Kent State University - Chestnut Burr Yearbook (Kent, OH)

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The 1934 Homecoming celebration was a far cry from the present well-planned and organized one. Where there ' s a will, there ' s a way. In spite of the depression, six young men managed to keep in school by living in a cottage on University property. -hxautiU- 1 i la ...(X ©WU I amsu President Engleman 1928-1938. Alma, a big girl now. We must get things in order. Then, too, we must prepare for hard days ahead. Hard days, indeed! Depression! No money, no jobs, no gad- ding about! Morning and evening prayers! Bet- ter days coming! And, come they did, bringing buildings, a new college, a new degree and a new name. Kent State University. President McGil- very back. Still plugging and slugging and sing- ing the hit tune — Don ' t Fence Me In. Years take toll. President Engleman says, I must rest for awhile, but I shall always be near for help and advice. President Leebrick 1938-1943. A new Univer- sity! Seeking a place among the nation ' s best! Dynamic! Decisive! War! All out for victory! Everyone doing a job! Bring the army to the campus! No time to fritter away! I ' m going to join up! Goodbye and good luck! President Clark (acting) 1943-1944. It isn ' t easy to be called out of the classroom to sit in the president ' s chair. Quick adjustment to new situ- ations! Ability and courage to defer judgment. Keeping roads to the future open! Hats off to the man who accepted a task and successfully com- pleted it. The flag went up on Iwo Jima. Kent ' s hopes too, took a rise. The end of the war was the begin- ning of a huge University expansion program. 17

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Kent hall presents a strong, formidable structure in 1934. It is a building that is rep- resentative of the tradition of the KSU campus for its strength, stability and fortitude. 16

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President Bowman 1944-. Of 2800 students only 700 left. Of 1400 men only 100 left. All stu- dent groups inactive! All student projects discon- tinued! Limited appropriations! Army cadets gone! Buildings and equipment out of repair! Never was there greater need for strength, cour- age and leadership. Came peace! Came the G.I. bill! Came the veterans — forty-five hundred strong! Five thousand! Six thousand! Teachers, books, classrooms, living quarters; in short supply. But President Bowman and his team brought order out of chaos and all things in proper place and perspective. New buildings all over the campus, new courses, new objectives and new enlargements, but of greatest importance, sound scholarship and every safeguard for student wel- fare! Golden years! Wonderful years! Affairs in Korea affected Kent. A cold war with Russia af- fected Kent. Political feuding and fussing affect- ed Kent. Inflation affected Kent. But, Kent was strong, virile and well prepared. Took every ob- stacle in stride. Today, we say This is Kent without reservations. Today, visitors exclaim. To- day, skeptics are silent and the predictors of doom move on to spots offering more encourage- ment. 18 OWVfMMX These lonely halls meant strong lines of defense. The deluge of veterans was welcomed back and the need for an addition was met by a new student union. IF VI