University of Oregon - Oregana Yearbook (Eugene, OR)

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Dr. F. L. Paxson Dr. Joseph Schafer Dr. Henry Suzzallo Symposium cS ddresses Today the lure of the border has still its charm for the multitudes, though forty years or more American society has been without direct contact with what used to be its chief environment, said Dr. F. L. Paxson, professor of history in the University of Wisconsin, in his address on the Trail of Our Border. He spoke chiefly of the by-pro- ducts of the frontier and illustrated the broad trail that the border has left on modern life and thought. The ruts of the border are our realities, he declared, and the road has worn a deep channel into our life. He who would appraise the meaning of our national life must continue his studies of our behaviour and its origins. The century of the act- ual frontier is still so near us that the impression made by his experiences is still dom- inant in shaping the aspect of our ideals and policy. Dr. Joseph Schafer, superintendent of the Wisconsin Historical Society, and form- erly head of the University of Oregon history department, spoke on the Fruition period in the University ' s History. He based his discussion on the constructive administra- tions of the past presidents of the University. Recent Tendencies in Adult Education was the topic of Dr. Henry Suzzallo, for- mer president of the University of Washington, and an expert on adult education. The next great call upon our organizing ability as a democratic people is for the development of a system of varied facilities for the education of adults during the leisure hours left after economic service is rendered, he stated. Dr. E. T. Williams, professor of Oriental languages and literature at the University of California, addressed the symposium on art and aesthetics, taking as his topic Char- acteristics of Oriental Art, and discussing the symbolism, foreign influences, sculp- ture, wood carving and painting of the Orient. The Role of Art in Civilization and Education was the subject of an address by Dr. George Rebec, dean of the graduate school and head of the department of philosophy of the University. Dr. Willem von Hoogstraten, director of the Portland symphony orchestra, spoke on Music, an Expression of Life. fimrr . ' JTT , ' v W 19

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- Dr. C. C. Little Dr. F. L. McVey Dr. A. G. Crane Semi-Centennial Program Following the inaugural a series of conferences was held on educational, historical FHdar ' ' ' ' ' ' subjects, and on music and art. These symposia lasted until Dr C. C. Little, president of the University of Michigan, and one of the foremost authorities on the cancer problem in the world, spoke on Genetic Investigations and the Cancer Problem. ' ' Cancer is a very natural situation and not in the ordinary sense of the word a dis- ease, he said. It is a region of the body in which the growth processes have gotten out of control and cannot be brought back again. ' He declared that the scientific world IS handing the burden of investigation as to the cause and possible cure for cancer to biological science. In his talk on the University as a Mediator, Dr. Frank L. McVey, president of the University of Kentucky, said that three steps were necessary to bring the University into closer relations with the commonwealth. These were to free the university from the elenientary teaching that bears heavily upon the faculties today; then the university should be allied with the actual government of the state; and finally, there should be a frank recognition of the research function of the university and the acceptance of it by the state in the appropriation of funds for such purposes. T ' ;, ' ' ■ ' P si nt of the University of Wyoming, in speaking on the Extra- Mural Responsibilities of a State University, stressed the need for equality of oppor- tunity for every citizen and declared that the extra mural responsibilities of a state university are limited by the peculiar community needs of that state. n ff o r f. ' interesting geological history of Oregon, was the subject of Dr. John P. Buwalda, of the California Institute of Technology, in his lecture before the natural science symposium. He reconstructed the geological history of Oregon and traced the evolution of the physical features of the state. Dean W. E. Hotchkiss, of the graduate school of business administration of Stan- ford University, discussed the Human Factor in Industry. He emphasized the need tor calm study and wise planning in industrial relations. 18

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John W. Johnson he irst coadministration When John W. Johnson came to the Univer- sity of Oregon as its first president, in 1876, there was but one building on the campus. Some forty students were registered on October 16, when the University first opened its doors. There were three members of the faculty. John W. Johnson was born in Westport, Mis- souri, now a part of Kansas City. When he was fourteen years old his parents moved to Oregon, and the boy drove an ox team across the plains. Eight years later he journeyed down the coast of California and Mexico, crossed the isthmus of Panama, and then took a ship to New York on the way to New Haven, where he entered Yale. On his return to Oregon in 1862, he became principal of a little Baptist College at McMinnville. Later he served as superintendent of schools in Portland, and organized the first high school in the Northwest while there. He was principal of this high school when he was invited to become He was president of the University for seventeen head of the University of Oregon years. He demanded of his classes work and thoroughness and was satisfied with nothing else. It was said that his aptness at learning the untoward doings of students was un- canny ; and yet without exception he was fair in his methods of learning, and the dis- cipline imposed, though sometimes severe, was always just. Said Judge Lawrence T. Harris, ' 93, in his address on John W. Johnson, the Founder, Howsoever much the future growth of this University may be, and whether it be great or small, the stability of that growth is assured; for John W. Johnson laid a founda- tion broad enough and deep enough to sustain any superstructure. 11 f ' :. FLiciilty about 1880 . S .. Vii -:rr :; ' ■ ' ■ 20 1