Ripon College - Crimson Yearbook (Ripon, WI)

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Jlrrmftrnt $. (£. ffimjhfii Spfsiiuui JUST as ihc CRIMSON is going to press comes the news of the resignation of President Richard Cecil Hughes. Unannounced and unexpected, it is a loss that will long be felt not only by the college but by the student body and townspeople. Dr. Hughes came to Ripon in 1901, resigning the presidency of l abor College, Iowa, to take up the administrative functions at Ri| on. He is a graduate of Wooster University, receiving his A. B. degree in 1884, A. M. in 1887, and D. D. in 1900. From 1887 to 1891 he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church. Sidney. la., took the professorship of psychology at I abor College in 1891, and accepted the presidency of the college in 1897. hrom the moment of his coming we had a changed Ripon. Life seemed to bud forth at once. Untiring energy coupled with good business management and the magnetism and personality of the new president, spread the reputation of the school throughout the middle west. In 1901 there were sixty-nine students enrolled in the college department and fifty- three in the academy, making a total of I 22. Every year since has seen a decided increase in the attendance, especially in the college department, until the catalog of 1909 shows a total enrollment of 276. Eight years ago the buildings were decidedly run down. Dilapidated, showing the havoc wrought by a half century of college boys, the buildings were sadly in need of repairs. It is much easier to get new buildings than it is money to repair old ones. said Dr. Hughes one time. But despite this fact the money was obtained. East building. Smith Hall. West building. Ingram Hall, and Bartlett Cottage,—all soon felt the results of the energies of the new president, from the campus the new life spread throughout the state and almost immediately Ripon saw an increase in the number of students. The Alumni Commons suggested by Dr. Hughes enables the school to board nearly all of the present enrolled student body. 1 he upper floors were remodeled into dormitories for men. In place of the old stoves and furnaces that formerly heated the buildings Ripon boasts of one of the best central heating plants in the middle west. The library has been greatly increased and the laboratories equipped with all the latest educational apparatus. I he group system of college studies was one of the theories of Dr. Hughes. Through it a college man may obtain the broader advantages of a college education and simultan- eously prepare himself for the special work of the professional school. Through the influence of Dr. Hughes the Ripon College credits were recognized by the University of Wisconsin, and Ripon students are admitted to the University under full credit. Lie was the first of the Wisconsin college presidents to obtain such concessions. Ripon credits are now recognized by nearly all the largest universities in the country. I he pre-engineering group recently installed by Ripon was the first of its kind in the middle west, being modeled after the undcr-graduate system but recently installed by Harvard University. In the student activity Dr. I lughes has been most strongly felt. 1 he honor system which has been so finely developed by Ripon was instituted by him. Under it the students have almost complete self-control. Athletics, too. have taken a firm, but clean hold. Ripon has been foremost among the Wisconsin colleges for reforms and rules in athletics

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.. «wcui coukjom» A CM£SoM COiUGt t.MAW and through Dr. Hughes has striven for a complete organization of the colleges for athletic purposes. He has had a trying time. Despite almost complete discouragement, neglect on the part of alumni and friends, he never faltered, and always obtained the ends sought. His most earnest desire was a new gymnasium for Ripon, and he leaves with almost certain prospects of the culmination of his wishes within a very short time. When he came everything was barren. Ripon now faces a bright future. A new interest has been aroused in the alumni. Not only in the slate but throughout the middle west Ripon has become known and is recognized as a prominent factor in educational circles. New buildings will come; more students will come; and Ripon hopes soon to reach the zenith of its ambitions, to be a leader of the colleges of the west. Prof. Frank Morton F.rickson. ol the chair of Greek classics, is temporarily entrusted with the administration of college government, discipline and instruction. Prof. Erickson is the senior faculty member. He came to Ripen in 1895 after receiving the degree of A. M. at the University of Chicago. He graduated from Wabash College in 1892, was a student of A rchaeology at Athens. Greece, in I 900, instructor in Latin and Greek at Highland University. 1892-94. In 1901 he was appointed registrar of Ripon College, which position he has since held in connection with his other duties. Mr. A. G. Farr of Chicago has charge of the financial administration. As chairman of the investment committee and treasurer of the college, Ripon finances have made the most satisfactory showing in the history of the institution. Last year the actual income from investments fell only $8.19 below the book income and about $24,000 was invested in permanent improvements, the greater part of which is represented by the central heating plant. It was under Mr. Farr’s administration that the new system of accounting was installed, which is attracting attention of all accounting authorities in the United Stales. I he General Education Board has endorsed it as far ahead of any other system in the country for endowed institutions which necessarily look to the public for gifts and endow- ments. Mr. Farr is a member of the N. W. Flarris Co., bankers, New ork and Boston, and vice-president of the I larris Trust and Savings Bank. Chicago. No action toward the selection of a successor will be taken until after the annual meeting of the board of trustees in June. (;o. | M KNCKM K.NT I ! ns