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

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A college is more than buildings, students, instructors, books and equipment . . . A History by Winston Wessels One Tivo Three Four Five In the Beginning Material Growth Growth of Curricula College Services Western ' s Students A college is more than buildings, students, instructors, books and equipment. It is more than courses offered, grades recorded and diplomas granted. All of these may be seen, but what is not seen is just o« important, perhaps even more so. What is not seen is the past and the future, the tradition and the change. These are the things that give a purpose and direction to a college beyond the immediate efforts of the students and faculty and administration. The fiftieth anniversary of Western is a good time to look at the college and see what it has been, to better understand what Western is today, and what it will be in the future. Western has been most for- tunate in having Dr. James O. Knauss compile both the 25th and 50th anniversary histories of the col- lege, for in both instances Dr. Knauss gathered much information that would have been lost other wise and wrote it into very readable and informative books. Anyone who wishes to learn about Western must begin with Dr. Knauss ' book, The First Fifty Years 1903-1953. The material for this article has been drawn from that book.

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Ralph Waldo Emerson ' s observation that An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man does not apply to Western Michigan College. In an unusual degree this institution, celebrating its Semi-Centennial, is the product of the efforts of two men. In its half century of existence there have been but two presidents: Dwight B. Waldo and Paul V. Sangren. In assaying each personality, it is logical to attach the term Path- finder to the first president. His restless inquisitive spirit always was seeking new ways. It is in his memory that the dome of the old Administration building is lighlted every night, for this building was where his campus activities were centered, and where his ashes lie in the cornerstone. We can best describe the current president by designating him as a Pioneer. Picking up the torch from the hands of his predecessor, he not only brought to, successful completion major projects already begun, but he pioneered in many others. His leadership has been posi- tive — never faltering. In continuing recognition of these numerous significant achievements and accomplishments of the second president, and especially in honor of his efforts in build- ing Western ' s new campus, the tower of the Chapel is illuminated every night.

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v46out 1905. One By 1900, the state of Michigan had teacher training schools at Ypsilanti, Mt. Pleasant, and Marquette. These schools served the eastern, cen ' tral, and northern parts of the state, but there was no teacher training school in the western part of the state, which had about oncfifth of the popu ' lation at that time. A bill was passed by the legis- lature to estabhsh such a school, but it was vetoed by the governor. Another bill was passed, and this one was signed by the governor on May 27, 1903, estabhshing Western State Normal School. The location of the school was not specified. It was therefore left to the State Board of Educa- tion to select the town. A large number of com ' munities wanted the new school, but Kalamazoo was quick to organi2;e an active campaign to secure it. The city offered the State Board of Education a free building site, $40,000 for building, and of ' fered to pay half of the salaries of the training ' school teachers for five years. Kalamazoo was a transportation center for Western Michigan, and in addition to its geogra ' phical advantages, the offer of the city was most attractive. The State Board voted August 28, 1903, to select Kalamazoo. Work was then begun to establish the new school. Several places in the city were considered as building sites, and in Nov ember, Prospect Hill was selected. It took until In the Beginning March of 1904 to secure a clear title to the land, so it was not until May that the actual work began on the hill. The school was s cheduled to open on June 27, 1904. Before that time a president and faculty had to be found, also a building for classes to meet in until the new school on Prospect Hill was ready. The first position to be filled was that of the principal. On April 1, 1904, the State Board named Dwight Bryant Waldo to that office. Waldo had been principal of Northern State Nor- mal School at Marquette (from its opening). Be- fore that he had taught all levels of school, from, the ungraded rural schools to college classes. He was an excellent man for the job. Even though he had less than three months before the opening of school, he went to work carefully. The school would teach the same subjects as the other state normal schools, but the choice of personnel was important, and a multitude of de- tails had to be studied. Waldo sa w that the chief function of the school would be to prepare teach- ers for the rural schools. Consequently, he asked the State Board to create a rural school depart- ment at the new school. On May 19, 1904, the Kalamazoo newspaper carried a statement by Waldo, which read in part: In creating a rural school department the new normal will become