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

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fi!Jt ' S St. Pat ' s parade — 1 21. warminj; of Phi (lamnia Delta ' s ntw mansion, which then added its splendor to the Langdon Street gold coast, and by 1930 he asked for a revival of responsible student government. Now tht tables were turning and the remainder ot Frank ' s administration was under the light of conflict rather than the former atmosphere of prosperity. The depression had already liegun and the confidence of the University community was waning in his ability as a competent executive. University enrollment, which had been increasing since World War I, had dropped. The student Ixidy became more critical of the economic system which led 76 out of 91 fraternities into bank- ruptcy. But this was not all; conservatives were showing their disapproval of Frank ' s endorsement of Prof. Max Otto ' s atheistic philosophy courses and his failure to censor the Dully Caidinul when it printed an editorial which sneered at the idea that free sexual relations among the students were necessarily bad. Even then there was a commie scare, as shown when John B. Chappie claimed that Dr. Frank was a red. But more complaints were hurled at 157 Bascom; free love, football, liquor, fraternity hazing, Memorial Union, the dormitories, and other parts of college life were attacked. One of the major tempests which Frank had to face was the firing of football coach. Clarence Spears; athletic director, Walter Meanwell; and trainer, William Fallon (who, rumor had it, gave the team blackberry brandv between halves). Dr. Frank disgustingly called the whole group of events nagging criticism by a band of connivers and a few newspapers. How- ever, in 1937 he was charged with mismanagement of finances, weak execution of administrative affairs, fail- ure to devote sufficient time to the University, and lack of backing with those with whom he had to deal, and thus the regents dismissed him by a vote of eight to seven. His successor was chosen, Clarence A. Dyk- stra, a former city manager of Cincinnati. t cnn Frank. Wisconsin- Golden fic. Tile Flappers — l ' ' 2l) s. University had nevertheless made progress, at least so far as progress can be measured by national boards and rating sheets. Big Dyke was popular on campus. But this was not the important thing. Since he was already experienced at politics, he was able to mend University relations with the legislature. Sad as it may seem, he, too, ran into difficulties; these were not of a personal nature, for thev were bigger than he — the be- ginnings of World War II. President Dykstra was called to Washington to act as civilian chairman of the draft and then as a member of the national defense mediation Ixiard. In November of 1941 when he re- turned to the campus, he found both the faculty and student body depleted due to wartime conditions. During this period of stress the University accelerated its program, it instigated a Dykstra found facing him a confused mess. All the con- flicts of Frank ' s administration had obscured the fact that the Glenn Frank ouster. 27

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Dailv Cardinal Office 1914. The early ' 20 ' s saw the introduction of Varsity Welcome on the upper campus. With impressive ceremony, the freshmen were made welcome to the University by the president and other officials. Tlie late Carl Russell Fish, resplendent in the red vest he always wore to welcomes, and bonfires, was for many years an integral part of the ceremonies. Fish, a noted historian and teacher, early endeared himself to Wisconsin students. When he first came to the campus he was mistaken for a freshman during the lake rush, and thrown into Mendota. Surging out of the water toward the now aware and aghast group of upperclassmen, he shook him- self and said. Well, my name is Fish, I should feel right at home. Dr. Birge, who took Van Hise ' s place, re- mained in the presidency until 1925. For the Uni- versity it was a slow- moving period, as Birge fully realized that his was only a temporary appointment. Perhaps he was overly reluctant to commit the school to long range poli- cies, as he saw that the University was being caught in the backwash of post-war socio-eco- nomic conditions. The only ultimate result of this could be a lessening of public support and a decline in the leadership which Wis- consin had enjoyed. In 192 President Birge reached his seventh year as president and 50th year of service. The decision of retirement could no longer be postponed and action was started to find a new president. Several men were asked and refused. On a trip to the East one of the regents, believed to be Zona Gale, pro- posed Glenn Frank, editor of the Century Magazine. Frank showed interest and was appointed to enter office September 1, 1925. For the first time in 25 years the president of the Uni- versity was entrusted to a man unfamiliar with the institution; for the second time in history, the regents selected a man for Edward . . Birgc. betwixt and between. president whose experience lay largely outside University life. In 1925 the University entered a bright period. Dr. Frank arrived in Madison. Prof. Harry Steenbock made the discovery of a way to irradiate foodstufifs artificially with vitamin D, which meant the end of rickets. Two men ' s dormitories, Tripp and Adams Halls, were in construction and the building of the Memorial Union commenced. The editor of the Wisconsin llumntis was moved to state, Wisconsin ' s golden age is here! Over the Hdl at noon — 1920 The prosperity of the twenties was reflected in the first five years of the Frank administration. He soon gained a national name which had its beginnings in the baccalaureate address on The Six Lamps of Liberal Learning delivered in June of 1926. By 1927 Frank ' s ideas on education began to take a verbal form. He requested a large budget from the legislature, declaring that I am willing to make a sporting proposition to the people of Wisconsin, and surprisingly enough he received it. The Frank household started to entertain distinguished guests, such as Baron Ago von Maltzan, the German ambassa- dor. By 1928 he had already commenced work on Thunder and Dawn. In December of that year he participated in the house- Varsitv Welcome — 1920. 26

