Western Michigan University - Brown and Gold Yearbook (Kalamazoo, MI)

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Alumni Hack in 1906 on Commencement Day the nucleus of the present large and active alumni body which represents the growth of Wlestern Normal since 1905, was formed by the members of the second class to graduate from the school. Under the leadership of Miss Maude Grill, one of the -12 members of the class of 1906, a temporary organization was effected and a committee named to draw up a constitution. lu the fall of 1907 during the State Teachers' meeting at liattle Creek, permanent organization was completed, and Marion bl. Sherwood, at present a member of the faculty of the Normal, was elected president. To cultivate a social spirit and perpetuate associations and to promote the interests of the institution was incorporated in the constitution as drawn up by the committee in 1907. As indicated by the large attendance at the ban- quets held each year during the State Teachers' meetings and the Alumni Day celebrations every year at Commencement time, the spirit of the constitution has held through the period of nine years. There is at present an enthusiastic, strong, and helpful alumni hody more than 1,500 in number to which will be added with the class of 1916, approximately 275 life certilicate graduates. Many ol' the Normal's alumni have continued their work in colleges and universities after leaving this institution and the honor roll is a long one. To positions of importance in educational work throughout the country have a number of the school's graduates attained. XiVestern Normal is represented on the faculty of the following institutions: Northern State Normal School, Mar- quette, Michigang State Normal at lillendale, North Dakotag XVinona Normal, X'Vinona, Minnesotag XVestern State Normalg Alabama l'olytechnic School, :Xu- hurn, :Xlabamag Albion College, Michigan: and Massachusetts Agricultural Col- lege, Amherst, Massachusetts. The alumni have had an active part in the progress of the school. They have given hearty co-operation as individuals in the building up of the student body and they have been liberal contributors to the athletic lield fund. ,Xt the last meeting of the alumni organization in Saginaw in Qctober, 1915, the oliticers were elected for this year, as follows: President-Miss .Xiaiiioa l-lixcox. .. ..t.Srand Rapids Vice-l'resident-Atari:tn: N.lAA'l'l'lAN .,................ . . .Byron Center Recording Secretary-Miss MARt:ui1:in'1'E lVlcti1J1NNi-:ss ........,... Kalamazoo Corresponding Secretary-Miss Rosle N1E'l'ZOlQtl, XVestern Normal. . .Kalamazoo TI'CZlSL11'Q1'-l'lICNRY l-l. l:L'l,l.lil4, M. A. C. ....................... liast Lansing 21

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The Outlook The next year will see XfVestern Normal increase and progress in many ways. Succeeding years will watch further and more striking advancement. An opportunity to expand was given by the last Legislature which passed a bill of appropriation granting to this newest of the Michigan normals, SB-130,000 for special purposes during the six years beginning july 1, 1915 and the sum of Sl35,000 for current expenses during the year beginning july 1, 1916. lt is the plan of the .President to enlarge the building facilities in the fol- lowing order: Manual training building, to cost with equipment .. .... 25 90,000 Library building, to cost with equipment ...... . .. 100,000 Auditorium, to cost with equipment ...... .. 175,000 Gymnasium ........................................ 60,000 With the completion of the additional gymnasium the group of buildings will include ten splendid structures costing'approximately three-quarters of a million dollars. NVith the original campus of 20 acres valued at iii-l5,000g the athletic held with improvements, valued at 515210003 an appropriation of 520,000 for the purchase of land, now available through the last Legislature, and equip- ment, including library, furniture and supplies, the total valuation of the prop- erty of the Normal will reach the million dollar mark in live years. The faculty which now numbers more than 70 will increase with the ad- ditional facilities for accommodating a larger number of students. The total enrollment during the year ending .lune 30. 1916, was 1807 different students. This number represented a wide territory,-15 or more States outside of Mich- igan, and 56 counties in this State. Three hundred and twenty-nine were grad- uated in the various courses in the year 191-l-15 and this year there will be ap- proximately -l00 graduates. The library of 1-1,000 volumes of well selected books will see important additions in the next few years. The new building to cost with equipment i5100,000, will provide ample room for the growing collection of books, maga- zines, government reports and other material. The Rural Department will see changes and additions during the coming years. One much anticipated point of development will be the addition of a life certificate course in rural education. This will elevate the standard of rural schools in which graduates of this course teach, and fullill a plan of long standing. In athletics the past year has watched a growth in the interest in games and especially in the general gymnasium work for men. Approximately 200 par- ticipated in various forms of physical training work and at the athletic meet at M. A. C. live gold medals were won by the Normal track men. The next few years will record a much greater interest and with the line facilities for athletic work, XVestern Normal should rank with the colleges of the country. Splendid new buildings, additions to the already efficient teaching force, improvements and additions to the equipment, increased student numbers, and more general athletic activities are among the factors predicted in the advance- ment of the Normal School during the next live years. 20

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