MEMORI[AL §TAIIJ)I[UM DlEDHCATHON November Fifteenth Nineteen Hundred and Twenty-four ][LLINO][§ versus M][NNE§OTA II Statistics Of Wodd War Service II ~ UNIVERSITY of MINNESOTA Killed in Action 53 Lives lost 98 Undergraduates in Service : 1350 Alumni and Former Students in Service .. 2177 Faculty in war work (military and administrative) 125 Total 3527 Collegiate S.A.T.C. 3252 Vocational S.A.T.C. 2931 Total 6183 Grand total, University of Minnesota 9710 STATE OF MINNESOTA Number in Service 118000* Lives lost 3500* ' * Estimated from incomplete compilations by Minnesota War Records Commission Down thankful centuries they press- Then carve upon a silent sky These dead at country's call; The prayer they surely give: For men they were, and would no less That we, who reap the victory, Than offer up their all. May learn like men to live. President Lotus D. Coffman The New Stadium-What and Why By LOTUS D. COFFMAN President of the University HE SPLENDID MEMORIAL which we dedicate today commem­ T orates the l!nstinte~ s~rvic: and sacrifice. of Minnesota~s who have given their hves In war for their country. It IS a monument to the University men and women who died, and also. to all from this great state who made the final sacrifice . It is a memorial not only to those whose lives were part of the W orid War's cost, but to all Minnesotans, in that or other wars, whose loyalty to the United States of America has been expressed in terms that are perfectly unmistakable. To be wholly adequate as a memorial, the Stadium must . serve living generations effectively, besides preserving a realiza­ tion of the gallantry of those who fell. It must contribute to the maintenance of moral and physical standards in keeping with the code of those it symbolizes. Their influence will ' be continued in the benefits this structure brings to succeeding gen­ erations, just as their sacrifices have assured for the time being the safety of those who remain. The Stadium will make a tremenduous contribution to University unity and spirit when it brings our thousands of students together at a moment when they are inspired by a common enthusiasm. It will contribute to Minnesota spirit in the state-wide as well as the campus-wide sense. But to ful­ fill its possibilities, it must be more than the arena for exciting and colorful games. It must contribute directly to the well­ being of all the students in the University. This result will be obtained through the support of a campus-wide program of physical education and beneficial ex­ ercises such as will be made increasingly possible from the funds which this playing field is certain to produce. Football is not for the few, although, in the last analysis, those who actually take part in the games are a small percentage of the male en­ rollment. With the Stadium' an accomplished fact, the; time ' has come when we can increase the attention we pay to the physi­ cal training of every student. It is true that intercollegiate athletics are expensive. It is not necessary to defend them on the ground that they make possible the larger program of physical education and exercise for all. The fact is, however, whatever argument one employs, that the Stadium will make this larger program possible, and will in that way contribute directly to the health and wholesomeness of every person who enrolls at the University of Minnesota. The New Home of Minnesota's Major Sports The University of Minnesota's Stadium This airplane view of the new University of Minnesota Memorial Stadium was taken just a few days before the con­ tractor pronounced the job complete. The open end is toward old Northrop Field. The curve at the far end towers above Oak street. The Stadium has a seating capacity of 50,200. A quarter mile cinder track runs between the actual play­ ing field and the foot of the structure. A description of the entire plant is to be found elsewhere in this booklet. A Speculation In Minnesota Spirit By ALBERT S. MORSH LUMNI returning to the Home-. bilities of such a project developed into A coming in 1922 found a campus spirited interest. Then Charles F. Keyes, aflame with spirit. The successful president of the Alumni association, sud­ stadium-auditorium campaign in which denly rose to his feet. In words that left students and faculty subscribed $650,000" no doubt of their sincerity, he proposed that had just closed. On Northrop field, where faculty, students and alumni pledge them­ thousands assembled for the Gopher-Badger selves to raise a $2,000,000 stadium-auditor­ game, huge, two-foot letters proclaimed the ium fund. Unanimous adoption of the reso­ tidings. Everywhere