1949 THE MICHIGAN DAILY M ichigane. Story (Continued from Page 6) He made his proposals to the Regents, and it appeared at first that the University College would be fairly easily achieved. In 1926 a faculty committee was appointed to study the plan, and it soon announced a reason- a ly liberal compromise: it called for the creation of a University College, provided that the neces- sity of an undergraduate entering it would be waived in cases where 'jeopardy" to the student's pur- poses could be shown. BUT THE LITERARY college called the plan too costly, and the engineering college claimed that the welfare of its students would be jeopardized. This bickering continued with little decisive action taken either for or against the scheme, and President Little grew progres- sively more and more irritated by what he seemed to regard as deliberate obstructions tactics. It became apparent that if the plan was adopted at all, it would be only in highly modified form. In spite of the generally dis- appointing aspect of the Little years, several notable reforms were accomplished. The President in- stituted a "Freshman Week" at the beginning of each term during which incoming students were given an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the University. A success from the start, the pro- gram has survived to the present time - although it is currently felt that the period is unnecessar- ily long. * * * MEANWHILE, the students - reflecting the generally: "fast" way of living in the later Twen- ties - were roaring about the countryside in increasingly pow- erful cars, like the popular Stutz Bearcat. The inevitable cost of such laxity was a tragic toll of deaths and injuries. President Burton had tried in vain to throw the responsibility for the situation on the parents, and President Little, finding conditions abso- lutely intolerable, tiok decisive action. At first, the University simply denied driving privileges to under- classmen. WHEN THIS DID NOT result in a noticeable decrease in the num- ber of accidents, the present over- all ban was instituted on June 17, 1927. Although students at first vig- orously attacked the decision, sense soon replaced temper and all concerned agreed that the move was well-advised. President Little became keen- ly interested in a series of in- terdenominational services con- ducted Sunday mornings in Hill Auditorium by a group of stu- dents impatient with the more formal church worship. For some weeks, the project was highly successful, and numerous nationally prominent clergymen were brought to Ann Arbor. Eventually, however, apathy re- placed enthusiasm and the pro- ject failed. The Little administration was not devoid of other significant in- novations; the present highly use- ful Bureau of Appointments and Occupational Information had its beginning in 1926. *f * * PRESIDENT LITTLE was also responsible for a survey of Uni- versity athletic and physical ed- ucation facilities. The readily ap- parent inadequacies of the plant encouraged a bond issue, which made possibly the construction of Michigan Stadium - first used in the fall of 1927, the Intramural Building, and the Women's Ath- letic Field and Building. A significant academic devel- opment was the founding of the School of Forestry and Conser- vation in 1927 on existing liter- ary college foundations: the De- partment of Library Science be- came an official part of the University in 1926. Education by radio was also in- troduced during the Little admin- istration. * * * BUT IN SPITE of these succes- ses, the University as a whole was not yet ready to accept President Little's greatest plan - the Uni- very College. Today's general pro- gram of undergraduate study, re- serving the junior and senior years for concentration, demonstrates the University's eventual absorp- tion of most of the progressive president's program. Angry and disillusioned, Dr. Little tendered his resignation on Jan. 21, 1929. And in spite of the general disappointment his years had held, the Regents summed up the prevailing 4ew of his departure when they said: "His high ideal of educational standards, his initiative, his con- structive aspirations, his frank- ness, courage, and sincerity have' made the severing of relationships a heartfelt loss to us all." Ruthven and Today ... Where each previous University administration had shown one central theme of achievement, the years of President Alexander G. Ruthven have combined all of these - and on an unparalleled scale. Before World War II historians viewed Dr. Ruthven's vast initial program of administrative and academic addition, division, and simplification as the theme of his period. And, even though. recent years have necesstated a modification of this view, the early reorganiza- tion accomplished by the Ruthven administration still remains an impressive achievement. * * * DR. RUTHVEN had been assoc- iated with the University for some years preceding his election to the presidency - most recently as Dean of Administration - and undoubtedly had a better under- standing of Michigan's problems and shortcomings when he enter- ed office than did any of his pred- ecessors. Thus, when the furor aroused by President Little's University College plan had died down, the new president set about some reform of unquestioned neces- sity. He proceeded from the premise that the Michigan presidency held more responsibility than one man' could adequately handle. Thus, there was a gradual distribution of executive authority to others - along executive-and-cabinet lines. AMONG THE OFFICES im- mediately created were three vice- presidencies in charge of various broad administrative fields, and a director of alumni relations. In 1938, the first Provost was ap- pointed - an official to carry out certain presidential functions. To soften the old line of de- marcation between the faculty and administration in the col- leges and schools, Dr. Ruthven institutedexecutive committees which included not only the dean, but also members ofthe faculty. Not the least of Dr. Ruthven's accomplishments was in the lit- erary college where he gradually transformed an "academic mon- strosity" into an orderly and well- divided organization of depart- ments. h o f!!!71 Ij WELCOME TO ANN ARBOR To the new Students - Welcome! To the "Old" - Welcome Back! RAMSEY-CANFIELD, Inc. are well equipped to take care of your PRINTING REQUIREMENTS r *I * * I' " STATIONERY " TICKETS " POSTERS " PROGRAMS " INVITATIONS OF ALL KINDS " BOOKLETS " HANDBILLS " BUSINESS FORMS RAMSAY-CANFIELD, Inc. STATIONERS - PRINTERS - ENGRAVERS 119 E. Liberty - Phone 7900 THERE WERE OTHER prac- tical reforms and simplifications on every side - in the schools and colleges, in the administration, and even in such fields as alumni re- lations. But the beginning of Presi- dent Ruthven's administration was marked with something more than a University reform of unprecedented vastness; he assumed office almost simultan- eusly with thestart of a great national depression. The effects of the market crash were not long in striking Ann Arbor. There was an almost im- mediate drop in enrollment as hard-pressed parents began pull- ing their sons and daughters out of college. Nor was it long be- fore the University itself assumed its share of the nation's financial insecurity. There were drastic cuts in the school's income in 1932-33, followed by general - but cautious - trimming of ex- penses wherever it was possible. BECAUSE OF THE considered and intelligent policy taken by the administration, the University community as a whole weathered the extended crisis with a mini- mum of damage. But for individ- r r q w ON CAMPUS Good Hotel Accommodations FIREPROOF Every Room Air Conditioned WILLIAM T. 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