The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-26
M E N f, w o M E N
A ND T HIN G S

had something to say about alumni
day and the alumni banquet at.the Uni
versity of Alabama, and now l want to
tell a little about the commencement I
never saw the campus at the university
look so enhancing. 1 unhesitatinsly
say that it stands in class by Itself,
and that the oaks of the university are
far more beautiful than the elms Of
Yale.
found myself constantly in state
of ecstasy as l stood beneath the wide
spreading branches, and the towering
trunks lifted their heads proudly in
the sky as If fully conscious that they
were truly kings with histories dating
back to the days of the virginia. forest
when Tuscaloosa roamed through the
grounds since made famous by Ala
bama's great seat of learning
Not only did the campus show to
great advantage, but the background
Of buildings were most impressive. 1t
was hard for me to realize that when
entered the university the only build
ings were Woods hall, the little round
office on the campus and the historic
old observatory, with here and there
the quaint old homes occupied by the
faculty, and the stately ante-bellum
mansion of the president.
But what changel Today there are
hill liye
housing the various departments, and
yet in spite of their number and size
there is a loud and insistent cry for
more to take care Of the growing insti-
tuition which has had a marvellous
growth during the decade of Dr. George
ii. Denny's administration. 1t was
matter of deep pleasure and genuine
qualification that his annual report was
such a splendid one in spite of the
serious indisposition which had over
taken him during the year.
I heard him speak at the alumni
banquet with all of his oldtime fire,
and his many friends were glad to note
the great improvement in his health
and strength. but 1 am sure that Rob
ert Jemison, Sr., voiced the sentiment
of the trustees, faculty, alumni, stu
dent body, patrons and friends of the
university when with feeling he said,
THE most important thing before US
all is to see to it that DIR. Denny has
period of rest so that he can come
back to his tasks in the fall refreshed
from his summers recreation.
I looked upon the university when 1
entered it merely in the light of col
lege in which one had the chance to
development In the schools has been as
marked as the change in the number
of buildings, as each new structure
came into being to house some new de-
partment of learning, until at present
the courses presented cover a wide
range and are abreast of the best Of
fered by the great institutions of the
land.
In spite Of the number of buildings
erected within my memory and since
my stay at the university, there is an
urgent demand for library, for sep
arate buildings for chemistry, medicine,
law, commerce, education, social serv-
ice, class rooms, home economics, min
ing engineering, music and fine arts,
dining hall, gymnasium for women,
dormitories, and power plant. To carry
out this building programme will re-
quire several million dollars, and 1 hope
to see the day when every one named
will adorn the campus.
We must cease to think OF the uni
versity in small terms. The call is for
wider vision. The demand for
trained men and women is pressing. If
the state Is in the business of educa-
ton it ought to see to 1t that the ambi-
tious boys and girls who make their
way through the grammar grades and
are promoted to the high schools shall
have the opportunity to finish in the
higher schools of learning. A democ-
racy which hopes to live and meet the
demands put upon it must educate the
people.
In my day there were only several
hundreds students at the university,
and yet on Tuesday I sat on the plat
form and saw DR.. Denny hand out 200
diplomas to the graduating classes in
the various schools. Think of it. The
total number of students registered in
all departments during the last scho-
lastic year reached the grand total OF
2,319, 1000 more than the whole stu
dent body when I entered the university
in 1885. This in spite of the fact that
from time to time the entrance require
ments have been raised. These. simple
facts ought to be enough to create in
the minds of every thinking man and
woman in Alabama that the university
is a most valuable asset in the training
of men and women for service in their
respective walks of life.
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