EXTRA :Y Sw anL*40'1 4*1ai41i EXTRA Latest Deadline in the State VOL. LVIII, SPECIAL ISSUE ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, MONDAY, MAY 17, 1948 PRICE FIVE CENTS I 7 Planning, Study .Back of Proj*ect Year and Half of Work Follows Original Student Legislature Idea The Phoenix Project-behnd those simple words lie a year and one half of intensive planning, research and efforts to hurdle legal obstacles. The concept of a "functional" war memorial originated with stud- ents back on Dec. 18, 1946. That night the Student Legislature went on record as approving a functional memorial and laid tentative plans for a fund-raising campaign. Official sanction came when the University Board of Regents named a faculty-student War Memorial Committee in September, 1947. Harnessed for Humanity Phoenix Plan Huge Program Will Probe Peaceful Application of Atom An all-out offensive to convert the nightmare of Nagasaki into a living and lasting force for the betterment of man was launched today by the University in memory of its students and faculty members who died in World War II. President Alexander G. Ruthven announced the estab lishment of the "Phoenix Project"--the world's first research institute devoted exclusively to exploiting the peaceful and humanitarian applications of atomic energy, Named the Phoenix Project to symbolize the creation of a new era from the ashes and destruction of the old, the Univer- sity's War Memorial is founded in direct contrast to the famed but frightful Manhattan Project. It will be a "living, timeless, creative force for peace." Memorial Is Greeted With Enthusiasnm Gains Support, Pledgesof Aid The vast scope and significance of the Phoenix Project to "har- ness the atom for humanity" has fired the imagination of everyone who had a part in its evolution. Conceived only nine months ago, the proposed center for peacetime atomic research has already gain- ed support from every quarter. As plans accelerated the Phoenix Project picked up approval from the United States Atomic Energy Commission, the Office of Naval Research, high government offi- cials and students. Not only support, but pledges of every possible assistance have come from agencies and indiv- iduals called into top-secret ne- gotiations concerning the pro- ject. The establishment of a peace- time research center was sug- gested to the War Memorial Com- mittee by Fred Smith, New York publisher and one-time University student. Realizing that this pro- posal was a solution to the con- cept that a war memorial should be and do something, the com- mittee enthusiastically, approved it. Although anything concerning atomic energy is rigidly controlled by the U.S. Atomic Energy Com- mission, this proposal had little trouble passing that hurdle. Commission spokesman Carroll L. Wilson in Washington ap- plauded "the decision of the War Memorial Committee to further knowledge in this new field and the intent to explore the bene- ficial potentialities of atomic 'en- ergy." Funds to aid in the develop- ment of the project were virtually assured. Another top-ranking govern- ment agency, The Office of Nav- al Research, also envisioned vast possibilities of a project of this type and promised aid. Meanwhile student pa ticip- tion in the proposal began to mushroom. Earlier, during the planning period, three students" were an integral part of the War Memorial Committee. With final plans set, student{ leaders representing every organi- ar in n -- n m-- - - - - - -n-n They ;vere guided by an Alumni Association request that the war memolial be scmething more than "a mere roun I of stone tic pur-. pose of whlich would be soon for- gotten." The idea f'.x" an atonc iesearch center first caught 'ire in the mind of Fred J. Smith, prominent New York publisher and one time University student. As a~tribute to the University's war dead he suggested a vast project designed to make atomic energy the slave rather than the master of man- kind. lIe called it "a constructive solution to the pathological fog created in the minds of the people of the world by the Atom Bomb's advent." The idea was enthusiastically received by the War Memorial committee in October 1947. Earl- ier the committee had examined and rejected scores of other pro- posals as unsuitable. The committee then set to work to crack the shroud of security which surrounded all matters dealing with atomic energy in America. The best legal minds at the University informed the group that a green light would be needed from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission before work could proceed. In February of this year Dean Erich Walter, Dean Ralph Saw- yer and Dr. Fred Hodges appeared before the Atomic Energy Com- mission in Washington, D.C. to explain the proposed peacetime atomic research center. After a special flight to the na- tion's capital they outlined the entire proposal to the highest at- omic officials. They came out of that historic meeting with the solid backing of the Atomic Ener- gy Commission which applauded the move. On March 30 the Office of Nav- al. Research joined the list of Phoenix Project supporters. On that day Hodges, Walter and Saw- yer conferred with ONR officials in Washington regarding the plan.. They too promised ".. . to rend- er support in any way