V
UNIVERSITY OF NEER2
FEB 14 1884
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HERE'S OUR HISTORY-
01
By Frank Partsch
s Senior Staff Writer
EDITORS NOTE: This is
the first in a series of the
history of the University of
Nebraska. The development
has been divided into sever
al periods.
The University was born,
amid controversy, jealousy,
and financial disagreement,
when the legislature, on
Feb. 15, 1869, (95 years ago
tomorrow) passed a bill
providing for funds for "the
location and erection of a
State university, agriculture
college and State lunatic
asylum."
The beginnings of the Uni
versity were marked by two
historic decisions, according
to Dr. Robert Manley, as
sistant professor of history.
The first .was the decision
to build one rather than two
universities as many other
states were doing at that
time. Manley says that this
decision was based primari
ly on the cost involved.
The second, a regional de
cision to accept the concept
of state aid to education,
formed the basis for Uni
versity support and the fu
ture actions of the legisla
ture. The early building of '
the school in relation of the
age of the state, says Man-
ley, was a good test case of
the reactions of a frontier
state to an intellectual in
stitution. The financial problems
began immediately after the
bill was passed. Although
$100,000 was allowed for the
construction of a university,
the contract for the first
building was let for $128,480.
The cornerstone of Uni
versity Hall, the grandfath
er of today's complex of
classrooms and laborator
ies, was laid on Sept. 23,
1869.
It was an exciting day for
the people of Lincoln and
Nebraska. The city fathers
desired a brass band with
which to celebrate the occa
sion, but having none, they
had to import one from
Omaha to mark the festivi
ties. University Hall was com
pleted in 1871. It contained
26 classrooms and offices, a
chapel, an assembly room
with a 600 seating capacity
and two "society halls."
The building, located ap
proximately where Fergu
son Hall stands today, was
called "Franco-Italian" in a
local newspaper editorial.
(The poor quality of build
ing material caused imme
diate condemnation of Uni
versity Hall and almost re
sulted in a premature death
for the young school.
The foundation, built with
stone from a Beatrice quar
ry, deteriorated rather than
hardened with age. The
editor of the OMAHA RE
PUBLICAN, smarting with
civic pride because the Uni
versity was not located in
Attache Speaks On Soviet Experience
Ulatoski: American Freedom In Danger
Through Misunderstanding Of USSR
A iormer assistant attache
to the Soviet Union warned
Americans that "failure to
appreciate and understand
the Soviet Union, our rela
tionship with them and our
downgrading of the problem
that exists could result in our
losing our freedom."
Major Joseph Ulatoski,
speaking to a joint meeting
of the University's Young Re
publicans and Young Demo
crats, told about his personal
observations and experiences
in the USSR.
He was the first American
in eight years to make the
extensive trip across Russia.
His assignment took him from
the American embassy , in
Moscow to the Baltic,
Ukraine, White Russia, Crim
ea, through central Asia,
Scholarship Offered
Persons interested in ap
plying for the annual $1,000
Donald Walters Miller schol
arship should do so through
their college dean by Febru
ary 28.
The scholarship is open to
anyone who is enrolled at the
University except freshmen.
The scholarship is awarded
on the basis of scholastic abil
ity, educational and profes
sional objectives, character
and financial need.
Omaha, waged a campaign
to have the University
closed because of the con
dition of the building.
.. One of his editorials,
stated that the brick walls,
as well as the foundation,
were faulty. In a very dra
matic moment, the fiery ed
itor officiated at a test in
which a window was re
moved to see if the walls
would collapse.
The walls held, a rousing
cheer rose from the crowd
and the University lived for
the time.
As a result of a $25,000
appropriation to repair the
building's foundation, the
University was hampered
by financial difficulties for
several years.
Manley emphasizes that
the birth of the University
was probably premature,
because the state had few
high schools at the time.
Therefore the University
was a preparatory school
rather than a college.
Another serious problem
which appeared immediate
ly was caused by the back
grounds of the members of
the faculty. Nearly all
teachers at that time were
ministers, and the fact that
the curriculum included a
required chapel and Sunday
worship created a problem
of which denomination
would predominate.
Religious quarrels be
t w e e n different factions
were frequent, and the res
ignations of the first two
chancellors were results of
these quarrels.
The life of the student was
a different world than stu
dents know today. Although
there were no dormitories
until the 1930's, the Univer
sity set a strict moral code
for its students, forbidding
them, among other things,
from going into gambling
houses.
Until 1881 the curriculum
was very strict, concentrat
ing on Greek, Latin, litera
ture, ancient history with no
electives and very little sci
ence, but in that year the
subjects were revised, al
lowing a few electives.
The University charter
provided that the Board of
Regents should buy text
books and furnish them at
cost to the students, but this
provision was never carried
out because of administra
tive difficulties involved in
such a program.
Howard Caldwell, an early
professor of history at the
University, tells an interest
ing story of student reac
tion to compulsory military
training in his book, EDU
CATION IN NEBRASKA.
