Southern Illinois University - Obelisk Yearbook (Carbondale, IL)

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said that Morris wanted to give Southern Illinoisans the highest qual- ity education at the lowest possible cost. Morris served as president for 22 years 0948-19701 He piloted the uni- versity through a period of remarkable growth that lead to SIU being ranked among the larger institutions in the country. During this time many new buildings were added to the SIU campus, and a new branch of SIU was opened at Edwardsville. From 1948-1970 the student enrollment jumped from 3,013 to 31,000 between the Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses. At SIU-C, the Agriculture Building, Student Center, six dorms and the dining hall on Thompson Point, a new library tnow known as Morris Libraryt and others were built. Morrisi critics often called him an empire builder, but it was his ambi- tious educational projects that brought SIU from the ranks of a small teachers colleges to one of Illinois' largest pub- lic universities. In 1970 rioting on the SIU campus forced the school to close on May 5, only a few days before the end of the quarter. The riots stemmed from 14 strong anti-Viet Nam war sentiments among the student body and was touched off by the May 4th Kent State killings, where four students were killed and other students wounded during a clash with the National Guard. President Morris resigned It was during Dergeis administration that the national- level scandal, Watergate, touched Southern Illinois University. E shortly after the riots. It was in August of 1970 that Robert G. Layer accepted the position of temporary chancellor of SIU. Layer said he accepted the position so that the board of trustees could find a permanent person, but would just as soon not be a university presi- dent on a full time basis. He was the chairman of the Economics Depart- ment before becoming temporary chancellor and felt he could not keep up with the field of economics, which he loved, and be chancellor at the same time. When the new president, David R. Derge, was finally hired in 1972, Layer said he did not regret his time spent as the head of the university. 31 look at it with a few regrets, a little humor, and some pride in what I have accomplished? he said at the time. It was during Derge's term in office that the national-level scandal, Water- gate, touched the SIU campus. Dergeis name appeared on a list that the Washington Post called ttstrange payments to strange people.,' The Post contended that Derge was paid $171,989 from the Kalmbach trust fund-a fund set up with money from Nixon campaign contributions- for unknown services rendered. Derge, whose background is in political sci- ence, said he was actually paid a much higher sum of $382,000 for doing

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lish his own new ones. What ensued was a mass of confusion and disor- ganization that caused many faculty members to resign. Many linked his administration's problems with alleged misinformation about the faculty given to Lay before he took office. He was reportedly told that the faculty was rebellious and that he must be uncompromisingly firm with them to keep the university functioning. The turmoil brought on by Lay's uncompromising administra- tion of SIU and policy change forced his sudden resignation on Sept. 8, 1948. It was only two days later that Delyte Wesley Morris was appointed president. One of President Morris, first ac- tions was to reestablish the standard policies that were discarded by his predecessor. None of Morris, goals were new to the structure of SIU. He combined the goals of his predecessors and emphasized them with greater intensity. Morris realized the need to build on foundations that were already Parkinson, one of the original iifounding fathersh of the University is shown with his faculty. established without trying to change the direction the university was tak- ing. His goals for the university fo- cused on improving the life of people in Southern Illinois. He opened the door for learning to some of the na- tionis most neglected regions. One of his educational projects was the cre- ation of the Vocational-Technical In- stitution tVTD, now known as the School of Technical Careers. VTI was designed to retrain displaced miners and others for new employment. It is continued 13

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political research during Nixon,s 1968 presidential campaign. He said he had no idea which fund the money had come from, only that it was money paid to him for doing a service. Upon Derge,s resignation to con- tinue his position in the Political Science Department of SIU in 1974, Hiram H. Lesar, a nationally known law educator took over the office as interim president. Lesar, who was dean of the new law program before becoming the temporary head, retained many of his duties as the law dean. His goals as president were to assist the universityis students in ttgaining the knowledge and insights that are necessary to lead better and more satisfying lives? He focused much of his attention on Southern Illinois in- cluding its culture and economy and helped the region further develop its coal, agriculture and other land resources. When Warren W. Brandt was se- lected president in 1974, Lesar re- turned to guide the formation of the fledgling law program at SIU. Lesar would serve another term as president from 1979-1980. For his dedication to the law program, the new law school building recently constructed has been named for him. President Morris !far leftl dedicates the new Life Science building by placing the corner stone. During Morrisi tenure as president SI U ,8 growth was unsurpassed by any other administration. President Albert Sommit recently entered the presidential family. Before coming to SIU-C, Brandt was a consultant at the largest educational institution in Virginia-the Virginia Commonwealth University. Brandt said he sought the post at SIU because he felt he had accomplished all that he could at the Richmond school and his tttalents were better suited for some other challenge. Brandt said, upon acceptance at the SIU-C presidency, he felt the univer- sity was functioning very well and would make changes only after a thorough investigation of the issues. He said one of his goals was to make students feel lucky to be attend- ing SIU-C. He also wanted to improve the university,s image that had been labeled as one of the biggest ttparty schools in the nation. During Brandtis tenure the SIU Medical School gained accreditation, Faner Hall was completed and a two- story parking garage located near the Student Center was built. Also, a coal research program was developed and the Law School became better estab- lished. Brandt resigned in 1979. Each of these 12 heads added a part of himself to the university. What accomplishments they made or ideas they had helped to sculpture and change this school into the thriving institution that it now is. During the 'past 112 years SIU has changed from a small normal school, to a teacher- producing college, to a major univer- sity. It has endured many hard times and blossomed during peaceful times but has always kept the spirit of up- ward movement. SIU-C will continue to have hardships and faults, but under the guidance of its present leader, Albert Somit, and the future presidents, it will continue to grow and improve. 15