possible to- ward the organization of such an . . . institute." With this hurdle pissed the project was taken to the Uni- %;ersity Boardl of Regents where it received speedy approval on May 1, 1948. Barely a week before this offi- cial announcement a group of student leaders was called in for the initial campus announcement of the project. Representing all major campus organizations, the student headers laid nlans to Bearing both the official ap- proval of the U. S. Atomic Energy Con mmssion and a promise of actual Federal financial assist- ance, the Phoenix Project will be composed of four specifif parts: l.) A MEMORIAL ROTUN- DA to be constructed on cam- pus as a magnet to draw to- gether the great scholars of the age interested in every possible humanitarian, physical and in- tellectual phase of atomic de- velopment. 2.) RESEARCH LABORATO- RIES more complete and bettelr equipped for these purposes than any peacetime atomic laborato- ries now in existence will be established here. The facilities will be open to the use of every thinking man. 3.) A CLASSIFICATION of all known atomic research data will be assembled at an elaborate in- formation center to coordinate on a world-wide basis all success- es or failures that may even hint at progress toward solution of atomic problems. 4.) PUBLISHING of all data compiled and classified by the Phoenix Project at regular in- tervals will keep each atomic scientist and researcher throughout the world up to date at all times on the findings of his fellow searchers for the atomic key to peace. The War Mtmdrial's atomic emphasis will be centered largely on medicine and other human- itairian sciences instead of on power and engineering. Sociology, philosophy and other studies apt to be touched by the atomic era will also be included. The Phoenix Project "will tnot go into the business of pro- ducing isotopes." Instead it will take up the threads of atomic research at the point where existing agencies have stopped, utilizing isotopes manufactured under Government supervision. The War Memorial will be financed principally by private contributions supplemented by Government aid. Although the actual drive will not get underway until next fall, an administrator will be announced within a few weeks and donations for the Phoenix Project will be accepted from now on. The student body of the Uni- Project Will Aid Research Coordination War Meorial is runic tional The Phoenix Project's far- reaching humanitarian implica- tions insure that the University's War Memorial will, in the words, of the Committee "not only BE something - it will DO some- thing," Stressing the need for such a project, Fred Smith who originat- ed the idea of establishing an atomic research project declared: "Nothing but spotty and spo- radio work has been done thus far on expensive long term research in such fields as medi- cine where profits can only be measured in terms of human welfare." The Phoenix Project is to be practical however as well as ideo- logical. It recognizes that there are at present thousands of sci- entists scattered all over the world working independently on iso- lated phases of humanitarian atomic research. If their work can be coordinated, results can be produced infinitely faster, The Project will function as a clearing house for these scat- tered ideas. It will classify, file and publish them so that any discovery made anywhere In the world will be a step forward for all science, The central committee will plan specific projects in atomic re- search and subdivide the work with financial assistance to sci- entists throughout the country. "The atomic bomb was develop- ed more as a result of the organ- ization of good minds and the parcelling out of work than through a sudden discovery of geniu Smith declared in his original lettet' proposing the pro- ject. Recognizing that the atomic age will affect every phase of man's life, the Phoenix Project will not limit its activities t4p physical sciences. .ATOMIC ENERGY UNLEASHED-Pictured above is the awesome smoke column towering more than 20,000 feet high above Nagasaki Aug. 10, 1945. This same tremendous energy will be harnessed by the Phoenix Project to aid, rather than destroy, civilization. DYNAMIC REACTION: Students Assure PhoexniBacking Barely a week ago 36 students representing every major canpus organization learned of the Phoe- nix Project, and already they have made extensive plans to support it. At a top-secret meeting, called by Dean Erich Walter, the war Committee, largest vet group at Project, a workable plan for mak- the University. ing the atom an instrument of Said Babson, "This is not only peace." a fitting memorial to those who Religious Groups sacrificed so much, but also a Af1 .I Said Brieske, "The University has undertaken a grave respon- sibility and we, the students, must shoulder our portion of the bur- den. Learn all you can about the war memorial so that when the time comes you will be able to do your part in the Phoenix Pro- . i I major contribution to a more prosperous and peaceful world." Fires Imagination Representing all the itale stu- i toa . A VSXbJtiall 1A ' USt 1Pt 6 1 u&?2~ A ligious groups Inter-Guild Pres- ident D. G. Palmer said they "look on the project as an opportunity to show our love for our neigh-