Military training became
mandatory in 1877. The Mor
rill Act of 1862 had provided
land grants to colleges pro
viding training in military
tactics, and although the Uni
versity had received a sub
northeast Siberia and across
Siberia to the eastern coast
line. Following his talk Ulatoski
showed slides taken in the
USSR and answered questions
concerning them.
Concerning Soviet govern
ment control the major said,
"Every aspect of life is in
a social structure controlled
mainly by propaganda."
The major went oa to say
that the primary basis of gov
ernment propaganda was "to
work harder and produce
more," in order to battle the
west and to eventually pro
duce a communistic Utopia.
Generalv the cnmmnn rwn.
pie don't want to work be
cause they realize that the
end benefits are not theirs.
There is a ereat deal nf
waste of materials and nrn.
ducts because there is "no
individual initiative."
"In spite of the evidence of
poverty, however, there is
daily Improvement for the
common man with regard to
his standard of living; while
there is improvement, how
ever small it may be, there
will be no dissentation of the
common people against the
state."
The government is aware
H3 O M
n
iirsv
stantial grant of land, it had
not complied with the pro
visions of the bill regarding
the drill until that year.
Caldwell says, "The stu
dents felt that their rights
and liberties had been in
vaded, and they did not
propose to submit."
A group of 19 students
held several resistance
meetings "on the third
floor, high under the eaves"
of a rooming house. A few
were in favor of boycotting
the drills, but their more
conservative comrades con
vinced them to resort to a
petition.
The conservative element
winning out, the boys pre
sented a petition to the
Board of Regents, saying
that they were unable to af
ford the required uniforms.
The Board answered that
they would form two com
panies, one wearing uni
forms and one in street
clothes. The matter settled,
18 of the dissenters prompt
ly joined the company with
Vol. 77, No. 58
J 9 J '
fur us oca e
Asks Hcuiiewedl
PHOTO BV DENNIS DeFRAIN
PRESERVE INDIVIDUAL DIGNITY-U.S. Senator
Roman Hruska urged students to preserve dignity by in
dividual responsibility in a speech in the Union small
auditorium yesterday.
of Russia's problems, Ula
toski said, and an extensive
housing construction program
is under way.
"Since it is a centralized
government, the Soviet Union
can pick the field they wish
to work on and ignore every
thing else," he said.
"There is no doubt in my
mind that the United States
can surpass the Soviet Union
in any field if we went on a
crash project, but we would
Summer Schedules
The University's 1964 sum
mer school bulletin and
schedule is off the press and
is available through John
Aronson, director of admis
sions. There will be two sessions
of summer school, according
to Dr. Frank Sorenson, di
rector. The regular session
will be held June 15 to Aug.
7 followed by the post-session
Aug. 10 28. In Addition,
there will be several three
week inter-sessions.
"We anticipate a substan
tial enrollment of June gradu
ates from high scholos," said
Sorenson.
Those planning to attend
summer school are encour
aged to complete applica
T7
out uniforms and 'became
known as the "ragamuffin
company."
Caldwell makes no men
tion of the fate of the other
boy who signed the petition.
Students paid no tuition,
but were charged a matri
culation fee of $5, $8 for non
residents. Enrollment was
130 in 1871, but by the end
of the term of the first
chancellor, Allen Benton,
(1876), it had increased to
200.
The chancellor's salary
was set at $5000 by the first
Board of Regents, but
they later reconsidered
their rash action and re
duced it to $4000. Professors
received $2,000.
The decade of crisis saw
the birth and location of
the University and its re
sistance to its first two cri
ses: the poor building of
University Hall and the re
ligious issue. It was a criti
cal period, in which the in
fant school waged and won
a battle for its very life.
upset the economic system In
doing so."
In summary the major
said, "We've got to realize
that we have a terrifically
skilled adversary dedicated to
our down-fall. We can't afford
to be dumb and happy now
the world has grown much too
small. If we can't make an
attempt to understand and ap
preciate the Soviet Union and
its relationship to us, then
we don't deserve the free
doms we have."
Are Available
tions as early as possible to
facilitate enrollment prior to
arrival on campus. Anyone
interested in attending the
summer sessions may obtain
information from the direc
tor of admissions, Administra
tion Building.
Club To Sejl Clothing
Men's, women's and chil
dren's clothes will be on sale
for 25 cents at the Nearly
New Store, 1610 R Street.
The sale is being sponsored
by the Faculty Women's Club
and will be held every
Wednesday night from 7 to
9 p.m.
Student identification cards
must be presented on sale.
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'TIS NO MORE University Hall was the first building to be built on the University
campus. It contained 26 classrooms, a chapel and two "social halls." It has since been
razed.
The Daily Nebraskan
ft I
vein) is mgjiress;
U.S. Senator Calls Nation
Discusses Civil Rights Bill
Senator Roman Hruskaiof the individual and the
called on Americans to re
new their commitment to de
mocracy in a speech yester
day morning in the Student
Union.
Hruska cited the United
States overseas as "the fall
guy for the fiascos of other
nations" and domestically,
saying that "a virulent strain
has recently developed which
challenges the function of the
Congress and denies its right
ful role."
