DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 20 



cost from |12,000.00 to |15,000.00, and will no doubt be an ornament to 

 our campus. 



The college is very much in need of additional buildings. A million 

 dollars could be very appropriately expended within the next five years. 

 Such an outlay would not be extravagance, but would simply meet the 

 demands which arc pressed upon us by the rapid increase of students. 



It has been the policy of the college first of all to provide such room 

 as is necessary, in order that the students may receive high grade in- 

 struction. This re((uired additional laboratories and recitation rooms. 

 It was felt that these should 1)e provided first — hence, to meet these 

 demands, the engineering building and the agricultural building have 

 been erected at a cost of something like s:UM),OO0.()0. Other needs, how- 

 ever, are very pressing. Our library which is of exceptional merit, is 

 housed in very cramped quarters, and in a l)uilding which is liable to 

 burn at any time. On account of lack of room, we are comi^elled to 

 store a large number of books in other buildings. Our students can 

 not secure anything like the full benefit of our library and reading room 

 as long as it remains in its present quarters. The danger from fire is a 

 constant source of anxiety to all concerned. We are also greatly in 

 need of an auditorium. Our chapel will accommodate less than 2,5 per 

 cent of our students. The armory, which serves for drill purposes, as 

 well as for social functions, can be used as an auditorium only at great 

 inconvenience, and at best is very unsatisfactory. The college should 

 also have a gymnasium. It is doubtful Avhether there is another col- 

 lege in the country of the same size and importance, which is not pro- 

 vided with a building for this purpose. A gymnasium building would 

 provide a place for holding social functions, particularly society parties. 

 It is the desire of the faculty to center the social life of the institution 

 on the campus. A gymnasium with ]>arlors, would to a large degree 

 provide satisfactory quarters for the holding of social functions. At 

 present the armory is entirely inadequate to meet all the demands 

 made upon it, and other quarters should be provided at the earliest 

 possible date. The social life of the student body is very important, 

 and should be })rovided for with almost as great care as the instruc- 

 tional side of their work. The action of the Board prohibiting the erec- 

 tion of society houses makes it very desirable that additional dormitory 

 accommodations be provided for young nu'U in the near future. Such 

 a building will pay fair interest on the investment, and at the same 

 time provide very comfortable quarters for the students at a small cost. 

 The increase in the attendance of young women will make it very de- 

 sirable to build the additional wing to the women's building as soon 

 as possible. 



During the past year, special eftorts have been put forth by the col- 

 lege to render assistance to the farmers of the state. The Department 

 of Agricultural Education has organized a Farm Home Reading Circle, 

 which bids fair to interest a large number of people. During the past 

 year 103 persons have taken the reading prescribed by this course. 

 This department has ah\'ays put forth a vigorous effort to introduce 

 the teaching of agriculture into high schools. One high sch.ool has had 

 a department of agriculture in oiKMation during the past year. It ^yas 

 in charge of one of our graduates and has been eminently successful. 

 Next vear five other liigli schools will introduce the teaching of agricul- 



