Evening star., 1952-10-27
Planners Slash
Fund Requests
0fMary|and U.
Dormitory Program
Approved by Board as
Separate Bond Issue
By J.~L. MichoeI
Stor Stoff Correspondent

Stor Stoff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Oct. 81. - The
State Planning Commission has
recommended to Gov. McKeldin
and Budget Director James G.
Rennie that the University of
Maryland receive $5.4 million for
currently needed facilities instead
Of the requested $17.2 million.
Topping the approved list was
the request for funds to solve a
housing situation at College Park.
termed zone of the most serious
problems the university has"
Its solution" the university
declared. Lies in a $3.5 million
bond issue containing a proviso
that charges for dormitory care
at College Park be adjusted so
that the State may be repaid for
its investment"
Separate Bond Issue Seen.
State Planning Commission Di-
rector I. Alvin Pasarew said the
housing request has been ap-
proved by his group with the rec
ommendation that it be financed
by a separate bond issue.
Separation from the States
overall bond issue for capital i'm
provements appeared advisable,
Mr.. Pasarew said, because the
university in 1851 obtained legis-
lative authority to carry out self
liquidating projects and there was
a question whether inclusion of
the housing project might invali-
date the whole State bond issue.
The housing plan which is in
cluded in the $5.4 million recon-
mendation, calls for one large
girls dormitory to house 108 girls,
100000; two small dormitories
to house 80 girls each, a total of
$500,000; two large dormitories.
to house $50 men, $12 million;
three small dormitories to house
300 men. $525 900. and eight small
dormitories for rent to fraternities
and sororities to house 256 men
and women, $680,0O0.
Recreation Room Used.
When the school term began
this fall. the housing situation
was so critical that freshman girls
had to use recreation room in
one dormitory for living quarters.
DR.. H. C. Byrd, University presi-
dent, said today the housing
situation remains critical.
He said even if more dorrni-
tories are built the problem may
not be solved, because many more
students would seek admission. He
said many turned away this fall
because of lack of space would
probably reapply for admission as
soon as new dormitories are ready.
About $500 students live on the
campus, about evenly divided be-
tween men and women. Another
1000 students live in sorority and
fraternity houses surrounding the
campus, and more than 500 others
live in private homes in College
Park.
Land Purchase Urged.
Beside the housing project, the
program placed before the plan
ming commission asked:
New construction and land
acquisitions at College Park,
Baltimore and Princess Anne.
Supplemental appropriations to
complete projects already begun
and funds for renovations and re-
pairs.
Emphasizing that it's budget has
Jumped from $2.6 million in 1885
to $19.6 million in the next fiscal
year, its faculty in the same period
has increased from 131 to TOO and
that student registrations in all
departments total 34,677 this year,
the university said:
These requests are not based on
expected growth but entirely on
present needs"
Other Facilities Cited.
The university asked $8.1 mil
hon for other new facilities at
College Park, SIS million at Balti-
more, and $3.7 million at Princess
Anne.
Larger items in the proposed
College Park building program
include $2.3 million for general
library, 100000 for additional
heating, 100000 for a dairy and
animal research building, $500, 900
for an airport, $45O,000 for de-
partment of journalism, a like
amount for an administration
building annex, 100000 for
hospital and infirmary and $780,
900 for a swimming pool for men.
A $650,000 central library and
a new pharmacy building to cost
100000 are the principal recon-
mendations for construction in
Baltimore.
Expansion Towards BeltsviIle.
Commenting on a request for
100000 to purchase land for
agricultural purposes, the univer-
sity said it hoped to acquire all
the land between its present
boundaries and the Beltsville ex-
perimental station.
The university's request said
that land values are increasing so
rapidly that if the property is not
acquired soon it can never be pur-
chased except at exorbitant prices.
81 A