"... We are hard put to
listen to voices urging re
straint and reason . . . If
our system of self-government
is being so tried by
such forces, we stand ready
to defend," Hruska said.
Hruska referred to "dan
gerous developments" in East
Germany, Panama, Ghana
and Cyprus where the United
States has been the "victim
of transgression."
According to Hruska,
America should practice rath- j
er than proclaim the dignity I
Eleven NU Coeds To Attend
Journalism Meet In Chicago
Eleven members of the
Nebraska chapter of Theta
Sigma Phi, national profes
sional fraternity for women
in journalism, will attend a
special conference on the fu
ture in journalism this week
end. The conference is spon
sored by the Chicago chapter
of Theta Sigma Phi. Marjorie
Paxson, women's page writer
Teaching Project
To Accent Talent
"Talent for Teaching," a
project sponsored by the ele
mentary education depart
ment, grew out of class dis
cussions and will serve vari
ous purposes.
The purpose of "Talent for
Teaching" is fourfold. It is
designed to help college stu
dents gain experience in
working with children, to
help children who need help
in subject matters where they
are working below grade
level, to help the exceptional
student and to provide an op
portunity for community serv
ice. Anyone interested in this
type of work may sign up in
Dr. Grothe's office in 20OA
elementary education build
ing. The project will begin at
Bancroft school and will be
expanded to meet the num
ber of persons interested in
helping.
propriety of free institutions.
Hruska, who has served In
Congress since 1952, returned
to domestic matters by ex
pressing concern over recent
critiscisms of the Congres
sional role in government.
Many criticisms, said Ne
braska's senior Senator
"would destroy or diminish
legislative power."
"There is an articulate
school which believes that
the Congress meddles in too
many things. It follows, by
that logic, that Congressional
power should be cut down or,
preferably, t r a n sferred,"
said Hruska.
He then claimed that any
degradation of the legislative
process because of its delib
erative nature endangered
self-government. Hruska
said the Constitution verified
Congressional power as the
growing instrument of the
people.
"With the vested interest
of the MIAMI HERALD and
national president of Theta
Sigma Phi, will be the key
note speaker.
The eleven members from
Nebraska University attend
ing are Brenda Blankenbeck
ler, Diana Copsey, Vicki El
liott, Diane Gosker, Sue Hov
ik, Carol Jaeger, Jane Carol
Miller, Wendy Rogers, Susan
Smithberger, Jane Tenhulzen
and Sally Wilcox.
The weekend will include
tours of the city and talks
by leading Chicago women
journalists in advertising,
publishing newspapers, pub
lic relations, and broadcast
ing. The students will have
their choice of spending
either Friday or Monday "on
the job" with a Chicago ca
reer girl.
The conference runs from
February 14 through Febru
ary 17...
Most Need Only 125
Students enrolled in the Col
leges of Arts and Sciences,
Teachers, Business Adminis
tration need 125 hours to
graduate. Those in agricul
ture need 128, while engineer
ing students and architec
ture must have 142 hours.
Students are considered
freshmen until 27 credit hours
have been earned. Twenty
seven to 52 hours constitues
sophomore standing, 53-88
hours is junior standing and
89 hours or more is enough
for senior standing.
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Friday, February 14, 1964
'Fall Guy";
In NU Speech
(in Congress) we, the people,
have in its (democracy's)
preservation, it Is now time
to renew your xommitment,"
Hruska said in finishing his
speech.
"I do not minimize the
dangers that face it in these
troubled days. Nor do I des
pair for its survival. But it
will take a sensitive citizen
ry .. ." said Hruska.
Hruska later answered in
formal questions at a coffee
hour. Topics centered around
the Russian wheat deal and
domestic party politics.
Answering a question on the
wheat deal, Hruska said,
"Even a nation as he at
the United States cannot win
fighting on both sides of the
com war."
Hruska attributed progress
on civil rights legislation to
many Republicans. He said
the split caused by Southern
ers was a weakness of "his
Democratic brethern."
He also criticized the Ad
ministration for "cutting the
civil rights bill off at the
door" and keeping that bill
out of the various Congres
sional committees. Hruska
noted that the Senate Judi
ciary Committee, on which
he serves, would like to clear
up some wording and impli
cations in the bill.
The Senator visited Morrill
Hall while on campus yester
day morning and toured the
School of Dentistry after the
coffee hour.
Douglas Sets
News Forum
On Monday
Democratic Senator Paul
Douglas of Illinois will visit
the University campus Mon
day to participate in a news
forum at 10:30 a.m. in the
Student Union ballroom.
Douglas, a member of the
Senate Finance Committee,
will be accompanied by three
Washington correspondents:
Neal Stanford of the Christian
Science Monitor, Lucian War
ren of the Buffalo Courier-Express
and John Metcalfe,
syndicated columnist
Loan Applications Due
Upperclassmen wishing to
apply for Regents and Na
tional Defense Education
loans for the 1964-65 school
year, should do so by March
1, according to Elden Teten,
director of scholarships and
financial aids.
Application forms may be
obtained in 205 Administra
tion Building.
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