University of Oregon - Oregana Yearbook (Eugene, OR)

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- ' .. .- ' A' ' . . . ?R-l ing. It was completed in 1885, and in recognition of the generosity of the 'University's benefactor, was called Villard llall. Important changes in the curriculum were also taking place. The Law School was established in Portland in 1884, and in the same year the normal department in Eugene was abolished. ln 1887 the Medical School was es- tablished in Portland. The next building erected was the Men's Dormitory, completed in 1893. The brick citadel now uscd as a VVomen's Gymnasium, but formerly monopo- lized by the men, was built in 1897. The thi-rd recitation building, McClure Hall, was finished in 1900. lt was named in honor of Professor S. E. McClure, who was a member of the Faculty from 1887 until his death in 1897. Another important step in the raising of the standard of the University was the abolishment of the preparatory department in 1904. Until that year the preppers rubbed elbows with the regular collegians in the class-room and on the campus, but the growth of high schools all over the state made it no longer necessary to offer preparatory courses here. Important additions to the equipment of the University have been made in the last eight years. The Library building, now officially known as john- son Hall, in honor of the first President, was finished in 1906. In 1908 the large additional tract south of the old campus, on which Kincaid Athletic ,Field is now situated, and where future expansion in buildings and grounds will take place, was purchased. Engineering Hall was built in 1909, and the present Men's Gymnasium in 1910. Three men have occupied the presidential chair since the retirement of l:'resident johnson in 1893. Charles Hiram Chapman served from 1893 to 1899, and is now an editor of the Portland Oregonian. Frank Strong suc- ceeded Dr. Chapman, and in 1902 left to accept the presidency of the Univer- sity of Kansas. Prince L. Campbell has held the position since 1902. No history of the University, however brief, would be adequate without mention of the legislative crises through which the institution has passed. We will not here rehearse the numerous fights, successful and otherwise, which have been waged from time to time in the state legislature to supply the bare necessities of the University. However, the two important refer- endum campaigns in which the very life of the University has been at stake, and in which she has been victorious, should be recalled. February 11, 1908, the legislature passed a bill introduced by Represen- tative Eaton. of Lane County, appropriating S125,000.00 annually for the maintenance of the University. Opponents of the bill, many of whom were sincere in their convicti-on that it was inexpedient or that the state should not Fifteen

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. . . support higher education, and many of whom were actuated by motives of sectional jealousy and personal prejudice, circulated petitions invoking the referendum on the appropriation. The campaign was hard fought, but the alumni and friends of the University succeeded in justifying the measure in the eyes of the voters, and it carried by a safe margin June 1, 1908. But this appropriation barely provides for the running expenses of the University, and makes no allowance for its natural growth. The last legis- lature, recognizing the handicap under which the institution was laboring in comparison with other state universities through lack of facilities, voted an appropriation of 375,000.00 for repairs on the old buildings and another of 2jS100,000.00 for the erection of a modern fire-proof administration building. Immediately the enemries of the University adopted their old weapon, that of the referendum, to annul these appropriations and thus eventually destroy the institution. The issue in the late camlpaign, therefore, was in reality whether the state should continue to support higher education or re- pudiate it altogether and consign its sons and daughters to other states or to private schools for their training, In the campaign, citizens, alumni, and students, rallied to the cause of the University as never before. It would be impossible to enumerate all the forces which combined to win the victory. The Oregon Educational League and the People's 'leligher Education League, two powerful organizations of representative citizens, with headquarters in Portland, were largely respon- sible for the result. The Oregon Federation of VVomen's Clubs also reni- dered aid which was far- reaching in its effect on the vote cast by the newly- enfranchised women of the state. The Portland and Eugene Commercial Clubs stood by the University loyally. The press of the state was 'almost unanimous in its support of the ap- propriations, so much so that it is estimated that 99 per cent of the publicity given the campaign was favorable to the University. Finally, the students themselves, by their personal work and their letter-writing campaign, did much toward saving their alma mater from disaster. The vote on November 4, 1913, proved that the people have at last awakened to the usefulness of the University to the state and the necessity for its preservation, Both measures carried by a vote of almost two to one. Next year there will be another chapter to add to the history-the story of the enlarging of the facilities of the University by the addition of a splen- did building and other much needed repairs, and ofthe opening ofia greater era of prosperity land service to the state than it has yet known. -L. G. H. Si.1-teen