Ohio Wesleyan University - Le Bijou Yearbook (Delaware, OH)

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Vx. I lub JYDA X!! 4 r V -I I l l l 1 l l . ls 7 The Future May 1, 1918 which marked the successful close of Ohio Wesleyan's great Diamond Jubilee Campaign will always be a red letter day in the history of the institution. On that day the scope of the University's horizon was indefinitely broadened and the field of her opportunity greatly extended. Ohio Wesleyan had reached that point in her career where the necessary endowment was absolutely essential for the fulfilment of her mission. The men whose lives were wrapped up in the University realized her need and the great campaign launched in October, 1917, in collaboration with three other Ohio colleges was pressed with such zeal and enthusiasm that there could be no doubt as to the outcome. Wesleyan's Jubilee unit was 581,000,000 of which the University already possessed 5B200,000 in the form of estate notes and annuities. The unusually difficult conditions under which the officials of the University labored, however, made the extension of the time limit originally set absolutely necessary. The General Education Board subscribed 8150.000 -in a lump sum on the condition that the University should produce cash or pledged subscriptions totalling ElS450.000. For a period of well over six months President Hoffman assisted by Executive Secretary Ehnes and Alumni Secretary Thornburg gave their time and energy unceasingly to the campaign. The entire citizenry of Delaware as well as the student body was interested in the outcome and the gradual rise in the mercury of the big thermometers erected on the campus and in Gray Chapel was watched with breathless interest. The final dollar was subscribed on the afternoon of May 1 and the larger and better Wesleyan was a reality. The Diamond Jubilee Campaign was planned as a means of celebrating the seventy-fifth year in the founding of the University and the erection of the build- ings whose need fostered the campaign was to begin at once. War conditions, however, necessitated the postponement of their erection indefinitely. In' the meantime a number of architects have been working on plans for the new build- ings which are to include: a woman's gymnaisum, a men's building, a chemistry building, an administration building, and a general heat and power plant. Now that the armistice has been signed and the declaration of an official peace in the near future is assured, work on the new buildings will soon be under way as the officials of the University have already begun to select sites. The importance of these new buildings in the future progress of Ohio Wesley- an cannot be underestimated. For many years their lack had been keenly felt but it has been only during the past few years that the University had come to suffer in any material way from their absence. Now that they have become a reality, Ohio Wesleyan can hold her own with any other similar institution in the country. The ideals and standards which, in years past, have become an integral part of Ohio Wesleyan have never been questioned but her facilities for working out these ideals in the lives of her students have been somewhat limited. Now that that handicap has been overcome. there ought be no limit to the good which our University may accomplish. Twenty-four 7 ft . .5-f1l1zII1P4 e.

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.., gi -. The Year 1918-1919 Under ominous conditions the college year opened September 15th. The cloud of war hovered closer and closer about Wesleyan's student body. The es- tablishment of the S. A. T. C. wrecked all campus life and deprived the University of many of its cherished usages, but all was set aside for the one purpose-to win t re war. With the call of war to the students came the call also to the faculty. Alumni Secretary Raymond Thornburg, Professors Wolfe, Wells, Duvall and Smyser were absent on leave. Mr. House and Horton of the men's physical department were palled into service. Professor Robinson, of the Latin Department, was away on eave. New faces appeared on the platform when the first Chapel exercises were held. Those introduced were Miss Potter, formerly of Randolph Macon, who carried on the work in Psychology departmentg Miss Hayes, a graduate of Wellesley, who had come to assist in the women's physical departmentg Professor Horace White- house who was brought here from Kansas City to head the Musical department. The English department added to instructors, Mr. Hodges of Gettysburg and Mr. Delancey Ferguson who began the work in journalism, the most recent addition to the curriculum. Coach H. E. Ewing, formerly of North Dakota was welcomed as a big man in athletics. Professor Leighton of Ohio State made trips here from Columbus to carry on work in the Philosophy department. Tn the short time remaining, previous to the induction of the men into the Student Army Training Corps, school was broken by the ever changing arrang- ments. After the induction, October 1st, things went well until the flu epi- demic came to Delaware, October 6th. Due to the seriousness of the scourge classes were discontinued for one month. During this time the men of the Stu- dent Army carried out the regular military schedule excepting the classroom work. ' November 2d the women and the civilian students were called back to re- sume their college work and after the signing of the armistice, things began to brighten, although military still reigned. Rumors of one nature and then another filled the air and finally on December 19th the hope and prayer of some four hun- dred men and all their socially related fellowmen was realized-the discharges were given. The happiest time of the year came with the close of the quiz week and the opening of the second semester. With the new semester came many former stu- dents, the resumption of the old schedule, seven-forty-five instead of seven-thirty classes. The beginning of the new term was also marked by the revival of many of the college institutions which during the war had been set aside. Many of the professors were returned, Profs. Wolfe, Wells, Smyser, Duvall were given releases from their duties that they might resume their college work. Mr. House and Pro- fessor Robinson were back. Since February 7th, Wesleyan has enjoyed the regularity of work'with the spirit and customs revived. The establishment of the R. O. T. -C. brings only faint recollections of the former hep, hep batallion. Athletics have been put in the usual place in Wesleyan life. All things point to the fact that the second semester of this year will be one of the greatest in Wesleyan's annals. However this is only a harbinger of the year to come when the Sulphur Spring Stretcher Bearers wlll agaln be students here and the many others who went out at the call will come back ro put new 1n- splratlons and ideals into the life about the Spring. Twcnly-.9i:1: .-. Y 54.1256 1 --