University of Miami - Ibis Yearbook (Coral Gables, FL)

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V v + Arthuro di Filippe, Professor of Voice, 1939. 12 Dr. F.G. Walton Smith, left, works on a tuna caught in the Bahamas with Erl Roman, Fishing Editor of the Miami Herald, in 1948. Professor Smith later became Dean of Marine Sciences.

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Mary Flynn and Sidney Dimmig, Editor of the Hurricane, check a proof for next day ' s issue, 1947. Dr. Tebeau: The fortunes of the University rose and fell with those of South Florida. The Florida depression followed on the heels of the collapse of the real estate market. In the fall of 1929, the national depression came to deepen the economic distress. The economic doldrums lasted well into the 30s and only the coming of the second World War at the end of the decade brought a real turn- around in the fortunes of Florida and UM. Difficulty in raising money proved to be the university ' s number one handicap for years to come. Large budget deficits continued until finally the University went into receivership in 1932. Its assets were sold in 1934, and it was reorganized. During this adversity, faculty unhappiness with the administration of the struggling college prompted something of a revolt. President Ashe, elected in Nov- ember, 1926, suddenly found himself caught up in a swirl of complaints about athletes ' privileges, treatment of professors, and the allegation that teachers had not re- ceived their just proportion of the few available dollars in salary. A committee The economic dol- drums lasted well into the 30s and only the com- ing of the second World War at the end of the decade brought a real turnaround , . 11

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Luis Montero from Lima, Peru was the first South American student to enroll at UM, c. 1930. Throughout the 1930s, wood was gathered for a weekly bonfire before each football game. 1 :39. of the Board of Trustees exonerated Ashe of the charges, but the internal strife at UM did not help its image nor ease the financial pressures at hand. Finally, in 1935, the picture began to change. Dr. Tebeau feels that UM never did actually reach the point where it did not depend to some degree on the community, but it began to approach solvency in 1935. It was really getting ahead and gaining some ground by 1939, when, for example, it was able to buy the San Sebastian Building. The importance of that acquisition cannot be overestimated because when the war came about the University had to depend on the training of service personnel. Without that structure, there would not have been room to house all those who came here for that purpose. It is now an apartment hotel on the corner of Lejeune Road and Univer- sity Drive. The University really moved ahead and first approached stability after its first successful fund raising drive in 1944. Right in the midst of that drive, the decision was made not to enlarge the north campus by purchasing residential property in the Gables, but to move here, which it did in 1946. This is not to sug- gest that the University had all the money it needed, but it was beginning to generate the support that it needed in the Miami community. Amidst the confusion and tentativeness of the first few years, a student body of loyal UM supporters grew. In the first year, a total of 711 students were enrolled, but steadily, over the next 15 years, the figure climbed to 1504 in 1941, the last year before the war effort had its overwhelming effect on UM. The facilities, while remaining in the same building the Anastasia building still managed to grow. More and more resources were cram- med into the overused building. Many times, the thin walls of Cardboard College failed to filter noise from room to room, and it was easy to concentrate on two different classes at the same time es- pecially if one of them was music. 13