University of Wisconsin Madison - Badger Yearbook (Madison, WI)

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The second era of building came at the close of President Bascom ' s administration when the legislature appropriated about $400,000 for erection and equipment of a new Science Hall, the chemical laboratory, the machine shops, and a power and heating plant for the group of buildings. The importance of this period was in the quality of the moral and intellectual service given to the student body and to the state at large. Student activities were not too numerous at that time. Except for the literary societies and a joint debate team, no extra-curricular activity in the intellectual sphere was so im- portant in undergraduate life as collegiate journalism, the University Press, though it was not the first student organ at Wisconsin, was the first to survive for any length of time. Its The new Science Hall. most notable editor and publisher was one of Bascom ' s greatest students, Robert M. LaFollette. He took over the paper in 1876 and operated it for four years. It was a free newspaper which did not hesitate to criticize president, faculty, students, or the Board of Regents. It was thus an admirable stimulus to inde- pendent thought. The paper was written by the faculty to a certain extent, but most of the contributions came from the students. Up until 1882 the University Press had no competition. In that year the first issue of the Badger came out. It did not fare too well, and in 1885 the two papers effected a union under the joint title, the Wisconsin Press and the Badger. In 1886 the Aegis came out and proved to be too much competi- tion for the Wisconsin Press and the Badger. By autumn it had bought its competitors for |650. Until the appearance of the Cardinal in 1892, the Aegis enjoyed a monopoly on Wisconsin journalism. The publication of the yearbook was begun by the junior class in 1884. This book, called the Trochos 1885, was finally published, after great bickering over the arrangements of organ- izations, etc. In 1888 the annual appeared under the title of the now defunct newspaper, the Badger, and it has borne that name ever since. Slowly the musical organizations, Junior Prom, etc., all received pages in the Badger. A sidelight on student interests at this time was the house built by Professor Owen in the 600 block on State Street. On the Langdon Street side of the property he erected a long red brick wall. He had no idea that the years would enshrine the wall in the hearts of generations of students as one of their favorite campus landmarks. From the beginning, the presence of that long, blank surface was an irresistible temptation in the heart of the Greek quarter. It was a bulletin board such as had never been used before. Professor Owen, however, did not approve of the use of his wall as a bulletin board. He posted The forerunner of the BADGER. guards to watch it on the nights before big campus events. Paint-splashed students were hauled to the local jail as a warn- ing, but the wall bore its messages regularly. Following Bascom ' s resignation, Thomas C. Chamberlin assumed the presidency in 1887. He was a graduate of Beloit College and an eminent geologist. Although he was only here for five years, much progress was made in scientific and techni- cal instruction, in agricultural research and extension, and in inducements and facilities for graduate work. During his ad- ministration the first University fellowships were established a nd the University was now prepared to confer the degree of doctor of philosophy (the first degree going to Charles R. Van Hise, later to be president). In 1892 the School of Economics, Political Science, and History was established under the direc- torship of Richard T. Ely. Some of the most impor- tant scientific discoveries in the College of Agriculture developed in this time. Dur- ing this five year period the number of students in the University had doubled and diversification of their pursuits had set in, not only through a wider range of studies but through the introduction of inter-colle- giate rivalry in oratory and athletic games. The devel- opment of college journal- ism and other student ac- tivities also stimulated the student body. In the social life of the student as well as in the character and or- ganization of the academic work of this period there was a marked transition from the college of the former times to the modern University. Students were as fun loving and wild then as now; how- ever, the prank that Chamberlin disapproved of most was hazing. The faculty up to this time had tried to ignore it, but in 1887 a case came up that could not be ignored. A boy by the name of Rosenstengel, a graduate of the University, had returned to do some post-graduate work. He had made himself obnoxious to some students by pretending that he was a fresh- man. He wore freshman colors and attended freshman meet- ings. Accordingly, some students decided to accept him as a freshman and to haze him. Unable to apprehend him in the open, a group of the boys went to his father ' s house, and there sought to capture him. The attempt was not successful, partly because someone had called the police. The police ar- rived, seized several of the crowd, and bore the cul- prits ofl to the police sta- tion, followed by the rest of the student crowd. Once inside the police station, all the students were arrested and their naines taken. The police offered not to press the serious charges of re- sisting arrest against the original violators if 20 of the students would plead guilty to disorderly con- duct. The offer was accept- ed, but later the students grew openly resentful when Thomas C. Chamberlin, eminent geologist. 20

