4 Page 2 The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 6, 1984 he niversity through the years By LILY ENG If you can pronounce "Catholepistemiad of Michigania," you have said a mouthful. This nasty tongue twister is the original name of the University of Michigan. The University grew into the sprawling multi-educational complex it is today because of the dedication of its three unlikely founders: a judge, a priest, and a reverend. THE UNIVERSITY was founded in 1817, as a compilation of ideas from Judge Augustus Woodward, Father Gabriel Richard, and the Reverend John Monteith. These three men believed that educating people was the res- ponsibility of the state. This revolutionary con- cept was a radical one in these days-a person was expected to pay the costs of his entire college education back then. Woodward, Richard and Monteith originated the idea of the University. The state, actually then the Territory of Michigan, would sponsor a school modeled after the University of Fran- ce. The French institution was supported by the government, and was actually a series of schools throughout France. Woodward provided the mindboggling "Catholepistemiad" which was, of course, later changed to University much to the probable relief of future generations of studen- ts. Although the idea of the University started early, it had a shaky start as the actual building of a college did not begin immediately. LOTS OF MONEY, epidemics, political squabbles, and other setbacks threw the Michigan Territory off its tracks and the University stumbled into the background. Finally, after the United States granted Michigan statehood in 1837, the legislators revived the idea of a University. Ann Arbor citizens donated 40 acres of land for the project and the Michigan legislature awarded the college and preparatory school to the city. The first set of buildings to. go up were built as homes for the professors. Semi-luxurious and architecturally elaborate, these brick buildings were small mansions. These huge houses were built complete with libraries, studies, and bedroom suites. These structures are now long gone, except for the President's House on South University. THE WHITE HOUSE was actually one of four houses with similar architecture. For each University president in the early years, a new house was built. Only the one now remains. Building contractors estimated the original cost for these houses to be in the $16,000 zone. Quite a bargain one might say now. However, as it turns out, the actual cost of the buildings exceeded the estimation by $14,000. The house was renovated at the request of James Angell-president from 1871 to 1909-who refused to move into the home until a flush toilet was installed. WHILE THE University's president and professors lived in the lap of luxury, the seven college students and 23 preparatory students lived in the University's Main Building. (The Main was later renamed Mason Hall after Governor Stevens Mason.) Students woke up every morning at 5:00 a.m. for chapel ser- vices-which they were strictly required to at- tend. Since there was no running water at the Main Building, the students pumped water from outside. The University tore down the building in the 1950s and rebuild the new Mason Hall from scratch because the original building burned to the ground in a spectacular fire. The students paid only $7.50 a term and they had to follow a strict curriculum. Students never heard of easy electives in this early ver- sion of the University-the University stressed the classics along with the natural sciences, mathematics, and history, as important disciplines. Still filled with marshes and trees, acres of wilderness surrounded the University's first buildings. Few buildings existed in town except for several boarding houses that provided meals for the students. Swamps covered the area where the diag is now. During bad weather, rain frequently flooded the whole campus. DESPITE THE marshes and the floods, the University grew. The years supplied more students and new concepts for education. When University President Henry Tappan arrived in 1852, he came with two major ideas: A I 4 A hundred years ago, only a few unassuming buildings stood on the University's main campus. graduate school and professors originating and participating in academic research. Heavily interested in research, Tappan pushed the University into it. One of the research crazes back in the 1800s was astronomy. Through Tappan's urgings and generaous contributions by many of Detroit's, citizens, the University built the Detroit Obser- vatory in 1854. It was fitted with a revolving domed top and was considered one of the best in the country. Today, the telescope still works, but is slightly overshadowed by Hill dor- mitories and University Hospitals. Another Tappan change included moving the students out of Mason Hall and into boarding houses around town. At this time, religion still influenced the University community. Students still attended early morning chapel requirements. Tappan, himself, was not a heavily religious man and his non-sectarian philosophies were demon- strated in his various duties as president. More often than not, Tappan would select a professor by MS qualifications and not by his religion. Because of his philosophies and his ground breaking ideas, the Board of Regents dismissed Tappan in 1863. See UNIVERSITY, Page 6 49, VIII e5 COOR AO So you think it's terribh 540 E. Liberty St. 761-4539 Corner of Maynard & Liberty I I By ERIC MATTSON Every year it's the same: bitch, bit- ch, bitch. It doesn't matter where you turn, there's always a student you know who had a horrific ordeal at CRISP - the University's computerized class registration system. But if students knew what it was like in the days of yesteryear, they might be reluctant to criticize the nine-year- old system. Before CRISP