Western Michigan University Alumni Magazine (1938-1942)

Western Michigan University Year 1939

Alumni Magazine Vol. 2 No. 2

Western State Teachers College Western Michigan University

This paper is posted at ScholarWorks at WMU. http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/alumni magazine/14 The Alumni Magazine Western State Teachers College

Entered as second-class matter A pril 7, 1938, at the post office at Kalamazoo, Michigan, under the A ct of March 3, 1879. Volume 2 Quarterly Publication-July, 1939 Number 2 Commencement Time . in 1939

Tuesday, May 16-Senior Swing Out Tu esday, June 6-Senior C lass Day Saturday, June I 0-June Breakfa st Saturday, June 17-Alumni Day 12:00 A lumn i Luncheon-Ballroom, Un ion Bui lding (Th is is the one time of the year when alumni, faculty members, and members of the Senior Class may be together.) 2:30 P. M. A lumni vs. Varsi ty Ba se- ball Game at the Hyames Field (Last year more alumni, fo rmer base- ball men, we re in unifo rm than on any p revious occasion . Th ere were mo re spectators in the bleachers, too, than eve r before.) " 5:00 P. M. Group Gatherings (Places to be announced.) 9:00 ·P. M. Annual Alumni Party (G raduates of Western! This number of the Magazine is a personal invitation to you to be present.)

Sunday, June 18-Baccalaureate Dr. Charles W. Gilkey, Dean of the Un iversi ty Chapel, University of Chicago, will gi_ve the Baccalaur- eate Address.

Monday, June 19-Commencement Dr. Lester K. Ade, State Commis- sio ner of Education, Harrisburg, Pen nsylvania, will deliver th~ Com- men ce ment Address .

The photo-stories on this page include building developments on the campus as of May 15, 1939-The Dwight B. Waldo Memorial Stadium, the Hyames Field, the Men's Dormitory, the Health and Personnel Building , and Walwood Hall for Women . So:ntething to Do for Western Carries Its Ow-n Appeal

sary building-and-grounds' adjust- must go on. Since the writing of Western State Teachers College is ments. the history of Western State Teach- thirty-five years old. It was founded The completion of the present ers College ten years ago, when the in 1904 by act of the Michigan Legls- schedule will add approximately enrollment was approximately 2,000 lature, and 1939 marks its thirty-fifth 2,000,000 cubic feet to the structures students, a look at the average at- birthday. A decade has gone by since on the campus. There are the Union tendance reveals some noteworthy the twenty-fifth anniversary celebra- Building, the Women's Dormitory, a facts. If a visual graph be made and tion in 1929. At that time a history Men's Dormitory, a Student Health the numbers scattered along on it, of the institution was written by Dr. and Personnel Building, and the com- the figure looks like a new moon, or James 0. Knauss of the social science plete rebuilding of the out-door plant a crescent. At the 1929-30 end the department. It is in it, that factual for physical education which includes references may be obtained for the a Baseball Grandstand and a Foot- first twenty-five years. Since 1929 OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT ball Stadium seating 2500 and 15,000 many significant things have happen- people respectively. These, added to ed- the first president has become Dear Alumni: the permanent housings which were president-emeritus, Dr. Paul V. San- I have been watching with a great deal of constructed before 1925, comprise gren, former Dean of Administration, interest the progress of the Waldo Stadium cam- classroom, laboratory, library, and paign among the alumni of Western State Teach- was inaugurated President of West- pllysical education facilities available ers College. There have been many encouraging ern State Teachers College, Novem- experiences in connection with this campaign. now and in the near future. Tlle im- ber 7, 1936, graduate study is now Many alumni have been most generous in their mediate campus of about seventy being offered, and an extensive build- efforts and in their financial contributions to the acres, tlle Kleinstuck wild life pre- campaign. There has been a wide spread of small ing program is being carried on. serve of fifty acres, and the farm of contributions on the part of a large number of 14 9 acres are the properties of West- people. However, the returns have been coming No Buildings Since 1925 in much more slowly than we had hoped. I am ern State Teacllers College. most anxious that the alumni raise every dollar When referring to the present of the ten thousand proposed in this campaign building program, it should be under- A College More Than Buildings because we need it and because of unfavorable stood that the units recently com- But a college is more than its inferenq.es in case of failure to raise it. As I pleted, and those now under construc- look at it, the alumni dare not fail because faii- physical properties. The vitally im- ure would be ever remembered as an evidence tion, have been made possible through portant factor of any college is its of the type of support which might be expected frderal work relief agencies together personnel. Faculty members with dis- in case of any need on the part of your Alma with local contributions and self- tinct contributions to make, with Mater. liquidating bond issues. Not since forceful personalities to share, and Let's put is over as a demonstration of our contention that the alumni are really for West- 1925 has the State constructed any witll kindly sympathetic attitudes to- ern State. permanent buildings on the campus. ward student life cannot be over- Sincerely yours, Some temporary units have been estimated. Their influence is more built, the S. A. T. C. Barracks have permanent than buildings. They are Paul V. Sangren President bE;en utilized, and an abandoned mill remembered. Even an annual budget has been made to assist in providing ot expenditures indicates the impor- average attendance was 2,221. In the space for an ever increasing enroll- tance of personal services but it may trough of the depression about five ment. For the past sixteen years in no wise be able to adequately do so. years later, 1933-34, only 1,505 stu- there has been a lapse in the building It is true that faculties do change. dents were on the campus. Since that program and as a result Western Accident, death, retirement, and there has been a steady increase until State Teachers College is poorly many other reasons cause faculty the 1938-39 point is the highest with equipped physically. There is no audi- members to go, but what graduate an average attendance of 2,475. At- torium where all of its students may is there who does not return and in- tendance at a college being the best assemble at one time, many depart- quire about them? The faculty of reason for existance makes Western ments are carrying on without ade- Western State Teachers College is no State Teachers College obligated to quate facilities, and much work is exception. Its members have left and plan for the young people who seek being done in accommodations which are leaving indelible impressions. a re not safe, hygienic, or economical. admission. To correct these conditions, requests Students, the Important Factor The Alumni Are Included are now before the Legislature for But the most evident reason for There is another group which a combined auditorium and classroom the existance of a college is the op- must be included within the circum- building for 1939-40, the completion portunity it affords for youth to have ference of the meaning of a college. of the Industrial Arts unit in 1940-41, a chance to learn. Colleges exist for The product of any college is its and some other immediately neces- students. In a democracy education alumni. Western State Teachers Col- lt.ge has more than 14,000 graduates. a clear pointing out of something to have been delivered. The material Western's alumni are in every state b<' done. The Dwight B . Waldo Mem- being used for seating is an expensive of the United States and in eleven 0rial Stadium planning is an illustrn- item. Redwood, all the way from foreign countries. They have gone tion. California, is being installed- 40,000 away from the campus to carry out Circumstances are familiar to us. feet of it. These items all have to do the very programs for which they \~iestern State Teachers College has with actual construction to say noth- were trained on the campus. Intelli- had inadequate out-door facilities for ing of the necessary grading and con- gent citizenship is a weighted duty athletics and physical education for touring. The truth is that hills have in a democracy and education must a long time. Good reasons for the been pushed back and valleys have result in functional processes for bet- relocation of U. S. highway number b

Dedication Dwight B. Waldo Stadiuin November 4, 1939 18 Homecoming Time WSTC of Michigan vs. Kentucky WSTC