Louisiana State University - Gumbo Yearbook (Baton Rouge, LA)

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uring the next dec- ade, LSU was to come under a dynamic and color- ful influence that would carry it into a new era; that is, the regime of Huey P. Long (1928- 1935). In the short span of six years, the University would develop into one of the leading universities of the time. After moving to a new plant in 1926, the University did not expand its facili- ties as rapidly as at the old Campus. In 1928 with an enrollment of only eighteen-hundred students, LSU was considered a third ranked school rank- ing eighty-eighth in size among Ameri- can universities. This lack in develop- ment stemmed directly from inadequate financial support from the State. This inadequate funding could be directly attributed to Louisianians ' atti- tudes toward education, which had developed after the Civil War. They seemed content with second or third rate education. They knew the schools were inadequate, which was primarily due to the poverty in the South, and knew nothing could be done about it. There was a man to come who would change this attitude. That man was Huey P. Long. Through his direct relationship with LSU, higher educa- tion in Louisiana would take a turn for the better. In the first year of his term as gover- nor, Long dealt very little with the Uni- versity. His first real contact with it came through the LSU Cadet Band in 1930. He had ambitious plans to expand LSU, and he chose an organiza- tion that was seen, heard, and under- stood by all to start this expansion idea. He came to their practices, helped expand it and even lead it in parades. This was the start of Long ' s interven- tion into LSU ' s future. Long ' s first major step in the Uni- versity ' s affairs came when President Thomas W. Atkinson decided to resign and a new successor was being sought. For many years University officials did not believe in any intervention by the governor in such matters, but Long would succeed in putting in a man of his own. That man was James Monroe Smith, former dean of the College of Educa- tion of Southwestern Louisiana Insti- tute. He was a good administrator, who would not hesitate in devising new pol- icies for the University. Through him, Long was able to fulfill his new plans for the University ' s expansion. Long ' s plans for expanding LSU came in 1930 with one of the largest building programs in its history. Late in that year, he suggested to Smith that they enlarge the physical plant and promised financial support for the pro- jects. During those pre-depression years, money was appropriated for at least eight construction projects plus added money for increased operating expenses and for salaries of new faculty members. The way Long financed these pro- jects was well devised. He stated that more land was needed for the new state capital for office buildings. The sur- rounding land which once held the Old Campus was still owned by the University, and the gradual buying of this land would guarantee money for future projects such as a new medical school in New Orleans. Some of the new construction on campus was the building of a new Music and Dramatic Arts building and fine arts building. Girls ' dorms such as Smith (now known as Pleasant Hall), Evangeline, Annie Boyd, Highland, Louise Graig, and Grace King Halls were built. The football stadium was enlarged and a gymnasium was built. A new field house was also built and named after Huey P. Long. It was a stu- dent center with lounges, post office, and a swimming pool. Major Troy Mid- dleton, ROTC commander and soon to be famous World War II Army com- mander, first presented the plan for a swimming pool to Long with an expected construction cost of seventy- two thousand dollars. When Long fin- ished with it, the pool was to cost one- half million dollars. One day when inspecting the construction of the pool, Middleton commented that he thought the United States Naval Academy pool was larger. Long immediately ordered ten more feet put on the pool, making it one of the largest in the country. During this time also, the faculty expanded greatly from 168 in 1928 to 245 in 1935. Many professors from the Northern schools came to teach and the faculty started gaining national atten- tion. The enrollment also gained with a jump from eighteen-hundred students to forty-two hundred in six years. LSU went quickly from eighty-eighth in rank in the U.S. to twentieth. During all these expansion years, Long was a frequent visitor to the cam- pus. As one account reads: Huey ' s antics at LSU have fascinated all observ- ers. They have wondered why a gover- nor would want to lead a band or give a pep talk to the football team. Some have put it down to a juvenile quality in the adult Huey. He had never been an undergraduate or enjoyed the delights of college life, they say, and he was only recreating an existence that he had always hoped for. Long ' s activity in the student life at LSU was extensive. At one time he even brought injured football players home to the mansion to recuperate. He had meetings with the student body even after he was gov- ernor and in the U.S. Senate, he planned train rides to football games and special programs. Huey P. Long became an integral factor in the building of LSU into a nationally renowned institution. He once vowed, We are going to make this school as complete a school as we can. The means in which he accom- plished this may be questionable to some, but Long placed his mark in LSU and steered it into a new era. As he once said to a Washington reporter, Hell, I ' ve got a university down in Louisiana Quotes and paraphrase from Huey Long by T. Harry Williams (New York: Ban tan Books, 1970). 20 Nostalgia

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Huey P. Long Field House ears passed after the death of Huey Long with LSU in the foreground as one of the finest institutions of the time. During the depression years, the building pro- gram was under way costing almost twice that of the cost of the original University plant. The years to come would prove to be difficult for the University. They were times of trou- ble and war that would test the strength of the Ole War Skule. Trouble hit LSU in the late sum- mer of 1939; to such a degree, the fine reputation that LSU worked so hard to obtain almost crumbled. In that year, scandals were uncovered that ranged from embezzlement by such University officials as President James M. Smith to the near loss of accredita- tion of the school. The scandals uncovered were many. Four university officials and several political figures were con- victed of charges including embezzle- ment, forgery, and the use of the mail to defraud. The finances of the Uni- versity were in total disarray because of interventions by politicians into the use of them. The Board of Super- visors was uncovered to be under political influence instead of being a neutral body that went between the University and the State. Federal funds, mainly financing the National Freshman at rcgtstr: Youth Administrations program of student aid, were misappropriated. The school almost lost its accredita- tion which it received in 1928, but was put on probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Second- ary Schools until all the scandals were cleared up. To head this job, Paul M. Hebert, dean of Administration (today the dean of the Law School), was picked as the acting president of the Univer- sity. Colonel Troy H. Middleton, for- mer commandant of cadets and soon to be president of LSU, was appointed vice-president and comptroller to completely reorganize the Universi- ty ' s business office. There two men with the help of others cleared up the trouble at LSU, and the University was taken off probation in December of 1941. By this time, LSU was gearing up for the war effort. In June of 1941, the School of Medicine had put all their classes on a year- ' round basis along with the University, so that stu- dents could finish in three years instead of four. Courses were added to prepare the students for the war effort. Some of the courses were: metallurgy, machine shop practices, chemistry of powder and explosives, radio techniques, airplane engine mechanics, and aircraft welding. A flying school and chemical warfare school were established also. The war ended and the University returned to matter concerning itself. General Troy H. Middleton, now a World War II hero, took over as pres- ident of the University in 1951. Under the decade of his leadership, the Uni- versity expanded into the system it is today. Branches had already been established in Monroe and Shreve- port. During this time, branches were open in New Orleans, Eunice, and Alexandria. At the Baton Rouge cam- pus, the enrollment had reached over twelve hundred with more and more Gbmneaceneni exercises 22 Nostalgia