Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-05-04

On Monday. May 18th, 1916, the
president and board of trustees of
Alma college will start the biggest
endowment campaign that has ever
been undertaken by an educational
institution in the state of Michigan,
an endowment campaign for an ad-
ditional endowment of 100000 for
Alma college, bringing the total en-
dowment up TO one million dollars.
While Alma college with an endow-
ment of 100000 is one of the lead
ing sectarian college Of the Common
wealth of Michigan, II has not suf-
ficient funds to forge to the front
rank of the colleges, TO provide for
suitable buildings, which are to be
needed, to provide for better equip
ment for the college, and TO do numer-
Gus other things that are needed to
make Alma college che largest and
best of the non-state colleges.
For years Alma college has been
struggling along, managing TO make
both ends meet, and has been one of
the few of the sectarian colleges Of
Michigan that has not felt, and felt
strongly, the need of money to pay
bills long past due. A growing insti-
tuition needs, however, more money
than the Presbyterian college has;
much more, if it is to take the place
among the colleges of the state. to
which it is entitled by its superior
location, its faculty and its fine past
record.
With the location that Alma college
has it should be the leading sectarian
college of the state, snd with sue
cessful endowment campaign, there is
no logical reason, why Alma college
should not attain that place, and con-
tinue TO hold it against the strength
Of the other sectarian colleges, all of
whom are clustered near together in
Southern Michigan. In Central and
Northern Michigan, Alma college is
the only college granting am A. b. de-
gree, and is the only institution of its
kind in either central or northern
Michigan. normal schools and the
Michigan College of Mines excepted.
Southern Michigan has number OF
colleges, all close together, so that the
territory from which they draw is very
limited to that from which Alma col
lege should draw from.
A circle with fifty mile radius
with Alma as its center, would include
some of the finest counties of the state
which have a combined population OF
nearly 100000 people, and from prac-
tically all of this territory as well as
the vast expanse to the north, in-both
lower and upper peninsulas. Alma
should draw far better than she does
now. Alma is handler to those ter
ritories with better railroad connect
ions. Alma is the logical college foI
the people of this territory.
If Alma college is 20 serve the peo-
pie Of this vast country to the north
as it should, bigger and better Alma
college is needed; hence the starting
of the big endowment campaign OF
May 18th, through which it is ex
pected that 100000 will be realized
with which to make Alma college alb
solutely the strongest and best sec
tartan college of Michigan, and one
that can fill the wants of the people
form all this portion of Michigan.
That the work of raising an addeS
endowment of 100000 for Alma col
lege is a big affair has been realized
from the first by the board of trustees
of Alma college, and a date has beer
set two years ahead, two years TO th'
day, at which time the big campaign
is to come to a close; and none wh'
are acquainted with Alma college, it
past, its present and its hopes for th'
J future, have any doubt as to the com
ing success, which will crown the ef
| forts of the campaigners.
Last June when DR.. Thos c. Blais
dell resigned as president of Alma col
lege to accept the Deanship of th'
Department of Liberal Arts at Penn
! State University, the board Of trus
tees, with the endowment In view, ex
tended themselves to find man L
head Alma college as its president
who not only had brilliant record a
a college president, but man capabl
of directing and overseeing cam
paign, such as this one was to be. tn
records of man after man were gon
over, and finally after some month
of deliberation, the board of trustee
found a man way out in far off Ore
gon who had a record built like tha
of the man to head Alma college. Thi
man had proven a winner in the wesi
having built up Albany college, Al