P Page four
THE TWIG
Marcl-
a
t(
a
li
d
tl
ii
ii
V
tl
MEREDITH COLLEGE EMBARKS ON LONG-
RANGE PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPMENT
NINE-YEAR PLAN CALLS FOR NEW BUILDINGS,
IMPROVED EQUIPMENT, GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS,
AND INCREASED ENDOWMENT AND SCHOLARSHIPS
By President Carlyle Campbell
Plans for the development of an
institution like Meredith College, if
they are to succeed and minister
properly to the continuing purposes
of the institution, must evolve slowly
and wisely, and through the active
participation of its constituency.
This, we believe, has been reason
ably well done.
For many successive meetings of
the Board of Trustees, the urgent
financial needs of the College were
a dominant concern. These discus
sions led to definite action in Sep
tember, 1951, when the Board ap
pointed an Expansion Program
Committee to survey the situation,
prepare a plan of development for
Meredith, and direct its activities.
The personnel of this committee
appears elsewhere on this page.
These Are the Years
Soon thereafter, in November,
1951, the State Baptist Convention
announced a 9-year Advance Pro
gram, 1952-60, involving increased
support for the current operations
of its institutions and, at the same
time, providing $10,125,000 to
wards meeting the capital needs of
these institutions. As shown in an
accompanying schedule, Meredith
should thus receive during these
years $1,518,750 specifically desig
nated for endowment and plant de
velopment. This announcement gave
great buoyancy to the committee
and figured largely in determining
the scope of its plans.
After many conferences with the
faculty and staff, with alumnae
groups, and with other interested
friends, the committee outlined for
Meredith a 9-year program, 1952-
60, with a financial goal of $2,-
250,000 — including the amount
anticipated from the State Baptist
Convention.
The next step was to secure a
professional landscape architect, ex
perienced in educational planning,
to make studies and lay out a plan
of campus development locating the
buildings planned for in the 9-year
program and some others that
should be erected later. These plans
had the supervision and criticism of
the committee, and, after their ac
ceptance, were submitted to the
Board of Trustees for authorization.
The artist’s sketch, shown else
where, does not cover the entire
170-acre campus, but focuses atten
tion on the central area, our im
mediate center of interest.
Although the appeal of a college
for funds must be perennial, the
committee thought it unwise to en
visage an intensive 9-year campaign.
Accordingly, it was decided to
launch a vigorous and general effort
within a three-year period, 1954-56,
to secure from friends of the Co-
lege the sum of $750,000 — the
amount not cared for by the Con
vention program. This means that
we are to raise $250,000 during
each of these years.
Such a challenging appeal should
begin, we thought, with the faculty
and staff of the College, a group
whose sacrificial devotion is con
tinually being demonstrated in many
ways. Last year, without being sub
jected to improper pressure, they
made their pledges over a three-
year period; their contributions, in
amount and spirit, are making now
a substantial foundation for the
whole enterprisa.
first two years, it is gratifying to re
port that they have exceeded the
amounts specified: $27,188.40 in
1952; $44,101.41 in 1953. From
this source we may expect an addi
tional $90,000 in the current year.
We now have in hand about $84,-
000 in Expansion Program funds.
This is after an allocated gift of
$6,000 by the Board of Trustees
to complete payments on the *ew
Alumnae House, and after proviaon
for expenses incurred in preparation
for the campaign.
At its meeting in February, 1954,
the Board of Trustees authorized the
Expansion Program Committee to
secure an architect, prepare plans
for a new classroom building, and
proceed with the erection of that
building when cash in hand should
cover at least one-half of the esti
mated cost of the building—subject,
of course, to regulations of the State
Baptist Convention regarding insti
tutional debts. We hope and believe
that within a few months the con
struction of this building will be un
der way.
A
MMi.
%
V
Here We Stand
Although scheduled receipts from
the Convention’s Advance Program
were comparatively small for the
Early this year alumnae began
discussing how as a group their
devotion to Alma Mater and interest
in this program might be effectively
expressed. After several conferences
in which state officers participated,
their executive committee an
nounced that the Alumnae Associa
tion would undertake to raise $100,-
000 from its membership during this
three-year period. Mrs. LeRoy
Allen, of Raleigh, was secured to di
rect actively this specific appeal; the
contagious effect of her enthusiasm
and intelligent planning is already
manifest.
This three-year program engaged
the consideration of the Board of
Trustees at its February meeting.
