General Motors Institute - Reflector Yearbook (Flint, MI)

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1961-1962: A Year Many changes have taken place at General Motors In- stitute during the past school year. A new addition was added to the second story of the west wing, negotiations for purchase of approximately 35 acres of property for fur- ther expansion are underway, several facilities were reno- vated, the academic program was strengthened, new per- sonnel joined the Institute, several changes affected student activities, and several improvements are currently under construction. The administration of the Institute has indi- cated that only time will tell- if these changes have been “changes for the sake of change” or if good constructive results will come from them. Before... One of the most extensive changes is the addition of the second story to the west wing. This addition houses the facilities of the Electricity and Electronics Department. The west wing, constructed in 1954, was designed to permit the future addition of a second floor. Construction was begun in early 1961 and the EE Department began its new school year in their new quarters. The completion of this addition to the existing building makes the acquisition of additional property the key to future physical development of the Institute.

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Dedication A third and very important criteria was that the man would be active above and beyond his role as a teacher. This included such activities as advising various school organizations, working in various faculty functions and committees, and being active in his community. There were numerous men who fulfilled some of these qualifications and several who met them all. We strived, in this dedication, to pick the one man who met them most completely. This man is Mr. Edward J. Preville. Ed was born in Flushing, Michigan, on August 29, 1929. He attended Western Michigan University and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech and English in 1951. He taught at the University of South Dakota while taking courses toward his Ed reviews a co-ordination report with Freida and Pat. Master of Arts Degree in English and Speech which he received in 1952. Ed worked for “Uncle Sam” as an instructor at Fort Leonard Wood in 1953 and 1954. He joined the staff of the Institute on June 12, 1956. In the few years since he has come to the In- stitute, Ed has established himself as one of the most respected and best liked instructors in the school. If you would ask for opinions from his former pupils, you would receive comments such as, “Outstanding,” “Understanding,” “Dynamic,” and “The Best.” The type of instructor he is, is best summed up in the words of the Chairman of the Department of Humanities, Mr. Robert E. Tuttle, who says: “Ed is one of our best instructors in all the English courses.” His activities include work in many areas. The most recent of these is his appointment as the first chairman of the Faculty Council of the Institute. He is a faculty advisor to Phi Kappa Epsilon Fra- ternity, and is active in the Student Christian Fel- lowship. He was an advisor to the Committee on Student Ethics, is a counselor for new freshmen, and a member of Dean Tutt’s Committee on Faculty Offices. He advised the REFLECTOR staff from 1957 to 1960 and has advised the Publications Council and the GMTE Executive Council for the past two years. He was initiated as a faculty member of the Robot Society in 1960. In addition to these, he was a member of the Faculty Staff Program Committee and was chairman of the Sub-Committee which recommended the new Faculty Structure. In community life, he is an advisor to a little league baseball team, was a member of the Home-School Committee of Holy Redeemer Church in 1959, and was the speaker at the Utley High School Commence- ment in 1960. It is with great honor that we, the REFLECTOR Staff. dedicate the 1962 REFLECTOR to you, Ed, for your dedication to General Motors Institute and the students of GMI. Ed sips some water at a four-section GMTE Executive Council dinner.

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of Many Improvements The 35 acres immediately adjacent to the Institute has long been recognized as the key to future physical develop- ment of General Motors Institute. The family home on the property was occupied for the past several years by Miss Margaret Hasselbring, a cultured and charming lady who took great interest in the Institute until her death at 81 on January 7, 1962. As a final gesture of her friendship for the Institute, Miss Hasselbring incorporated in her will a request that the property be offered for sale to General Motors for the use of the Institute. Miss Hasselbring’s heirs—have made the offer to sell and they and General Motors are negotiating the terms of the sale. The Institute has rented approximately five acres of this property since 1953 for use as a softball field. Three dia- monds are currently being used by students at the Institute for intramural softball. The Hasselbring property would be used as a site for expansion of the Institute building program. Proposed use of the property includes heavy equipment laboratories, student and faculty centers, an auditorium, a possible athletic build- ing, library, and dormitories with parking facilities, all ap- propriately placed and properly landscaped. The proposed use of this property, subsequent to its purchase, will likely occur slowly over a period of time. The wooded Hasselbring property is located directly across Third Avenue from the Institute. The Third Avenue frontage of the Hasselbring property extends from North Garden street to the Flint River.