Page View
Thoma, Harry C. (ed.) / Wisconsin alumnus
Volume 38, Number II (Nov. 1936)
The first annual Alumni Conference, p. 51
Page 51
The First Anineal Alhm~ni Conference "Official Family Spends Two Daysl the assistance of the Association on Campus in Jubilee Conferences in keeping politics out of the University in every manner pos- sible. He charged that "a cerL tain group in the board of re- 1VJ[ ,lORE than one hundred alumni club officers, gents is playing dangerous politics with the school class officers, committee members and As- and certain individuals are going around the state N sociation directors answered the call of making attacks on the school which are hurting it z L _ President Harry A. Bullis to attend the throughout the country." first annual Alumni Conference to be held "A drive is being made against President Glenn on the University campus on October 2 and 3. Frank," he continued, "who is being attacked with The purpose of the meeting was to gather the vicious rules, unfair laws and regulations. No presi- members of the "official family" of the Alumni Asso- dent of a great University such as ours should be sub- ciation and to talk over mutual problems, aims, and jected to such ill-mannered treatment as this." plans for the future. To that end, Friday was de- voted to a meeting of the Association Board of Direc- BEFORE introducing Alvin Reis, President Bullis tors and the eleven Association committees. presented him with an electric desk clock, a token of Out of the Board meeting came the program of esteem and appreciation on behalf of his co-workers the Association for the coming year. A copy of this on the board of directors. Judge Reis had just as- entire statement will be found on page 64. This sumed the circuit court judgeship two days before program was adopted only after careful consideration and the directors wished to use this means of wishing by the board and represents what the directors feel him well in his new work. to be the first adequate program the Association has Judge Reis got a hearty laugh from the crowd had in some years. when he remarked, "I think I recognize a Republican Following the board of directors meeting, the corm- convention when I see one." (Reis has long been an mittees assembled in separate meeting rooms in the ardent and respected member of the Progressive Memorial Union and laid plans for activities of the party.) coming year. A thorough discussion of what took "Seriously, I went out of politics yesterday," he place in these meetings would be far too lengthy to continued, "I'm not going to carry my politics into recount on these pages. It will suffice to say that each the bench. And when I come into this alumni asso- and every group is determined to do its share towards ciation, I leave my politics outside. making the Diamond Jubilee Year the most success- "Try to keep all elements in this association with ful in Association history. From time to time, re- you and don't solidify any group against you. You're - ports of these committees' activities will be published always going to have a state university in politics. I in the Alumnus. urge you to keep the alumni outof pfolitics. --I think- any other course is going to be fatal to the Association A SPLENDID dinner in the old Madison room and to the University. of the Union followed these committee meetings. 'I don't think any one man or six are going to There were nearly one hundred present when toast- wreck this university. I think that any man who master and chairman Harry Bullis called on "Bill" tries it will seal his political doom. Unless you want Ross of Chicago for a song before the first course was to ruin the Alumni Association and drag down the brought in. Ably assisted by Dr. "Bill" Sumner of University, don't put yourself in the position where Edgerton, the two former Haresfoot stars entertained you have against you any dominant block in this the diners with old favorites state. You must realize of on and off the Campus. what you've got against you At the speakers' table if you do that." were President Bullis, Pres- President Frank adroitly ident Frank, Judge Alvin put the political spectre back Reis, Don Bell, Coach Har- in the University closet ry Stuhldreber, and John from where Bullis and Reis Berge. Coach Stuhldreher had dragged it and stirred caught the group's fancy sound laughter when he re- with his usual dynamic talk marked before his speech: regarding the future of ath- "When Judge Reis is ap- letics at Wisconsin. Don pointed to the supreme Bell appealed to the clubs court of the United States for greater support of the I am going to write an arti- Association's program and cle about him which will be Judge Reis spoke on the part entitled 'Discreet Dyna- the classes can play in the mite.'~ membership campaign this Then he continued: "Of year. course, the University and President Bullis in his in- Prsdn ulst ug esthe alumni have no place in troductory remarks pledged A token of esteem and appreciation (Plecse turn to page 78) 51
This material may be protected by copyright law (e.g., Title 17, US Code).| For information on re-use, see http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Copyright