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

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RUFUS B. VON KLEINSMID Through the far-sighted vision, untiring effort, genius and intellect of Dr. Rufus Bernhard von KleinSmid, President of the University, an educator par excellence and able administrator. Southern California has gained an outstanding position of leadership among the other uni- versities and become the center of cultural development in the community. 20

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It is with keen satisfaction that I recognize the marked development within the University of Southern California and its position, not only in the community, but throughout the entire Southwest. I remember those earlier days when the institution was struggling to get and maintain its place in the sun, and am grateful for the faith of the laborers who refused to surrender even when further progress seemed well nigh impossible. The present administration, faculty and student body fully justify the faith of those early pioneers. From the beginnings of the school, character building has been a chief goal, and it is most gratifying to see that this emphasis has not been lost in the later years. We have now come to the end of a half century of University history. As we face the years ahead it is with high hopes and keen anticipation of an institution which shall be without a peer in the country. I wish to express my deep appreciation for the many messages of help- ful sympathy and understanding which have come to me from the faculty and students in the passing of my son. Colonel Warren Bradley Bovard, vice- president and comptroller of the University. GEORGE F. BOVARD 19

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-tf I ACH YEAR I have enjoyed the privilege of a brief word to the Univer- sity family through the El Rodeo , and particularly am I happy in this opportunity this year; for the present year marks the beginning of the second half century of our existence as an institution of higher learning, and beginnings are always auspicious. With the present generation of college students rests the responsibility in a large measure to set the forms and standards of our second fifty years. While there is never a proper time for boasting, we of the Trojan community are glad of the progress of last year. First of all there have been several notable additions to our faculty and by their activities outstanding contributions have been made to Science, Letters and Art. The gymnasium with its rich facilities for physical education is now complete and in use and is the best adapted to the needs of the student body of any similar plant with which I am acquainted. Plans are now being drawn for the Edward L. Doheny, Jr., Memorial Library which we have so sorely needed. The library is the very heart of an institution and the opportunities that it furnishes and the study that it encourages are rightly accepted as an index of the real worth of such an institution as ours. Any growth or develop- ment which the University may experience in the future will come to pass through the hearty co-operation of all concerned: — not the administration, nor the trustees, nor the faculty, nor the students, nor the alumni, nor the friends of the University can make progress without it, — it will require the everlasting team work of all these. To the seniors of 1931 I wish Godspeed — good fortune in all your plans. You now join that great body of Alumni of the University of South- ern California of which we are so proud and upon whom we are all com- ing to depend more and more. In the community where you will reside, men and women will largely judge the University by you and by your atti- tude toward the better things in life. You will be our ambassadors and I am confident that you will represent us worthily. To you who are to be with us for succeeding years, I trust that each term of further study will prove richer and finer. Let us all together pledge ourselves anew to more loyal devotion and more generous service to Troy and the things for which she stands. R. B. VON KLEINSMID : 21