Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1951-12-01
Tenn. State A 81
Elevated To
University Status
Ey WILLIAM GORDON

NASHVILLE, Tenn. During
what was referred to as one of
the most colorful occasions of the
decade here Wednesday, the Ten
nessee A. and |. State College was
officially elevated to the status of
4 university.
Headed by energetic DR.. Walter
F. Davis, who is himself an alum
nus of the school, the college has
grown from plant valued at three
million five hundred thousand dol
lars to a ten million dollar insti-
tuition during the past seven years
Governor Gordon Browning, at
the convocation ceremonies, praised
the work of DR.. Davis and his
staff and said the states newest
university will soon be training
young Negroes from all sections of
the country for top roles of lead
ership. Governor Browning termed
the venture in education the con-
summation of ga thirty-nine-year-
old dream and an honor that stu
dents from other states should be
proud Of" This is another step
forward in the field of education
in this state" Governor Browning
said. He further stated that ''tha
three enemies of progress, intoler-
ance, injustice and ignorance must
be eradicated before real gains are
made by society"
In paying tribute to DR.. Davis,
the Governor said: "Under the
leadership of the present admin
istration, the philosophy of the in
stitution has created a university
second to none in this area" He
further stated that the legislatures
appropriation for the schools bud
get merely provided an avenue
of expression of the real school,
born in the hearts of people who
have interpreted what was in the
hearts of other people"
DR.. Davis, IN responding to Gov
ernor Browning's speech, praised
him as "a great governor" and
said that the states Chief Execu-
tive's struggle to elevate the col
lege to university status is merely
one phase of his liberal program
of progress including betterment
of economic and social conditions
Of the populace.
State education officials praised
DR.. Davis for his ability to carry
the school from a moderate college
to a higher level of university.
j. S. Barksdale, State Commission
er of Education, said: at is with
pleasure that we mark the turning
point Of A and I. from a college
into a fuller, more enriching status
of a university"
Walter c. Robinson, representing
East Tennessee, said the late w.
j. Hale, president of the institu-
ton who served until his death in
l943, served the school more than
"i ~ yN"io 90 SuIulIlS genius
and that its present leader, DR..
Davis, has done more than wonders
II lifting the institution to its
present high level.
DIR. Davis terms the university S
program as one which will sub
scribe for full utilization of the
states natural resources while de-
veloping them to the point where
they can best DE used by all citi-
zens. He believes that the thor
cugh training of Negro youth will
go long ways in contributing 20
the progress of the state. America
and civilization as a whole.
The growth of Tennessee A. and
|. University since 1915 at which
time President Davis mas been
evaluated through the develop
nent of certain departments in
the institution.
There were approximately one
hundred courses taught in the fall
CT 1913 as against 632 now being
offered by the institution. Under
the present plan four schools are
being set up. These schools are
arts and sciences, education, en-
gineering and the graduate school,
each being headed by chairman.
Under the present operation, the
areas of agriculture and some eco
Monies are in the schools Of arts
and sciences and the area of bust
ness is in the school of education.
According to university officials,
these schools will later become sep
arate departments. During the
past seven years student enroll
ment has increased from 1856 to
upwards of 1000 in the fall of 1851.