University of Southern California - El Rodeo Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

Page 20 text:

'The. University of Southern California The University of Southern California in 1911 is composed of nine colleges which include: the five colleges situated on the University campus at Thirty-fifth street and University avenue—the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Theology, the College of Pliarmaey, the College of Music, the College of Oratory (a preparatory school being also maintained on the campus); the College of Fine Arts, very fitly placed among the foothills of Garvanza; the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the College of Dentistry, and the College of Law, all of which are favorably located in the uptown districts. Space does not here permit a history of the development of each college from small beginnings to the present state of progress, but suffice it to say that from 736 students in the year 1903, when Dr. George F. Bovard became the president of the University and dean of the College of Liberal Arts, the enroll- ment has steadily increased to a total of 1802 in the year 1911, with a faculty numbering 196 professors alone. A fair sample of the growth of each college during these years is that of the College of Liberal Arts, which has increased from 110 students eight years ago to its present enrollment of 624, with a faculty of some fifty professors, nineteen of whom are heads of as many departments; while it may be added that there are but six university law schools in the United States whose attendance is greater than that of the Law School of the University of Southern California. These facts do not make evident the bounding progress of the University merely in name, for the steady policy of Presi- dent Bovard to make the actual results of efficient work in each department count toward raising the standard of the whole, has been the solid foundation upon which the facts of its name depend; and in the support of such policy there stands a most able Board of Trustees, among whom are such men as 14

Page 19 text:

The President s Message Some one has said “The ideal manhood is sturdy, hardy, strong of will, self-controlled, masterful, dauntless. ’ ’ I won- der if we think of our College work as a preparation for such a manhood. We ought thus to regard it and so plan our courses of study that we may reach this high ideal of char- acter. Under the old regime of education the student was required to take a prescribed course for graduation. The responsibility for developing the high qualities of manhood and womanhood under such a system rested largely with the faculty prescribing the course of study. Under the modern and indulgent system of allowing the student to elect his subjects the major responsibility for the quality of manhood and womanhood produced by the college course is shifted from the faculty to the student. The elective system has its advan- tages in promoting intellectual grow'th, but there are some weaknesses against which we should guard carefully and per- sistently. The temptation' 'ds to move in the line of least, resistance, to take those subjects in college which we like' best and which require the least effort, the least amount of time and no brain-sweat. Such subjects are not likely to pro- duce in: us the most virile and conquering qualities. I believe we should force ourselves sometimes to do the things we dis- like to do in order that we may acquire and have in readiness for eaeli emergency that triumphant ability to do things. Tennyson says, “Face the specters of the mitid” and thus cultivate courage. Another says, “Attempt the end, and never stand to doubt, Nothing’s so hard but search will find it out.” An education has been defined as, “the ability to do the thing you have to do when it ought to be done, whether you like to do it or not.” No man is prepared to meet success- fully the problems of life without this ability. The power to disregard inclination and to do with might and main what ought and needs to be done is of supreme importance. The virile and valiant character is not born and bred by floating on the wave of inclination. It is only obtained by rowing hard against the stream. I earnestly covet for the class of 1912 and for all students that quality of preparation which gives grip and grit for the arduous, the tedious, the wearisome and the disagreeable tasks to be met and overcome in the world’s conquest. Much of the work of life has to be done at the call of duty. We should therefore, give serious thought to the deep foundations, divine sanctions, unequaled majesty, and eternal rewards of duty. GEOKGE F. BOVAKT). 13

Page 21 text:

Lieut.-Gov. A. J. Wallace, Dr. Ezra A. Healy, who is dean of the College of Theology and president of the Board, Mr. George I. Cochran, president of the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company, and eighteen other men of prominence in theology, business and the professions. To these is added a faculty primarily interested in the broadest development of the indi- vidual student for social service, and a student body whose benefits received from their Alma Mater are reciprocated by the general moral tone evident in her student life, as well as by the honors of scholarship, of oratory, and of athletics, which they individually return as tributes to her. In line with these tributaries of her progress, the Univer- sity possesses a material equipment which, owing to its rapid enlargement, may not be known to even many of its friends. During the last two years the library in the College of Liberal Arts has grown very rapidly, owing both to the increased expenditure for material, and also to the addition of the Dean Cochran Memorial Library, which has been placed in the University by his son. George I. Cochran, and a further valu- able addition from the education library of Dr. Thomas B. Stowell, head of the Department of Education. Besides the amount of source material in the University Library, access to the large city and county libraries give increased facilities for advanced scholarship. A survey of the laboratories in any of the science depart ments will discover their efficient equipment in the matter of 15