a certain completeness. With LeConte Hall, the new psychics building, and Haviland Hall, the new home of the School of Education, the great building plan inaugurated twenty-five years ago will, in its central masses, have been achieved. Stephens Hall represents the beginning of a new era in student life, although it is the consummation of efforts extending over a long time. It is fully twenty years ago since the Alumni began to collect and bank small sums for a building that should be a student center. We have at last realized this building and instantly it has found its place. Its power for good cannot be wholly estimated now, but more and more we shall rejoice in its possession and in the unity which its accommodations be- stow. One great need of the student body and of the University remains un- fulfilled. This is the need for college homes upon the campus or adjacent to it. Such homes have a most important relation to the influences that Page 16