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

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Western State Normal Periodically the progress of Western is surveyed, and this year ' s view is more pleasing than the preceding ones. The annual steps of the institution carry it farther along the end- less road til success, until now, the expectant hopes of tliose enthusiastic workers who have made this possible are Hearing realization. This satisfaction will not give way to content, but rather it may serve as an incentive to greater achievements than have been rendered in the past. During its comparatively brief period of existence it has rapidly made such progress as to be placed among the very few foremost Normal Colleges in the United States. Being nationally recognized in many phases of its activities. Western takes great pride in the past record of its accomplishments : and with the earnest endeavor so representative of it, the continuation will be even more pronounced. Prns])ect Hill was well named. The scepter held two decades a,n(] by barren trees and mangled grass has been relinquished to a new ruler. Crowning the Hill there now stands an institution whose aims and ideals are practiced where they may greatest benefit, upon the rising generation. Supplanting the existing forms of nature, the new tends to view the fu- ture with confidence. Western did not progress to its present station by accident. Leading the school since its foundation, Dwight B. Waldo. LL. D., has succeeded in assembling faculty whose sin- cerity and kindly interest in the students are two marks of distinction. The unrelenting ac- tivity of the president may be traced in all motions of advancement made by the school. To a man who has willingly given and diligentljr sought the best, those now privileged to at- tend the institution cjwe thanks for the opportunity, li judgment may be passed, the ever enlarging enrollment may to some extent be due to the results achieved of those whose responsibility it is to teach. Through and over all there is the spirit of Western. Situated in a recognized educational community, the institution takes its place in the progression of the city which offers many advantages to the resident and non-resident stu- dents. Realizing the importance of cooperation, Kalamazoo and Western State have become closely associated, with credit to both. Western possesses the facilities whereby every phase of modern education may be taught. About six years ago the school began its career as a college, by instituting a four year course in addition to the Life Certificate work. Now granting an A. B. degree for satisfactory completion of the prescribed studies, attending students enjoy the privileges and benefits of

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an efficient college. The large campus will permit the enlargement necessary to accommodate the developments being made and those that may be made in the future. Beside the five buildings for college work, including a new library, the Training School accommodates 285 pupils. The Richland, Portage, Michigan Avenue, and Paw Paw schools are also under the administration. It is in these that students are permitted to practice the theories of education. Including the one room country school, the consolidated school, the township unit, the large unit, and the city school. Western is the best equipped institution of its class in the country for teacher training. With the completion of the library work will immediately begin on the men ' s new gym- na sium. This building will face Oakland Drive, being located opposite the heating plant. Being 170 feet long and 86 feet wide, it will consist of basement, main floor, second floor and running track. The basement will be adequately equipped, including a large baseball cage, two hand-ball courts, quarters for wrestling and boxing, locker rooms, varsity team room, including massage room and shower, visiting team room, and separate quarters for the High School. There will be a fourteen lap track, four class rooms, four offices, special and corrective exercise rooms, and storing quarters. This addition to the present accommodations will increase the desirability of attending Western. Significant in itself, it represents one of the ever increasing strides with which the institution yearly progresses. And in the future is seen a stadium that may soon ma- terialize as a result of increasing enthusiasm. That, with many other things, are just be- yond our present horizon.