there was talk of lution was the answer of the gathering. Minnesota spirit and loyalty and every old­ The first steps had been taken to place the timer sensed the change. It was a glorious University of Minnesota on equal footing awakening and the story of its accomplish­ with other Big Ten Colleges. ment is one well worth repeating. A committee with Thomas F. Wallace, I t was at a meeting of Minnesota alumni '93, at its head, and composed of the follow­ in May, 1921, that the idea of a future ing men, was immediately appointed: stadium first had its inception. Representa­ William D. Mitchell '95, E. B. Pierce '04, tive Minnesotans from over the entire John S. Pillsbury '00, George H. Partridge United States had assembled to witness the '79, N. Robert Ringdahl '09, F"red B. Snyder inauguration of Lotus D. Coffman as fifth '82, Charles Sommers '90, Chas. F. Keyes president of their alma mater. The group '96, Charles G. Ireys '00, Douglass A. Fiske consisted of men from every college and '91, Joseph Chapman '97, President L. D. school in the University. They had the Coffman, Dr. F. W. Braasch '03, James F. best interest of the institution at heart and Bell '01, S. D. Andrews '96. realized that the University of Minnesota During the summer of 1921 the commit­ was handicapped due to inadequate athletic tee drew up preliminary plans for the drive facilities. The old armory, built in 1896, that was to come as soon as conditions seated fewer persons than are now enrolled would warrant. A list of every person that in the S. L. A. College. A financial depres­ ever attended the University of Minnesota, sion, country-wide in its scope, had com­ was compiled. Removal of the N. P. tracks pelled a friendly legislature to cut down was arranged and a location for the stadium appropriations at a time when registration discussed. was leaping upward. Plainly it was time The summer of 1922 brought with it a for the army of graduates to come to the relaxation of the economic grip and October assistance of their school. was set for the "kick-off" in the drive for At the banquet following President Coff­ funds. It was then that the Greater man's installation on lVIay 14, 1921, several University Corporation was forrried with speakers had talked enthusiastically of a Thomas F. Wallace as president. With the new sports arena for Minnesota. As co-operation of campus and faculty assis­ speaker after speaker held forth the possi- tants plans were speedily drawn. Thomas Phelps, a senior in the academic college, was nouncement made between halves that the named as student chairman while Otto S. $500,000 goal had been passed and that Zelner, assistant professor of engineering, students and faculty had pledged a total was placed in charge of the faculty cam­ of $650,000. No alumnus present that day paign. With the Minnesota Union serving will forget the thrill that came as he as headquarters the basis of a thorough realized that struggling students and hard publicity campaign on the campus and out working faculty had actually promised to was organized. William Bromowitz, former give from their limited resources, a sum editor in chief of the Minnesota Daily, was greatly in excess of half a million dollars. selected to head the advertising group. N or did loyal alumni permit the challenge Under the leadership of Perry Moore of to go unheeded. In April a state-wide drive the Law among former school, an ag­ students and regation 0 f graduates, 100 four-min­ swung in t 0 ute men was motion. A picked. These tremendous · speakers pep fest was called on all again staged classes as well on the campus as upon every and on April, campus club 21, the Satur­ and gathering, day preceding spreading the the opening of gospel of a the state cam­ stadium-audi­ paign, 5 , 0 0 0 torium for students lead Minnesota. by "Prexy" Faculty Coffman, meetings, wound their class gather- noisy way ings and mass convocations followed in the downtown through the loop district and interest of the project. Schools tried to back. It was a verile manifestitation of outdo one another in fostering devotion to undying devotion to a cause well begun and the idea of a 100 per cent response. Lyman Pierce '92, an expert in directing it had the desired effect. Before a month large campaign funds, came back to his had passed the accumulated pledges had alma mater on October 8, assuming full reached the imposing total of $1,600,000. direction of the undertaking. With Thomas The entire state knew, and the outside Phelps as helmsman, the 1500 were formed. Team captains were appointed and person­ world realized, that the loyal army of de­ nel selected.