Kalamazoo College Alumnus (January, 1957)
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The largest percentage gain will assure a balanced operating was shown by the class of 1944- Fund Hits Record 2 budget for the fourth consecutive 1955, 23 '/o ; 1956, 50 % . The year and will enable the College to classes with 50 % or more response The Status Quo 3 continue the remodelling of fifty were 1916, 1924, 1926, 1944, 1901 four-year-old Bowen Hall. to 1903, 1912, 1919, 1920, 1914, Accent on the Knee 5 A listing of alumni donors whose and 1915. Dynamics of Capital ism 6 gifts were received prior to the clos You may spot the precentage of ing of this magazine begins on page participation of your class on the fol At Work on Anniversary 7 9. A followup report will appear in lowing ch<.rt. You still have time to the April Issue. do something about it! Summer in Vermont 8 To date, records show that 40 '/o 20'/o to 25% 1908, 1931, 1938 of the Kalamazoo College Alumni Annual Fund Donors 9 Association has contributed to the 26</o to 30% to 1900, 1918, 1928, 1941, 1949, 1951, 1952, Annual Fund. This all-time high 1953 Speaking of Books 14 can be compared to the 35% of 31 '/o to 35'/o 1907, 1921, 1927, 1932, last year, and also to the tremendous 1934, 1935, 1936, 1939, Sports 16 increase since 1952 and the 9 % 1940, 1947, 1948 participation that year. Further, in 36% to 40'/o 1910, 1911, 1917, 1923, Alumni News 17 1952, alumni gifts represented 20 '/o 1929, 1930, 1933, 1937, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1950, 1955, 1956 41 'I< to 45'/o 1909, 1913, 1922, 1925, FUND HITS RECORD 1945, 1954 46% to SO% 190-t, to 1906, 1916, 192-t, Grand Total : $117,830 1926, 1944 51 % to 55% 1901 to 1903, 1912, 1919, Alumni Participation : 40 % 1920 56% to 60% 1914 61% to 65% Pictured at the right, the leaders in the 66% to 70% 1915 Seventeenth Annual Fund were, left to right, Cha rl es J. Venema '33, advance gifts choir- man; Donald E. Bowen, general chairman; and Rolph M. Ro lston '16, alumni and gen eral division chairman. Hugh V. Anderson '43 and Paul J. Von Keuren '41 served as co-chairman of the latter division, and Al bert Van Zoeren '23 was M r. Venema's co chairman. ED ITOR: MARILYN HINKLE '44 ALUMN I PRES. HUGH V. ANDERSON '43 Member, American Alumni Council Published quarterly by the Kalamazoo Col lege Alumni Assoc ia tion and Kalamazoo Col lege, Kalamazoo, Mich. Entered as second class matter January 18, 1940, at the Post Office at Kalamazoo, Michigan, under the act of March 3, 1879. Published quarterly, January, April, July, and October. Subsc rip tion rote : One dollar per yea r. 2 KALAMAZOO COLLEG: 0 F ASS ET S A ND LABILITIES THE STATUS QUO By Dr. W eimer K. Hici<. :: uring the recent Annual Fund, which broke all rec bulge. Harvard University, wealthiest educational in Dords in number of donors and amount subscribed, stitution in the country, recently announced an ambi the chairman of the General Division received the fol tious fund-raising program of $75,000,000 to $100,- lowing letter from a loyal alumna now living on a 000,000 for the undergraduate college alone. Chicago teacher's pension: and Northwestern are undertaking development pro grams above the $35,000,000 figure. The status of "Enclosed herewith is a modest check for the Annual Kalamazoo, and all higher education, was aptly sum Fund. I am writing to explain my very small contribu tion- a mere drop in the bucket for those who must marized by Dr. Nathan Pusey, president of Harvard, think in millions of dollars. when he said, "The time has not come- will never come- when higher learning in America can properly I have been told that Kalamazoo College is one of the richest small colleges in the country. I am glad and I devote itself to the maintenance of positions won. Its do wish it well, but feel unable to be of much assistance." task is still to build, and the time is always now." Kalamazoo College will reach its 125th anniver After our chairman had read the letter and recognized sary in 1958, a significant milestone in the life of any the thought motivating the gift, he wrote a masterful institution. As the oldest college in the state, our reply: celebration will carry added connotations. On this Dear Friend: memorable occasion, do we not have a responsibility to take inventory of our needs and determine that we There is no need for you to explain what you call a "very small contribution" to Kalamazoo College. As a will answer them? former neighbor, I know of the many years you have The needs at Kalamazoo might be divided into devoted to teaching the youth of the city. I know, too, two categories. First, the adding of additional buildings that your continued interest in youth, as manifested by to your financial help in the Annual Fund, is but typical complete the "perfect" campus for a small liberal of the life of service to others which has been yours. arts college of restricted and selected enrollment. Kal In your note you say you have been told that Kalamazoo amazoo is fortunate in having only a limited number of College is one of the richest small colleges in the coun new physical requirements. No loyal alumnus or inter try. It is- but not in the way most people regard ested friend can be happy with the present crowded riches. dormitory situation. No one can be satisfied with the Kalamazoo College is rich in friends, rich in tradition, student union in Welles Hall nor the dining facilities as you well know, and rich in service. It has a record which now are sorely taxed, with the College still of achievement of its alumni which ranks it at the pin nacle of American college contributions to the American eighty students below the projected capacity of 630. way of life. Nor can we be content indefinitely with a gymnasium built in 1902, with a basketball court four feet nar Financially, Kalamazoo College is rather poor. Its endow ment is but a fraction of many colleges its size, although rower than regulation. And what about the music an effort is now being made to increase it. The bequest house and the auditorium at the third floor level of of Mrs. \Vallace brought the endowment funds back Bowen Hall? above the level of the early 1930's before the depression took its toll. But the interest yield from endowed funds There is also a second category of needs, labeled is now much less than formerly, and the buying power as endowment reserves. While our combined endow of these earnings is only a fraction of what it formerly ment and reserves will approach $3,000,000, they are was. insufficient to maintain an academic program commen So- Kalamazoo College will continue to need the good surate with the achievement of our graduates. We wishes, and the financial support of good friends like you. should have reserves approaching $10,000,000. In Thank you again for your contribution and for all the cluded in this category should be new professorships fine things you do in our community. to relieve the budgetary burden of faculty salaries, in Admiring regards, creased funds for the library, and an unlimited number Ralph Ralston of endowed scholarships which will make it possible for Chairman of General Division us to assist the worthy student. How can these concerns be answered? The expan In the lines of this letter our chairman succinctly sion of the physical plant should be made a primary analyzed the status quo of this College and many sim concentration of the 125th anniversary as we not only ilar institutions. All over America, colleges and univer pay tribute to the founding fathers but also determine sities are appraising their assets and liabilities and are that our service to students in the future may be greater projecting their thinking to the impending educational (Continued on Next Page) WIN T E R AL U M NU S, 1957 3 than our leadership of the past. The second category of needs, in the area NEW CAMPUS ADDITIO-NS of scholarships and endowments, can best be answered in the estate plan ning of alumni and friends. As we look in retrospect, legacies from two women, Miss Minnie Mandelle and Mrs. Winifred Dewing Wallace, have meant more to the financial stability of the College than any philanthropies in which the College has shared.