The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 17, 1986 -Page 5

Rackham recalls elegant era

By DAVID WEBSTER
The Rackham School of
Graduate Studies' building is one of
the plushest on campus, due to a
benefactor who got rich investing
in Henry Ford's company at the
right time.
Take the study hall for example:
Decorated with luxurious wool
rugs, bowl-shaped chandeliers, and
bronzed windows with marble sills,
the study hall is frequented by
students looking for a comfortable
place to study. Occasionally the
confortable mahogany lounge chairs
so overwhelm students that they
end up napping.
The Rackham building recalls an
age when the elegance and
durability of a structure were
considered more important than
speed and cost in construction.
THE SPECTACULAR
interior, highlighted by detailed
stencillings, antique furnishings and
bronze window and door frames
compliment the tarnished copper
roof.
The building was meant to create
a relaxed atmosphere for students
and teachers. It is intended to
promote the recreational and social
development of graduate students in
a "mature" setting.
Horace Rackham was the man
behind the building. He earned his
fortune as one the 12 original
investors in the Ford Motor
Company. Rackham borrowed
$5,000 from the Michigan Savings
Bank in 1903 and purchased 50

shares of stock in the new
company.
In 1908 the stock split 20 for
one.
R A C K H A M sold his 1,000
shares to Henry and Edsel Ford for
$12.5 million in 1919, and devoted
the rest of his life - to
philanthropical endeavors. At the
time of his death in 1933, Rackham
was worth $16.5 million.'
Rackham stipulated in his will
that his money should benefit a
broad spectrum of deserving
organizations. He distributed a
fraction of his wealth among friends
and relatives, including his former
golf instructor. The remaining $14
million was used to comprise the
Rackham Fund. Its purpose was to
support various groups involved in
humanitarianism, the arts and
education.
In 1935, then-University
President Alexander Ruthven
contacted . the Rackham Fund
Trustees, suggesting the purchase
of land and construction of a
building to house the graduate
studies department. Mary Rackham
later donated an additional $1.5
million to furnish it.
Every aspect of the Rackham
building is luxurious. 21
bathrooms are constructed .in
polished marble, two alcoves on the
second floor house grand pianos for
casual use by students and faculty
and the trash receptacles are
designed to look like Grecian urns.
The grandeur of the 1,200 seat
hall is reflected in the building's
design, a massive curve in the north
wall accents its presence. Its plush
PRINTING
HIGH QUALITY
LOW PRICES
SINCE 1973
1002 PONTIAC TR.
--4136

and spacious seating area allows
guests to view lectures, musical
performances and video
presentations in comfort and
luxury.
Over the 50 years since the
cornerstone was laid in 1936,
Rackham has reflected the quality
craftsmanship involved in its

construction. Besides replacing the
copper roof once there has been
only modest restoration to the
building. An occasional radiator
leak may call for plumbing repairs
and plaster patching but these are
less extreme than the renovations
often needed by modern buildings.

I

a9

W how you feel with ...
Mhigan Daily Personals
764-0557

Daily Photo by JAE KIM

The luxurious study hall on the second floor of Rackham provides a
relaxed atmosphere for faculty and students.

Grads win national contest

CAREER TALKS
Tuesday, November 18
EZRA BOWEN
Senior Writer for TIME Magazine
What You Do With
Your History Major
10am
Wolverine Room
Michigan Union
Effective Communication Skills:
A Must For Any Career
12noon
Kuenzel Room
Michigan Union

(Continued from Page 1)
paign for the product within eight
hours, and then making a 20-
minute presentation to a panel of
judges composed of General Foods
executives and other businessmen.
The University team proposed
that General Foods switch to low-
calorie drinks because they appeal
to the company's target market -
college-age students.
"OUR TEAM worked very
well- together. It was very
challenging to work on that case
with that time limitation,"said
Pettitt, who with Martens organized
the group. Their team had to beat
eight other teams from within the
University for the all-expense paid
trip to New York.
The students agreed that in
addition to winning, they benefitted
fromh the opportunity to meet
business students from other
schools. "One of General Foods'
purposes was to bring the students
together from the top business
_ schools," said Ridge. "It broke
stereotypes, like that (University

of) Chicago is very numbers-
oriented, and Stanford very
California-type with their heads in
the clouds."
Competition was still the main
objective. "You learned your value
as an MBA student in comparison
with your competition," said

Martens. "As friendly as everyone
was, everyone wanted to win. All
the top schools there seemed too
have the same cut of people.
They're all bright and they're all
driven"
There prize was a trophy, and
the award is knowing "you are the
best of the best," Marten said.

Students for Ethiopian Jewry and
The U-M Department of Judaic Studies present
Ethiopia Today:
A First Hand Account of a
Jewish Village
Talk and Slides by Jack Edelstein
President of Michigan Association of Ethiopian Jewry

Monday, November 17
7:3o p.m.
Hillel, 1429 Hill Street
Refreshments served

663-3336

I

This holiday season,
get the 'Write Stuff
at therni t.price.

1 0 % t 5%- O N
Children's oo 00s
MOVIES
O e MOVIES
Noem er1722MOVIES HOLIDA Y
November 17-22 S I
SAVE1OA50%GS
HOLIDAY SAVINGS on
Books, Records, Tapes,
Puzzles, Puppets
Free Balloons for the children
MOVIES - MOVIES - MOVIES
For the children's enjoyment and our shopping convenience, we will
be showing movies for the children each day
Here's How The Sale Works
Just make your selection of books, records and gifts from the
Children's Department and pop one of the balloons to discover your
discount. Every balloon contains a discount slip worth 10%, 20%,
30%, 40% & 50% off the price of your purchase.
.,10 E_

Now you can get the competitive
edge when classes begin in January. With a
Macintosh" personal computer, and all the
write extras.
We call it the Macintosh "Write Stuff"
bundle. You'll call it a great deal! Because
when you buy a Macintosh "Write Stuff"
bundle before January 9, 1987, you'll receive
a bundle of extras-and save $250.
Not only will you get your choice of a
Macintosh 512K Enhanced or a Macintosh
Plus, you'll also get an Image Writerr" 11
printer, the perfect solution for producing
near letter-quality term papers or reports,
complete with graphs, charts, and
illustrations.
Plus, you'll get MacLightning,
the premier spelling checker con-
taining an 80,000 word dictionary
with options for

thesaurus, medical or legal dictionaries.
Together with your favorite Macintosh word
processing software, you can transform
your notes into the clearest, most letter
perfect papers you ever turned out. And
turned in on time.
What's more, there's a Macintosh
Support Kit filled with valuable accessories
and computer care products from 3M.*
Complete with all the things you need to
keep your Macintosh running long after
you've graduated.
Let us show you how to get through
college better, faster, and smarter. Stop in
and see us for more information.

.. . . ...... ...... ..... .... .... _
_ _ _ _ ;:w:
::::::::..: :.i . _.i: ii:}. .. .. ^i: is is i:Jii::-?:ii::?i:ii:Li:;i: ii:+_ i::4il.; :::w: ::. .i:: ::-:. :: :". :.::::.:.