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year-round calendar, created an emergency inventions develop- ment council, and expanded ROTC. Haresfoot initiation — 1925. The atomic war of the forties as the submarine war of 1917 drained professors and students from the campus for the second time in two decades. In April of 1942, 300 Navy men started studying radio communications at Wisconsin ' s Radio School. By 1945 over 8,000 men had been sent to the Heet as skilled radio operators. In that three-year period the campus had seen the training of three classes of Naval officers in its diesel school, several classes of cooks and bakers, and a large number of WAVES and women tnarines in radio operation. In July of 1943, the station added 450 men as future officers in the V-12 program; these men studied engineering and medicine in the civilian classrooms of the University. On May 26, 1943, the nucleus of the newly established ASTP unit was completed in Madison. By June of that year the first classes of ASTP were convened, then began the most intensive educational program ever attempted at the University. These men, though long on brain matter, were not short on fun. Wisconsin can be proud that she helped train these men in their military duties, and she can rest assured that she made many new friends. Many Greek letter fraternities could claim that they were practicing lend-lease in reverse as over half of the social fraternities relinquished possession of their houses to the Army for the ASTP. The end of World War II saw a change in the University presidency. Dykstra re- signed to go to the Uni- versity of Southern Cali- fornia as provost and Edwin Broun Fred, dean of the College of Agri- culture, took his place. Dr. Fred had to deal with an enlarged enroll- ment of over 23,000 stu- dents. This caused a housing shortage which never had been ex- perienced on the cam- pus before. It also ne- cessitated the expansion of facilities. This was met by the erection of quonset huts and bar- racks, an increase in the number of faculty instructors, and an expansion of extension centers throughout the state. But this was not all. Last year (1947-1948) saw a revision in the administration set-up of the University. It seemed to be follow- ing the general trend of the times toward specialization. The University became more like a large corporation with vice- presidents in charge of such things as fina nce and academic affairs. This year 1948-49 has been a land-mark in the University ' s history. The student body and the faculty can look back with pride at their University ' s century story. To help their school, the University of Wisconsin Foundation is trying to make provision for the future. It is now carrying on a cam- paign to raise $5,000,000 to help set up scholarships, fellow- ships, and research programs, and to enable the University to start carrying out the much needed expansion of Lower Campus. Clarence A. Dykstra, and the second World War. Theater comes to Wisconsin. The University today has many inadequacies which it is trying to remedy. Since 1919 the building activities have in- cluded the Wisconsin General Hospital, the Mechanical Engi- neering Building, the Biochemistry Building, student dormi- tories, the Memorial Union, the field house, and the new faculty apartment project; however, this is not enough. There is little the University can do with a building fund of only $8,000,000 when it actually needs $80,000,000 to make it comparable with other universities of a similar nature. There are many other pressing needs that the University is finding difficulty in meeting. The swelled enrollment is met by insufficient teaching facilities. The student body is ham- pered by the lack of a large enough library. Nevertheless, we of today are witnesses of 100 years of progress. Here is reflected the modern trends toward mass education, research, and the Wisconsin Idea of the practical application of knowledge. The emphasis on research is characterized by such men as Stephen M. Babcock, with his milk test; Prof. Harry Steenbock with his discovery of a way to irradiate foodstuffs artificially with vitamin D; and. Prof. John R. Commons with his early pioneering in social security. Today many vital research proj- ects are being carried on, and even within the last five years, men at Wisconsin have discovered such things as a cheaper means of producing penicillin, a bullet detector, biological war- fare technique, and synthetic rubber production methods. The Wisconsin Idea has always impregnated the educational 28