THE ALUMNI BUSINESS MEETINGS The preponderance of the old alumni, in influence at least, came out clearly in the subjects which absorbed the interest of both the forenoon and afternoon session of the Association. Easily foremost of these subjects was the preservation of old "College Hall." The rumor had circulated that this building was to be removed to make way for a new one, and earnest protests were voiced from all sides. It is not difficult to understand the affection of the old graduate for this building when we remember that until the middle 80's it was by far the most important building upon the campus. It contained the offices of the secretary and the president, and the library, chapel, and Young Men's Christian Association rooms were within it, as well as society and fraternity rooms, in addition to its designed use as a place for laboratories and classrooms. The building having been so largely the center of the old graduates' interest, the frequent expression that it was the "one landmark which reminded the early student and graduate of the early days at the college" was well within bounds. The resolution which a special committee reported, asking the state Board of Agriculture to retain this landmark, was therefore unanimously adopted. The "Alumni Advisory Council" was easily the topic of second interest to the members of the Association. The institution of this new college body has been somewhat belated, the idea having had its beginning fully ten years ago. The resolution of the State Board of Agriculture inviting the establishment of this council shows the designed sphere of the council and is as follows: RESOLUTIONS Resolved, That it is the unanimous belief of the members of this board that the continued prosperity and growth of this College will, of necessity, be largely dependent upon the loyal and practical support given it by the alumni; and that the best means of securing such support is to bring about a feeling of earnest and active co-operation between the state board and faculty, and the alumni. Be it further Resolved, That in accordance with the spirit manifested in the foregoing resolution, the State Board of Agriculture hereby suggests and recommends that at the business meeting of the alumni, to be held at the College on June 17, there be elected from the alumni an advisory council of six members, whose duty it shall be to confer together from time to time upon the general welfare of the institution. And finally, Be it Resolved by this board in regular session, that we hereby extend to such advisory council, as soon as it shall be organized, an invitation to meet with us, at least once each year, and as much oftener as said council shall consider desirable, for the purpose of mutual conference upon all matters pertaining to the work of the College. This ten-year-old invitation from the board was heartily accepted by the Alumni Association and directions were voted as to the method by which the new council should be constituted. Prolonged tardiness on the part of the alumni in creating this new board may prove indeed quite other than ominous to its future usefulness. The celerity with which the first council, consisting of R. S. Baker 1889, Eugene Davenport 1878, William Prudden 1878, George J. Jenks 1889, E. N. Pagleson 1889, and L. W. Watkins 1893, has organized for its purposes fairly atones for the delay. Subordinate in the interest which they aroused but scarcely so in importance were the additional topics which aroused discussion. Chief among them were the desirability of a permanent alumni secretary to be designated by the Board of Agriculture, the preparation of a history of the College through the authority of the Board of Agriculture, and the appointment of a memorial fund committee by the Advisory Council, all of which were recommended by the Alumni Association. A review of the proceedings of these notable meetings may close perhaps in no better way than with the final resolution proposed by the committee on resolutions and adopted by the association: That the alumni congratulate the people of the state that the institution has closed so long a period of honorable history. We all earnestly hope and believe that, while encouraging all forms of healthy activity, from the athletic field to the forum of practical affairs, the influence of the Michigan Agricultural College will always be for the highest attainable scholarship, upon which alone the enduring reputation of the institution may rest. The alumni officers for the ensuing triennial period are: EXECUTIVE Judge W. L. Carpenter 1875, President Professor P. M. Chamberlain 1888, Vice-President LITERARY Hon. C. W. Garfield 1870, Orator Mrs. Katherine C. Briggs 1893, Poet ALUMNI LUNCHEON Thursday Noon One of the most pleasant events of the week, as far as the alumni were concerned, was the luncheon served in the big tent on Thursday at noon to about 1,200 of the alumni and old students. Nothing elaborate in a menu was attempted, and yet an abundance of things good to eat was served. It was not eatables themselves, however, that made the luncheon such a decided success. The fact that 1,200 former college students and chums were eating together, grouped in classes, talking, joking, singing, and in these various ways living over again the good old college days in one great family picnic, was what made this feature of the program such an overwhelming success. On entering the tent alumni were informed: "Classes are numbered," and members of each class found a placard conspicuously planted as a rallying-center for them. In this way with ease and without the slightest confusion the old students were placed in an atmosphere entirely congenial and among old classmates, some of whom had not been seen since the college days. Many long-time mysteries were cleared up, and the missing links in many college romances were forged into the chain. The folly of serving beer in a dormitory was one of the topics of discussion in the 1883 camp, and 1884 was still chuckling over the way they put 1883 in the hole on the faculty investigation over Knapper's buggy. Tallman's pear-swiping expedition was brought to light by 1895, and "How a Lamb Was Led to (the) Drink" was under discussion in the camp of 1898. What became of the college bell will be revealed in 1957, along with other mysteries that develop and become the lifehistory of the institution, and are of necessity milestones in the lives of the student population. The paper napkins with the likeness of Dr. Beal, the surviving member of "the Old Guard," are treasures, and the menu booklet with its reminders of dear old Dr. Kedzie and of the college presidents was a pleasing feature of the occasion and is a valuable souvenir of the jolly, rollicking days that have passed into history, days in the institution which we all love. How many of us will meet again on the old campus at the next milestone? Assuredly not all and mayhap not many; but, old or young, let us all resolve firmly that "some time we'll wander back again." |