Millikin University - Millidek Yearbook (Decatur, IL)

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A GREATER MILLIKIN OSSIBLY it Was because the average university had so many children under eighteen for which to claim exemp- tion that the government decided ihat it would be use- less to impose the income tax on the colleges of our coun- try. Be that as it m ay, Milliicin has the notion that it is time that she should impose an income tax all her own — a tax that will raise her from a college of scanty appropriations to one of sufficient ap- propriations to care lor current expenses and for expansion. The orig- mal buildmgs were built by Mr. MiUikin, the grounds having been giv- en by him also. After all the initial expenses had been paid, there re- mained two hundred thousand dollars, representing the remaining money of Mr. Millikin and the money which the citizens of Decatur and the Cumberland Presbyterian church had raised for the endow- ment of Millikin. The interest from this endowment fund has been no more than enough for the annual current expenses. It was not of such size that part of the interest could be accumulated in a building fund which would provide for the necessary growth of the University. Aston Hall was built by Mr. Millikin before his death. The trustees of the estate built the Conservatory of Music and the Gymnasium soon after the death of Mr. Millikin. But at no time has Millikin been able independently to erect her own buildings. The fact has become increasingly apparent in the last few years that Millikin is in need of an endowment that will enable her not only to care for an increasingly large current expense, but also for additional buildings and equip- ment. Responding to this feeling on the part of those interested in Mill kin, the trustees of the estate offered six hundred thousand dollars toward a million dollar endowTiicnt, provided Millikin herself would raise the remaining four hundred thousand. In March, 1919, there- fore, a committee of fifteen Decatur citizens were called together for the purpose of planning means to raise the needed four hundred thousand dollars. TTiat committee appointed a sub-committee com- posed of J. S. McClellana, A. M Kenney and W. M. Wood. These three men, because of their business experience and more especially because of the successful manner in w hich they had conducted sever- al financial drives during the war, were to tcike active charge of the Million Dollar Endowment Campaign. They hired experts to map out the campaign and to tabulate an immense number of names and facts. Then in April the actual work of raising the money started. No one outside Decatur was solicited, but every prosp eclive Decatur con- tributor was listed with the amount which the committee thot that in- dividual ought to give. The solicitation was carried on by teams of Decatur citizens, each being under a captain who directed its move- 23

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THE BOARDS OF CONTROL The Board of Trustees of the University W. J. DARBY, President Evansville, Indiana C. E. GULLETT, Vice-President Lincoln H. E. STARKLY, Secretary Lincoln J. C. FISHER, Treasurer Decatur Illinois Synod HON. L. B. STRINGER, 1920 Lincoln GEORGE B. SPITLER, 1920 Mt. Zion s. E. McClelland, m.d., 1920 Decatur J. C. FISHER, M.D., 1921 Decatur F. E. BELL, M.D., 1921 Mattoon W. H. EVANS, 1921 Uncoln W. H. FENHALLEGON, D.D.. 1922 Decatur C. E. GULLETT, 1922 Uncoln C. S. OGLEVEE, Ph.D., 1922 Lincoln Indiana Synod W. J. DARBY, D.D., 1920 Evansville, Indiana A. G. BERGEN, D.D., 1921 Springfield HON. J. E. WILLIAMSON, 1922 Evansville, Indiana Iowa Synod H. E. STARKLY, 1920 Uncoln A. M. KENNEY, 1921 Decatur R. L. VAN NICE, D.D., 1922 Waukon, Iowa The Board of Managers of the Decatur College and Industrial School A. H. MILLS, President, 1922 Decatur G. A. STADLER, Vice-President, 1922 Decatur C. W. DYER, Secretary Decatur O. B. GORIN, Treasurer Decatur A. R. SCOTT, 1920 Bethany W. M. BERING, 1 920 Decatur W. R. McGAUGHEY, 1920 Mt. Zion H. M. OWEN, 1921 Decatur J. S. McClelland, 1921 Decatur J. R. HOLT, 1921 Decatur G. E. MOELLER, 1922 Decatur Ex-Officio Honorary and Consulting Members The President of the University, the President and the Dean of Decatur College, the President of the Board of Trustees of the University, the Trus- tees of the University residing in Macon County and the Secretary and Treas- urer of the Board of Managers.

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ments. The wrork was for the most part discontinued during the months from August, 1919, to February, 1920. The campaign was resumed during the late winter, with the result that the spring of 1 920 finds us only seventy-five thousand dollars ficm our goal, w ith the al- most immediate prospect of securing that sum. In addition, as esti- mated one hundred thousand dollar subscription for the erection of a new library building has been secured provided the four hundred thou- sand is raised. With over a million dollars endowment, Millikin may indeed look toward a larger development and expansion. Oar present instructors may be better paid, and others may be attracted to Millikin. The build- ings already built may be better equipped and maintained. The en- dowment will be of sufficient size to make possible the creation ol a building fund that will permit the erection of additional buildings. Bui best of all, a second million is next on the program, to be used as fol- lows: rive hundred thousand doll r increase in salaries; five hundred thousand dollars for much needed buildirgs — Science building. Li- brary building. Chapel building, Men ' s dormitory, a new Women ' s dormiitory. President ' s Home. Convinced by the fact that the people of Decatur have contributed four hundred thousand dollars to Millikin, other large sources of en- dovkonent money may be expected to contribute heavily to Millikin ' s second million with the assurance that they are contributing to an in- stitution which has the sincere backing of its communiy. And as we look toward a larger and greater Millikin, may we thank those men who made possible the creation and maintenance of Millikin, and who are now making possible her growth.