Department reports. 127 



nicnt time a grove was planted in their memory and a tablet containing 

 their names has been placed upon a field stone at the edge of the grove. 



Not only has the College made a wonderful showing in the number 

 of her sons that responded to the call of the nation but these men individu- 

 ally have carried themselves throughout the fighting on the allied line 

 in such a manner as to bring added honors to the brilliant record of the 

 institution. Between fifteen and twenty graduates and former students 

 have won decorations from the United States government and from 

 French and British governments for valor and distinguished service in 

 action. One of our men, Harold Furlong, with the class of 1918, was 

 awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor which is the highest reward 

 that the United States can give her soldiers. Less than fifty such decora- 

 tions were made during the war and to have an M. A. C. student receive 

 one of these is a distinct honor. 



The War History work that I have mentioned above now being undertaken 



in sequence of the collection of the war records of the individual soldiers 



and sailors of M. A. C, contemplates a historical recording of-the activities 



of the institution during the war and the war work that was carried 



on on the campus by the various departments. 



As a gift from the College and from the M. A. C. Association 980 men 

 were receiving the M. A. C. Record, the College weekly publication, 

 at the time of the armistice. That they appreciated this gift and that 

 it has won much favor for the College is shown by the many letters of 

 thanks which our men have sent in regarding it. 



The work of reorganizing the local alumni associations was taken up 

 immediately after the closing of the war and up to the first of June ten 

 of the branch M. A. C. Associations had reorganized and were back on a 

 pre-war basis. The mother association also demonstrated that it was re- 

 turning to a normal state through a reunion at commencement time, 

 June 11th, attended by over 500 enthusiastic graduates and former stu- 

 dents. Alumni support was solicited and bountifully given to the legis- 

 lative measures passed by the present legislature providing appropriations 

 for two new buildings for the campus. The alumni gave their active sup- 

 port and were largely responsible for bringing both measures to a successful 

 passage. 



The outstanding feature of the year's work has been the launching 

 of a campaign for a Union Memorial Building. A Union Building at 

 the College has been talked of for several years and with the close of 

 the war there was immediately presented the question of an appropriate 

 memorial to those men of ours who gave their lives in the great struggle 

 and to the men and women of the College who participated in it actively. 

 It appeared to the executive committee of the alumni organization that 

 the memorial could well take the shape of a Union Building and as such 

 be a permanent and verj^ useful commemoration to our war heroes. It 

 is the idea that the building will serve as a community and social center 

 for the campus and be a college home for students, alumni, faculty and 

 friends of M. A. C. The campaign was definitely launched at the Com- 

 mencement Alumni Luncheon and subscriptions amounting to $35,000 

 were made at that time which very firmly established the project. During 

 the coming year the organization work and a complete campaign of the 

 alumni and student body will be made with a goal of $150,000 in view for 

 a Union Memorial Hall. Respectfully submitted, 



C. W. McKIBBIN, 

 East Lansing, June 30, 1919. Alumni Recorder. 



