Weber State University - Acorn Yearbook (Ogden, UT)

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18 HISTORICAL i i during President Tracy's administra- tion, all of which are provided for the enjoyment and aesthetic development of the people. In his efforts to provide the proper environment. President Tracy has made many improvements in the college buildings and on the campus. In 1926- 1927, the auditorium stage was raised, and better equipment was provided for dramatic presentations. The floor of this hall was rebuilt to slope toward the front, and a complete new set of seats was installed. With the purchase by one thousand Weber Alumni of a Lee Greene Richards portrait of D. O. McKay, an art collec- tion of the outstanding paintings of Utah artists was begun, a collection which is being added to each year. About six thousand volumes of reference and text books have been pro- vided in the library. New furniture and other equipment, choice pictures and flowering plants, have added greatly to the comfort and beauty of the room. A like improvement has been effected in the offices of the president, secretary, registrar, and recorder. Throughout the entire building remodeling has been done. Through the efforts of the Church and Alumni Association, considerable property has been bought to enlarge the campus. The Grix home and the Ellis home were bought before 1923. Presi- dent I leber J. Grant, in behalf of the Church, contributed $8,000 to the cam- pus fund on July I. 1924. with which amount some property facing west on Adams Avenue was purchased. The Rich property on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Twenty-fifth Street was purchased by the Alumni in September. 1925, at a cost of $11.000. The Eliza- beth Baxter home ($4.060); the C. J. Elygare home ($8,000); the College Inn ($3,500 paid by the Alumni toward purchase); and the Mason home ($5,700), were all purchased during 1927. The attainments reached in student activities is further evidence of the growth of a college for Ogden. Every year since Weber became a Junior Col- lege, it has won the football champion- ship of the Inter-mountain region. In December, 1928, after receiving an in- vitation from the McKinley school. Weber’s football team journeyed to Honolulu to play the McKinley team. Although they did not gain victory, the trip was a profitable one. In basketball, the Weber team has always won its way to the tournament by being either the runner-up or the champion of the north- ern division. Public speaking contests have been conducted regularly and have offered opportunity for a number of students. Great progress has been made in drama. During the last few years, a number of plays have been presented in addition to the annual school play, and always with great success. A number of pro- grams have been given and sponsored by the college during music week each May. The forensic activity has been flourishing during the last two years. Last year (1928), Weber won the Inter- i I » y r i

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HISTORICAL 17 committees elected to investigate. A canvassing program was begun, and some money was collected. Soon, how- ever. there came a change in school administration. Later the World War and other adverse conditions put a damper on the enthusiasm of the stu- dents. In 1920. some further progress was made, and in the summer of that year, the foundation of the building was completed. Depressing financial con- ditions during the latter part of 1920 and during 1921 caused another halt in the erection of the gymnasium; money could not be collected, and operations ceased. When President Tracy began his administration, construction was re- sumed, and through the earnest efforts of the school, the quorums and organi- zations of the four Weber County Stakes, as well as the business men of Ogden. SI 50.000 was raised. The Church had agreed with David O. McKay to pay fifty percent of the cost of the gym- nasium. Thus, this new edifice, prov id- ing adequate room and equipment for the use of many people, was completed at a total cost of .$300,000. It was form- ally opened January 9, 1925. The Inter- mountain Junior College basketball tournament has been held in the Gym each year since that date. Another step toward a better college was the organization and operation, dur- ing the year 1922-1923, of a distinct College Board of Control. J. Willard Marriott was president of the associated students of Weber College,' Francis Cragun. vice-president; and Ray R. Sco- ville, secretary-treasurer. Although the college membership was small, the offi- cers conducted a number of successful activities. The college and high school officers had been working together pre- viously, but such an arrangement was found unsatisfactory; and for this reason, a separate Board of Control, conducting college activities only, was elected, a Board which operated very successfully. The Associated Students of Weber College have been well or- ganized each year since, the officers be- ing in direct control of all student activities. It has been the desire of President Tracy to provide beautiful surroundings and comfortable rooms for the members of the college. He has striven to develop a college that will serve the community and students socially, intellectually, and spiritually, and one that can call for the support and admiration of the com- munity. Departments of Education and Psychology. Political Economy, I Iistory and Political Science, Sociology, Bible Literature, I lome Economics, Music and Art. Modern and Ancient Language and Literatures. English Language and Literature. Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Geology, Botany, Zoology, Hygiene, Physical Culture and Athletics have been instituted to give this service to the students and citizens. The first College Prom, a strictly formal affair, was inaugurated in the Berthana, March 28, 1924, and the prec- edent has been continued each year since then. Many other social events of the highest type have been conducted

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HISTORICAL 19 mountain Junior College championship. The team was composed of Winifred McConnel. Frank Rose, Frank Robin- son and George Williams. Mr. Rose and Mr. Robinson made a tour of the Paci- fic Northwest and Canada. Out of twenty-three debates engaged in on the trip, the team won seventeen and lost four; the other two were non-decision debates. This year Weber did not win the championship; however, great rec- ords have been made. Winifred Mc- Connell and Virginia Nicholas recently toured California where they made an excellent record for the school. David Kennedy and James Neil debated with colleges and universities in the North- west and won seven cut of eight debates. George Williams and Frank Rose, ac- companied by Professor Mon son, made a tour of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and intermediate States, where they engaged in a number of debates. A real college for Ogden has been one important motive behind these activities. Driven by this motive, Presi- dent I'racy. with the earnest coopera- tion and efforts of the faculty, alumni, and students, has labored earnestly to make an unequalled record for Weber. With this year’s great success has come a fear that there may not be fur- ther opportunity to make such records, at least under the present administra- tion of the Church. The First Presi- dency, and Commissioner of Education have announced that they are going to withdraw from secular education. This means that Weber, as well as the other Church schools, will either be closed or taken over and operated under the State educational system. During the last regular session of the Utah State Legis- lature, two main Junior College bills were introduced. One bill provided that Weber College and Snow College be con- trolled and operated by the University of Utah as branches of that institution. Another provided that districts having sufficient population and tax-paying ability be authorized to establish junior colleges. After considerable discussion, both in and out of the Legislature, both bills were defeated. 11 is our desire that legislation which will provide a secure future for junior colleges will be passed within the near future. For the time be- ing, we must work, wait and hope for the best.