Beloit College - Codex Yearbook (Beloit, WI)

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Gbe Men Who Make Beloit Possible A7 NE familiar with recent events at Beloit has witnessed some remarkable crises in her history. There has been a radical change from the old to the new order of things. The pioneer trustee, teacher, and student, with their certain and well- delined characteristics, have given way to men of another generation with their Own peculiar demands and characteristics. The Beloit of fifty years ago, with its men and equipment, has yielded to another Beloit with its men - and equipment. That beau- tiful October day in 1892 when the corner-stone of Science Hall was laid, marked the turning point in the work of the collegeg it meant more trustees, more tt achers, more students, more equipment, more demands, more resources for the col- lege. If this new order of things was hailed with de- light by the students, and was gratifying to the friends, it brought added burdens and responsibilities to the ' trustees and executives. The most serious problem by far of this new condition was the moneys necessary to carry ' on the enlarged enterprise. Before this time an appeal had been made to the friends setting forth the needs of the college, the irst answer to this appeal came from that large-hearted friend of the college, Dr. D. K. Pearsons. Wheiiexver we think of the D- K- PF-ARSONS men who have made this new Beloit possible, this man comes first. Time and again since that first gift has he come to us in a large way. Pearsons Science Hall, Chapin Hall, Emerson Hall are the visible monuments to his gen- erosity, while more than f350,000 has been contributed to the endowment funds of the institution. Dr. Pearsons has thehabit of expecting the president and trustees to do something when he does. Large giver from his own funds, he expects them to meet him with substantial equivalents. Once and again have the trustees diligently set themselves to this labor of love. They have gone down deep into their own pockets, each according 25

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The Men Who Make Beloit Possible-Continued to his ability, have talked and argued and labored with personal friends, have appealed to the college following, and thus somehow after all this exertion and agitation and presentation of the claims of the college, the necessary funds, in small and large sums, have come. It has been well said that the professors, the students, the alumni and friends put much into the college, but they all also get much out of it. But the Board of Trustees who are continually putting into the college get little in a direct way out from it, Their return, if return there be, comesin other ways. Through such labor only, however, is the work of the college possible, and how faithfully and fully have the conditions been met! And how few reminders of the names even of those thus giving are to be seen about the college campus! The men have been merged wholly in the institution itself. A most notable example of the attitude of the Board was offered during the last year, in the efforts to meet the conditions of Dr. Pearsons' latest gift, The increased expenses of the college, the demand for extensions to meet the new courses of study offered, the diminished earning power of invested funds had combined to create an annual dehcit which must be stopped or the college would eventually become bankrupt. Recogq nizing this condition, Dr. Pearsons made an offer of f200,000 conditioned upon raising the sum of 8I50,000 additional. The task seemed hopelessg the following of the college had been taxed to meet former appealsg but the Board took hold of the problem with a firm grip, a handsome subscription was made at the first meeting where the gift was announcedg friends of the college were again interviewedg the student-body, as once be- fore on a similar occasion, returned a large subscriptiong and at the last to make all secure, the Board made an additional pledge and guaranteed the payment of y?5o,ooo, and what seemed to be impossible in the time allowed had been accomplished. Last come mencement was a memorable one. The college for the first time in its fifty years of ser- vice was in a financially sound condition. And to whom was this due but to the body of men who, without hope of adequate recompense, had given so largely of their means and themselves. No institution can become great until all connected with it view it from a common point of vantage. The professors may be ever so learned and capable of impartf ing that knowledge to others, the students ever so enthusiastic and loyalg but back of them and acting with them must be a body of men in full accord with the ends of the col- lege and in sympathy with its work to the last degreeg who can grasp the whole problem of the institution, plan for its advancement in all profitable ways, and provide the means for carrying on its work. The Old Beloit was singularly fortunate in her earliest advisers. Has not this New Beloit also found in her present Board of Trustees men equally devoted to her ideals, and as capable of solving the problems of the new conditions ? ERASTUS G. SMITH 26