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A.vwiiibl) Hall (Music Hall; inhabitid b craiiiiiKrs lutorc exam tiiiic. Hall, originally called Assembly Hall, which was completed in 1879. For nearly a quarter ot a century this building housed the University library. Washburn Observatory, the first build- ing erected by private endowment, had been built in 1878 at a cost of $45,000. TTiis ended the first era of building in Bas- com ' s administration. On the evening of December 1, 1884, old Science Hall burned. Since its completion in 1876, this plain four-story building had been the pride of the regents and the officers of the University. On the night of the fire the alarm sounded about 8 o ' clock. When the first six;ctators arrived, the fire was confined to the engine room, but no one could find the fire hose, and no one could uncap the hydrants that had been in- stalled for protection. The fire slowly ate its way through the building. An hour after it was discovered, students attempted to save as much as could be safely carried out of the building. The museum and art gallery coulil not be reached, but the libraries of Professor Van Hise and Daniells and some of the chemical apparatus were saved. Professors Birge, Irving, and David lost their books and papers, while many science and engineering students lost their instruments. Damage was esti- mated at $200,000. Catalogue, making it fully co-educational. The president of the board was furious and claimed that President Twombly had gone l eyoiid his |)owers. The undergraduates supported the president, thinking he had been fighting the regents on the issue of co-education. When the regents finally denied any opposition to the co-educational principle, the students turned against the president completely. In the spring of 1873 the board decided that Twombly must go. On the advent of Twombly ' s forced resignation in January, 1874, John Bascom became president. Students of University historv usually agree in assigning great importance to Bascom ' s administration. This significance and his long tenure of office (I874-I887) were attributed to the vigor and distinction of his personal character, and the ripeness for progress of the state and University. He resolutely attacked the pressing problems of the University. One of his first achievements was to put women on an equal looting in the University with the men. During his administration a building program was launched. The legislature appropriated $80,000 for the con,struction and equipment of two buildings, old Science Hall, and Music Science Hall, alter the fire. Science Hall, before the fire In the development of science in the University, Prof. Roland D. Irving had an important part. He came to the department of geology in 1870 and brought to his subje ct a youthful enthusiasm and thorough scientific training. The Wisconsin CJeological Survey, which began in 1873, offered him great opportunity for research in the new and difficult field of Lake Superior geology. He became a well-known master in his own field, antl, like Professor Allen, whose service was terminated by death only a year later than his own, founded one of the exceptionally strong departments of the University. At this time Prof. Joseph Fichlin of Missouri State College received his second honorary degree from the University of Wisconsin. He could also claim to be the proud recipient of the first honorary degree ever to be issued by the University. Tlie date of this event was in 1874. By 1884 other well known men had received degrees including Dr. T. C. Chamberlin and Dr. John Muir. Therefore it is easily seen that the University was expand- ing along all lines of endeavor. It was not only in build- ings, science, and history that we see progress, but also in the development of the student as a well rounded citizen. 19

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1 low they livicl in the cightio it was rumored that the police received a fixed fee for each arrest and the students had simply contributed to a prosperous evening for the Madison police. The relations between students and police, never cordial btlore that time, ripened during the next years, into such a state of undeclared warfare that a student remarked that no member of the Madison pf)lice force dared show himself in unitorm at a large student rally. President Chamberlin resigned in 1892 to become head of the department of geology at the University of Chicago, and was succeeded by Charles Kendall Adams. President Adams was formerly a history professor at Ann Arbor and president of Cornell University. During his period of administration the growth of the University, which had been seen in Cham- berlin ' s time, continued. In the last year of President Chamberlin ' s administration, the boathouse had been built (largely by student subscriptions) and crew racing commenced. Competitive football had begun in 1890 and track and field sport developed shortly after. In order to take care of the increasing amount of sports, Camp Randall was secured as an athletic field. The armory and gymnasium was first occupied in the fall of 1894. It was one of the most magnificent buildings of the time. Much emphasis was given to the equipment in the gym- nasium due to growing interest in physical education and ath- letic recreation. It was also used for musical, intellectual, and social entertainments. Mighty Bascom and lowly residents. n informal chat with Babcock and Hcnrv. Not only did the University grow physically but its curricula also grew. It was to endow the University with facilities for appropriate musical culture that the organization of the School of Music was undertaken in 1894. The establishment in 1897 of the School of Education followed by the appointment in 1899 of a special insjiector of high schools were appropriate steps in creating a more congenial atmosphere between the University and the high schools of the state. The historical department was reorganized in 1900 in- to the School of History under the supervision of Professor Fredrick Jackson Turner. At the close of Adams ' administration there ap- peared an expanded growth in the College of Engineer- ing. This was due to the application of science to in- dustry which had been gradually developing. At the turn of the century it was already noticeable in the work of such men as Professor S. M. Babcock who invented the butter- fat tester. On the business side, the School of Commerce was founded in 1900 under the direction of W. A. Scott. Adams was dearly loved by his students. Almost six feet tall and well proportioned, wearing a red necktie in token of his allegiance to the University he came to cherish so deeply, he became one of the most impressive sights on the campus. He rejoiced over the victories of crew, track teams, and baseball teams; but his greatest enthusiasm was reserved for football. He helped get Camp Randall for a playing field. In fact, one Charles K. Adams, the beginning of a modern University. 21