University of Tennessee Knoxville - Volunteer Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

Page 33 text:

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION J . PIKE POWERS, JR., :95, President ...................... . ........ Knoxville ALLEN P. FRIERSON, t07, Treasurer ................................ Knoxville MISS LENA B. HENDERSON, 08, Secretary .......................... -Kn0xvi11e F: C. LQWRY, JR., ,09, Emmttive Secretary ......................... Knoxville J. B. Cox, t93, Vice-Ih'esident East Tennessee ................... Johnson City GEO. M. SMITH, '89, Vice-Presidenf Middle Tennessee ............. McMinnViHe JNU. W. BUFQRD, :93, Vtice-Pres'ident West Tennessee ................. Memphis Of the many matters of Vital importance Which are a part of the new growth of the University of Tennessee, a cohesive organization of all students and former students of the institution is of particular moment. The chapter just begun may be said to have been initiated by the large expression of interest on the part of the State. In reality, however, it has been initiated by the general discovery of the broad need for service throughout the State of a type Which only the State University can give. The great war has made patent the need for a more enlightened and efficient citizenship, and the problems arising since the war have intensified this need. The new service demanded, therefore, can only be rendered by the State University, going out through its various avenues unto the people and their living conditions. Hence, all the agencies by means of which the University can touch the people of the various sections of the State must be used ; and necessarily the most powerful of these is a strong alumni 0r- gani zation. University and alumni leaders have evidently, for some time past7 had a vision that this very situation would ultimately come; for there has been a con- sistent effort for many years toward a more compact organization of Tennessee alumni. In 1916 Mr. L. R. Neel was employed as a full-time secretary for the organ- ization. After his resignation in 1917, Prof. N. W. Dougherty assumed the work of the office on a part-time basis and continued until March of the current year. These two men have accomplished a great work in some ways, particularly 1n attempts to classify and locate addresses for the students of former years and to bind these alumni together, through numerous meetings, through the publi- cation of the alumni magazine and through various news letters. Much, how- ever, remains, to be done. It is submitted that certain great reasons stand out as indicative of the part the Alumni Association must play in the program of the greater University of Tennessee. I Page Thia'ty-Fz'wa

Page 32 text:

Page 'l'hirlgermr

Page 34 text:

,nll uh ' Il iv Z First, the spiritual traditions of the student body should be preserved. Second, only through an organized body of alumni can the University best serve the alumni themselves and, through them, the people of the State. The alumni, knowing as they do the problems of the State, can help the University to bring to the public the agencies the institution has for its service. Third, whenever matters of vital interest to the alumni themselves, from whatever source, press for settlement, concerted action is obviously the only effective method for settlement. For example, it is now of Vital concern that an alumni memorial be erected to the U. of T. heroes of the great war. Alumni of practically all other universities are doing this sort of thing. Our reputation both for loyalty to our Alma Mater and for patriotism is at stake. Concerted action is going; to build a memorial chapel for these men. In view of these general statements of purpose it is highly important that all students of the University of Tennessee take loyally hold of the proposition of a greater Alumni Association. Those Who are yet in school can do more to promote the end desired than the men and women who have left us. Class or- ganizations, Y. W. C. A. and Y. M. C. A., fraternities-in fact, all types of stu- dent organizations are nuclei around Which the latter general organization can flourish. The All-Students Club is its prototype. According to the measure in Which the organization of alumni is successful Will our beloved University of Tennessee be judged. It is the desideratum, therefore, that all student activities will so shape themselves that a successful Alumni Association may result. ii 'I l.' lllln l Page Thirty-Sia;