No definite commitment was made,
but we may be confident that they
will exercise the leadership which
their ability and position qualify
them for.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT'S DRAV
Pictured above is a landscape architect’s sketch of the proposed “Meredith of To'
morrow,” including huildings planned for in the nine-year program and others to b(
erected later. The executive committee of the Expansion Program, realizing the need foi
loi^-range over-all planning, has taken care to consider the locations not only of thosi
buildings included in the current program hut of others which will eventually be needed
Easily recognized landmarks in the sketch include the court, the dormitories, Johnsoi
Hall, the auditorium, and the recently completed Alumnae House. New huildings and
Now Is the Time
These are the plans, and the steps
taken thus far. Upon us Friends oj
Meredith now rests the privilege
and responsibility of seeing that
what we have dreamed of and plan
ned for shall become a substantial
reality. It can be done, it greatly
needs to be done; and in the doing
of it we shall experience an abiding
joy. Then, at the end of the 9-year
period we shall assemble, let us
hope, to celebrate indeed “the fair
beginning of a time.”
IN APPRECIATION —FOR THE OLD
symbols of the PAST: The first buildings to be replaced in the projected
E^ansran Program wUl be the temporary classroom buildings (Science Building
pictured above) which will pass on their functions to sorely needed new classrooms.
YOUR MEREDITH I.Q.
How much do you know about Meredith—past and present?
Test your knowledge on the following questions. If you can
answer correctly 4 of the 6, you are well informed about affairs
of AJma Mato. If you score 3 or under, you need to brush up
on vital statistics. Answers may be found at the bottom of page 5.
1. What is the approximate matriculation at Meredith since
September, 1899?
2. What k the aK>roximate number of graduates since 1902?
3. What is the approximate number of students enrolled this
year?
4. How many counties of North Carolina are represented in
the present student body? How many states? How many foreign
countries?
5. What is the approximate number of faculty members for
the current year?
6. What percentage of the student’s expenses is cov»ed by her
fees?
By Phyllis Trible and
Mary Gordon Maxwell, ’54
Soon Meredith College wiU be
experiencing in a physical sense a
change in the old order, “yielding
place to the new.” Certainly the new
buildings which are to be ours will
be hailed with enthusiasm by us
all. However, in the midst of our
joy for these new structures, it seems
fitting to speak a word of apprecia
tion for the old ones.
Although it is true that these
old buildings lack beauty, solidarity,
and other desirable architectural
features, they can be viewed from a
level deeper than this merely ex
ternal one. The structures in them
selves are not of primary impor-
tpee as long as they are safe; the
significance of them lies in what they
house. In this sense, then, our old
buildings are symbols of a quality
of life which marks Meredith Col
lege. They testify to a high standard
of values held by those who guide
the policies of the school. The very
fact that for many years we have
chosen to use these old structures
in order to have more funds to
spend in the building of lives is a
witness to values of lasting quality.
Moreover, these old buildings sym
bolize a spirit of community which
characterizes the College. In them,
teachers and students have joined
in a common pursuit of knowledge
as well as in an endeavor to discern
the essential truths of Christian
discipleship.
Thus in planning for our Expan
sion Program, we are indebted to
the spirit symbolized in the old
buildings, a debt which can be paid
only by embodying this spirit in the
foundations of the new structures.
Just as the future derives its signi
ficance from the past, so our new
buildings will depend upon the old
ones for the quality of meaning
which they will express.
EXPANSION PROGRAM
COMMITTEE
L. M. Massey, Zebulon,
Chairman
Raymond A. Bryan,
Goldsboro
Carlyle Campbell, Meredith
College
C. T. Council, Durham
Mrs. Foy J. Farmer, Raleigh
L. A. Peacock, Meredith
College
H. Pat Taylor, Wadesboro
W. H. Weatherspoon, Raleigh
Mrs. R. B. Wilidns, Durham
Mary Yarbrough, Meredith
College
To Build tor Tomorrow
A Tentative Sc
NEW BUILDINGS ....
Liberal Arts . . .
Science
Gymnasium and Pool
Head-Houses (Dormit
Infirmary . . . .
Student Center . .
EQUIPMENT
3ENERAL IMPROVEMENTS .
Organ for Auditorium
Library
Other Buildings . .
Outdoor Theoter and
Campus
ENDOWMENT
ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS .
ANTICIPATED FUNDS
Accor£ng to present plans
Meredith shoold receive from
the State Baptist Convention
the following amounts for
capital funds:
1952 $ 22,500
1953 39,375
1954 90,000
1955 129,375
1956 168,750
1957 208,125
1958 247,500
1959 286,875
Total $1,518,750
JOHNSON HALL TO HAVE NEW LOOK:
range plans for Meredith. The front steps k
to make way for a new terraced entrance wi)