Denison University - Adytum Yearbook (Granville, OH)

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Greater Denison Unchanging century has left Denison unchanged in her motives. The religious Motives and scholastic purposes of those pioneers who conceived the Gran- ville Literary and Theological Institution are uppermost today in the minds of those who see in the future the Greater Denison. Materially, Denison has changed. From the frame structure which was Changs educational plant of the first students, she has advanced to the well equipped Denison of today. From the first president ' s fifty-five thousands of dollars in endowment she is today powerfully endowed with nearly five millions. Educationally, Denison has never lost sight of the purposes of her founders, to furnish an ... . education which shall not be inferior to what can be obtained in any institution, of whatever name, in the western country. Now Greater Denison presents itself as the slogan for Denison ' s of Greater material step. The Swasey Chapel, Beaver and Sawyer Halls, and Denison the two new houses built by fraternities on Sunset Hill are definite steps toward the realization of Greater Denison, a name which pro- vides for the uniform architectural development on the hill for the entire university. A plan of high distinction has been evolved by the architect, the late Distinction Arnold W. Brunner, of New York, and Frederick Law Olmstead, the landscape architect, who has worked with him on the problem. It is planned with complete administrative, educational, and recreational buildings to accommodate five hundred women and five hundred men, with due provision for future enlargement. Brunner ' s plans for architectural development will make Denison more than a distinctive small college. . , . , The architectural style in which the entire college is carried out Architectural , , i , . . . . i • n ■ Wisdom represents an admirable choice, because it is Georgian Loloniai in manner, deriving from the native architecture of the New England from which the settlers of Granville transplanted themselves, and expressing, at the same time, the pervasive characteristics of the brick Georgian architecture of Maryland and Virginia. It is an admirable choice, moreover, because it is a style which must remain of permanent significance and suitability in this country, regardless of what other styles may come or go across the stage of popularity. Rome, on its Seven Hilltops, was not built in a day, but perished in a day. Vision t hands of one not accustomed to appreciate properly the environment of the magnificent city. Denison, on its Seven Hills, must not and cannot be built in a day. We, of the Denison of Today, must not expect to see Greater Denison Tomorrow. The growth of Denison must be effected so that the ultimate result will coordinate with her ideals — as lasting and as staunch. We of the Denison of Today must have a Vision, realizing the truth that the Greater Denison is comparatively close at hand. We must truly have the Vision of those founders, who, in the face of hard- ship, brought Denison from her meagre beginnings to the fair college on the hill. [23]

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Swasei s generous and far-seeing of the donors to the university. The Swasey Gifts Observatory, given in 1909, a building of surpassing beauty which con- tains astronomical instruments of highest precision, and the Swasey Chapel, which was dedicated in the spring of 1924, one of the most beautiful college religious edifices in the country, are his gifts. ft:- Dcnison aftei 1900, before the Greater Vci [22]

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Above is reproduced the Library of Greater Denison, which will be erected in its logical position at the head of the main campus. The Library is to be erected early, according to the proposed building program, and its need is greatly felt at present. I The new chapter houses of Phi Delta Theta and Beta Theta Pi are the first structures to be erected upon Fraternity Row, which will occupy Sunset Hill, and which will be the site of all the fraternity houses of Greater Denison. [24]