University of Florida - Tower / Seminole Yearbook (Gainesville, FL)

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EDITOR'S NOTE: A yearbook is judged . .. not by what it has in common with other yearbooks . . . but by the originality of the ideas it expresses. This principle has guided us in our planning and executing of the 1947 SEMINOLE. We have attempted to portray all phases of college life ... to present each phase in its entirety with the hope of showing its relationship ... to the overall picture of our life at the University of Florida. In doing this we have broken down the divisions of the book accordingly. In the colleges section instead of listing seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen as such, we felt that putting each student in his respective college was in keeping with our presentation of the component parts of college life. The various colleges and schools arc introduced by a large picture of the building which most represents it . . . the art theme is in keeping with the college .. . and the various organizations that pertain to the college or school is placed in the section. This was done to give a better understanding of the colleges in their relation to the university. Activities . . . here are the highlights of the 1946-47 school year . . . student government, military, publications, beauty .. . and a pictorial-story type of coverage of features. In spite of a disastrous football season, we believe that football is coming of age at the University of Florida . . . and with eternal faith in the boys that wear the orange and blue, we inaugurated the policy of devoting a full page to each football contest. Heretofore, little space has been devoted to the dormi- Page 10

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foundation for an institution of the highest academic standards, as well as to develop a campus of distinctive charm in keepinK with the natural beauty of Florida. College to me, he said, is a place where knowledge is diffused and cultural levels raised. And he set out to establish vital curricula designed to enable the University to take its place among the leading institutions of the nation. Sledd Hall, a residence dormitory, sprang up in 1929 30; during the following year. Florida Field and the Infirmary were constructed. To make possible the football stadium, he personally endorsed notes and partially underwrote the financial guarantee. These achievements were followed by an addition to the Library; the reorganization of the College of Arts and Sciences, Pharmacy, and Journalism; the planning and building of the P. K. Yonge laboratory School; the construction of Graham Field; and the completion of the Seagle Building and the Dairy Products Laboratory. More new courses and departments, including the School of Forestry and the Hydraulics laboratory, construction of Murphree and Fletcher residence halls, completion of the addition to the Law Library, and the inauguration of University College have been among the featured Tigert firsts. The University College is recognized throughout the nation as a major educational development. Since the University of Florida, through the Tigert brand of courage and leadership, inaugurated the University College, other prominent institutions of higher learning throughout the country have adopted the plan. Dr. Tigert said upon one occasion, It is generally known throughout the collegiate world that the University of Florida has an exceptionally fine student government. Without prejudice, I think I can risk the statement that the excellence of this system is not exceeded in any other institution. The Honor System works more effectively at Florida than it does at most other institutions.” As a result of the steady improvement in the character of the institution, the University has received ample evidence that its work is being appreciated beyond the borders of the state. In the academic world, the installation of chapters of Phi Beta Kappa, the hallmark of excellence in liberal education, and of Sigma XI, the outstanding scientific organization, marked the culminating point of this recognition. Other major developments followed: the construction and management of Florida Union, and the establishment of the Institute of Inter-American Affairs on the University campus. During World War II. Dr. Tigert and the University contributed much to the war effort through the training of more than 5,000 military personnel. A commendation from the United States Signal Corps for the University's part in developing and putting into operation the first rangefinding device used by the Army in all theaters of war pays tribute to one of the most noteworthy accomplishments of the University under the direction of Dr. Tigert. Among other important accomplishments were the acquisition of the Yonge collection of Floridiana as a memorial; the addition of 300,000 volumes to the University Libraries: the inauguration of a statewide research program by the Florida Engineering Industrial and Experiment Station; and the forward step in the training of veterans, with emphasis placed on housing as many of the veterans and their families as possible. The construction of three veteran villages on campus property was a greater educational step than mast universities undertook. Foreseeing that the University of Florida will be required to handle many more students in the future than it has ever done in the past. Dr. Tigert has made specific recommendations for enlarged peacetime operation of the institution. Student enrollment has risen from 1,800 to 7,200 during his administration. At the conclusion of his nineteen years of service, he can take justifiable pride in the fact that largely through his efforts the construction of new buildings at an estimated cost of $5,000,000 is well under way. Under his direction plans are being formulated for further expansion of permanent physical facilities at the University, which will cost approximately $3,000,000. These buildings will constitute additional evidence of his untiring service and devotion to the welfare of the University. President Tigert can retire with pride in his accomplishments. His successor will find the hard work done and the blueprints drawn for a greater state university. An educator who stands in the front rank of university administrators in the nation, he has a keen insight into human nature and a sympathetic understanding of life which are rarely combined in one man. One of the greatest contributors to his success and happiness is his gracious wife, the former Edith Jackson Bristol, who has the respect and affection of the entire University community. He takes his hat and strolls across the campus—a developer and builder of youth. PAGE 9

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tories. However, with the incrcoscd ottention given to housing through the building of temporary dorms and the Flavct villages, the utilization of the air base and trailers, we decided to use more space for this phase of campus life. In the humor section we gave a new twist. After poking fun at POLICE GAZETTE and LOOK in past years, we decided to satirize the SEMINOLE. We call this little jest the PAPOOSE. A word about student publications ... as we see it, the biggest problems facing this activity are the lack of sufficient funds in these times of high production costs, the too few students willing to put forth the sincere effort and hard work year after year to maintain first-rate publications, and the fact that the editors and business managers of campus publications arc elected by an often confused student body, unaware of the technical knowledge of the candidates. Suggested remedies for these bottlenecks arc the raising of student activity fees, the installation of a system of promotions for deserving workers, and the making of publication positions requiring technical ability appointive rather than elective. The Board of Student Publications . . . has been very co-operative ... the assistance given by the Chairman and Secretary has been especially commendable. However, we feel that a full time faculty publications advisor ... a man trained in every phase of student publications . . . would be invaluable to student publications at the University of Florida. In years hence when you are thumbing through these pages and reading these words, we hope that these mere phrases will be realities. When our artist submitted the sketch that appears with this article, I failed to realize its real significance ... I do now! When at long last the staff of the 1947 Seminole emerged from the catacombs of Florida Union, we left with the hope that we had given you a book in which you could find many hours of enjoyment. This book is testimony of how well we succeeded. . . . Page 11