was implemented in the spring of 1975, students "were guaranteed a two or three hour wait," said Thomas Karunas, University alumnus and assistant registrar. Karunas recalled the first time he. registered for classes at the University in the early '60s: "I had never seen so many people up so early at one time," he said. Before the "on line" registration program was developed, students assembled-mob fashion-outside the old Waterman Gymnasium next to the Chemistry Building. "There were very long lines that went clear across the Diag," Karunassaid, Since thee was no pre-registration, students scrambled around desks each department had set up, searching fran- tically for a schedule they could live with. But "in the early '70s, people began to say, 'this system is terrible,' "Karunas said. A task force was set up to study the problem, and a computer science class Registration by hand was twice as. bad it wasn't implemented until 1975. The terminals were originally set up in Lor- ch Hall and when it was first used, "they went cold turkey; there was no backup," Karunas said. CRISP worked adequately during its spring debut, but in the fall of 'I had never seen so many people up so early at one time.' -Thomas Karunas Assistant registar designed the program which is - although slightly modified - still in use. The system was approved in 1973, but 1975, complications developed. "That's when they found the real bugs," Karunas said. Since then, Karunas said, CRISP has Greek system offers a" Uinch' The S( Why not get ev( Ulrich s has it a supplies, prints, calculators. offi clocks. Michiga more. And our r good as anyon By PETE WILLIAMS If you think the fraternity or sorority life is for you as a University student, you can expect to have plenty of company in your pursuit of the Greek life. Every year, hoards of mostly fresh- persons and sophomores flock to the bi- annual "rush week" with the hopes of being one of the chosen many that are asked to join the ranks of the 41 frater- nities end 17 sororities on campus. SORORITY RUSH is a very formal affair. Rushees are required to visit every house on campus and then wait to be asked back by members of a given house several times before receiving "a bid" for membership. Fraternities take a much more casual approach to the event. In- terested students can visit only the houses they are interested in, return for as many nights as they deem necessary, and then wait for a decision. But competition for those spots on the membership lists is becoming more severe in recent years. "I think in the '60s amd '70s, people rebelled against the traditional frater- nity types," Phi Gamma Delta President Scott Almarist said. He said that recently, however, opinions toward the Greek system have changed and more people are ready to take advan- tage of what they have to offer. Almarst said the number of people interested in his fraternity has increased every term for several years. enow? improved significantly in terms of hw efficiently students are processed. ° The computerized system is fat superior to the old method if registering students for classes, bu i exchange for the benefits of the n60W system, the registrar's office has'* deal with "all the snafus that go with a computer," he said. I For instance, many students have witnessed the carnage a computer breakdown leaves, behind: countless students backed up throughout Lorch Hall, broken families, world hungg ; and sliced bread. According to Karunas, there is realIl only one way to prevent the breakdown problem-a redundant backup system. And the University doesn't have one f those. "That would be prohibitively - pensive," Karunas said. "We're real at the mercy of the system." But all in all, CRISP has several id- vantages over the old system. It 1te students know whether or not they've been successful in registering for coi- ses. In addition, departments are guari- teed class lists shortly afte registration closes. The process f dropping and adding a class is also much easier, Karunas said. diversity Apparently the attraction is the actte social life fraternities and sororities t- fer members. "It is a great way to make friends . and a great way to meet peopl" Almarist said. BUT THESE are more than livajn party halls. Organizations pride thei- selves on community service a)yd academic excellence. "It offers a lot academically ' Almarist said. "There are alwas people who have the same classes a can help each other - and alumni w1 come back and help people who looking for jobs. Sometimes they h~e jobs for people." are Fraternities and sororities are ao involved in charity drives, benefitt many organizations from the can qr society to the Ronald MacDonald hoie for families of critically ill children. "I think it is rewarding for student, o do things for and be involved in t3e community and the campus," Almart said. A Fraternities and soroities also love competition beyond the race for mere- bership. The annual Greek Week isa series of contests between pairs 'Tf fraternities and sororioties. Events in )e yearly extravaganza include k stacking, speed beer chugging and 4ge ever-popular "Jello Jump" - a mas dive into a vat of jello for the pursuitf a set of car keys. The car is the prize fr effective gelatinous diving. The image of a four-year-long Aning I House vacation from studies is o partially correct. But for the most pa , the Greek system on campus seeks provide exactly what most people a e looking for in their c lege careers - academic support, fri ndship and Igos and lots of beer. Tke 1 Sr ou rce. YE{ '. Gl1 a'"( T e5 erything in one trip? LII-books, art , and frames, ce supplies, lamps. n souvenirs, and prices are at least as e else's. We guarantee it. I OPEN LABOR DAY Monday, Sept. 3-Noon to 5p.m. Check out the back page of the Sports Section for the complete schedule of our Extended Book Rush Hours. / ,'