Indiana University - Arbutus Yearbook (Bloomington, IN)

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Elisabeth Johnston Women ' s Director Xobte C. Butler Men ' s Director dially received and photographed with the nation ' s chief executive on the grounds of the executive mansion. Mr. Harding wished them the best of luck in their campaign. Their trip attracted unusual interest in the daily press and was the means of arousing a new intei-est in the University in the minds of the alumni in the eastern part of the United States. e---.- The Flying Squadron [ Page 12 ]

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W. A. Alexander The signal for the launching of actual solicitation on the campus was a mammoth All-University Mass Meeting held on the morning of March 7 in the Men ' s Gymnasium. Governor Warren T. McCray headed a long list of impressive faculty, student and alumni speakers. James S. Adams, ' 23, of Brazil, acted as chairman of the meeting. One hour after the close of the meeting actual solicitation among the students began. Teams of men and women canvassed every section of the city for student pledges. By midnight of March 7 the total had mounted to the $200,000 mark, and by midnight the following night, March 8, the goal of $400,000 was reached. The grand total was $413,000 with an average per contributor of $167. The record thess contributors and solicitors made stands unique in the annals of American colleges. Never were such scenes witnessed at Indiana as when the fund soared over the quota of $400,000. Near midnight on the night of March 8 tension was at a high pitch in the temporary headquarters in the Union rooms. Directors checked and rechecked figures. Interested students packed every corner of the room. Solicitors hurried in and out. At 11 :50 the first notes of Gloriana sounded out clear and strong from the chimes in the Student Build- ing tower — the signal that the fund had gone over. Immediately the campus was alive with students. Gathered around the signboard Indiana men and women heard the joyous tidings of the great victory. In the clear stillness of the night, with bared head, President Bryan faced his students, gathered in thousands in a mighty semi-circle. He spoke from the heart. His speech ended: I thank God I was born to work with these boys and girls at Indiana. The first chap- ter in the great book of the Memorial had been written in undying letters that spelled Sacrifice, Love and Success. About a month after the termination of the first campus campaign, a com- mittee of student leaders, chosen for their work in the movement, made a swing around the circuit, visiting all the large cities in the east to carry the message of the student campaign to the alumni living there. Those who made the trip were Noble But- ler, John Hastings, James S. Adams, Elisabeth Johnston, Helen Coblentz, W. A. Alexander and President and Mrs. William Lowe Bryan. The group was given the appellation of the Flying Squadron. While in Washington they called upon President Harding at the White House, where they were cor- [ P AGE 11]

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RkrAl Memorial Commencement and Round-up From the nation ' s capital Pr sident William Lowe Bn ' an broadcasted a Memorial message by radio to the thousands of Indiana graduates and former students in every part of the United States. In it he said : Alumni of Indiana, I stand in spirit by the midnight fire on the campus. I see my boys and girls eager to run to every point of the compass with fire which at its best I must think divine. Welcome the fire they bring, fire of youth, fire of loyalty, the finest fire in the world. The scene for the second chapter of the Memorial effort was laid in the city of Bloomington and in Monroe county. Citizens living in the shadow of the Uni- versity towers demanded a share in the movement that was to mean so much, both to the future of the University and to the city. An organization, similar to the one used on the campus, was formed to cai-ry on the work of solicitation among Bloomington residents. Mrs. N. 0. Pittenger, ' 14, was chosen women ' s director and the Rev. William Burrows was named men ' s director. Mrs. Otto Rott, ' 01, and Alex Hirsch were appointed assistant directors. A quota of $200,- 000 was set for the effort. In this undertaking, as in all other University enterprises, the citizens of Bloomington responded nobly. They fore- saw the future greatness of both city and school and recognized that a pledge to the Memorial was more of an investment than a gift. A Memorial Commencement was the official instrument for the inauguration [ Page 1 3