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DEPARTMENT REPORTS. St 



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lu^The Legislature of 1919, after appointing a committee to investigate 

 the systemj^of^accounting and general financial administration of the 

 College and finding that the methods employed in the Secretary's office 

 were entirely adequate, turned their attention to the needs of the institu- 

 tion and after__^careful investigation by the committees from both houses, 

 unanimously passed a bill granting a total of $180,000.00 for the support 

 of Extension work, also $560,000.00 for the expense involved in the erection 

 - of a new Library and Office building combined and also an adequate 

 Auditorium, 



On April Gth, Ex-President William Howard Taft delivered his lecture 

 upon the League of Nations before the College in the new Gynmasium. 

 President Taft's arrival in the city afforded an opportunity for the Legis- 

 lature to invite his appearance before that body where earlier in the day 

 he discussed the League and its underlying principles before them. 



As a result of our spring Military inspection by the officer detailed 

 from the Government, the R. O. T. C. Unit was found in such good 

 condition, due to the untiring efforts of Major Wrightson, that M. A. C. 

 was for the first time placed in the class of "Distinguished Colleges" by 

 action of the War Department. 



On June 10th, the College was visited by a delegation from the State 

 of Arkansas headed by the Governor, C. H. Brough, of that state and em- 

 bracing many citizens of prominence. The day was spent in the inspection 

 of the College and its equipment which appealed so strongly to these 

 gentlemen that they have, since their visit to us, made efforts to separate 

 the Agricultural section from the University of Arkansas and establish 

 it in a region which is better suited to its development than it now occupies. 



Among the usual pleasant activities of Commencement an innovation 

 was instituted consisting of a Pageant, the essential idea of which was 

 the historical development of America from the earliest times to the pres- 

 ent. Assistant Professor Norma Gilchrist Roseboom of the English 

 department devised the plot of the Pageant and was assisted by the 

 staff of the Home Economics Division. All the young w^omen in the 

 College participated. 



Commencement day we graduated a class of one hundred and nine 

 persons. With those receiving diplomas were members of the Senior 

 Class who owing to the war had not completed their college work. The 

 Baccalaureate address was delivered by Rev. William W. Atkinson of 

 Detroit, Chaplain of the 119th Field Artillery. The Commencement 

 address, "Yesterday and Tomorrow," was given by Dr. Robert M. Wenley 

 of the Department of Philosophy of the University of Michigan. 



In closing this chronicle I desire to express a deep feeling of gratitude 

 for the fidelity and earnestness with which every member .of the College 

 has carried on during these most trying years. 



Respectfully submitted, 



FRANK S. KEDZIE, 



President. 

 June 30, 1919. 



