Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1920 — I. U. OBSERVES FOUNDERS’ DAY [ARTICLE]

I. U. OBSERVES FOUNDERS’ DAY

ELABORATE CEREMONY CELEBRATES 100TH MILESTONE OF SCHOOL. Bloomington, Ind., Jan. 2G.—lndiana University took a day off from recitation, lectures and laboratory work today to celebrate the fact that it has reached its 100th milestone. Faculty members and students, together with a large number of notable men from all parts of the state, including prominent alumni and members of the board of trustees, assembled in the Auditorium to witness the most elaborate program ever given on a Founder’s day in the institution’s history. Headed by the university band of 100 pieces, the Reserve Officers* Training Corps of more than 600 members marched to a downtown hotel, from where the visitors and guests were escorted through the campus and there joined by the various organizations and classes. The Assembly Hall, which was already packed with an audience of more than 3,000. The Foundation day ceremonial, as prepared by Pageant Master William C. Langdon of New York, was given before the address of President Jacob Gould Schurmann of Cornell University, and was very beautiful. As the hour of the ceremonial approached, the university chimes played the air of the “Hymn to Indiana.” President William Lowe Bryan, President Schurmann, the trustees and faculty wearing their academic caps and gowns, marched in procession to the auditorium in inverse order. The student body was seated first and as the academic procession entered the students and others in the auditorium arose. Young women students represented the characters, America, state of Indiana! and Indiana University. During the singing of the hymn the charatcer representing the state entered from the left and took her seat on the second step of the dais. She was beautifully robed in blue and green and carried the state flag. America entered from the right. Indiana escorted America to her central seat on the highest step of the dais, thereafter resuming her own place at America’s left. America, robed in white, with golden girdle and golden Liberty cap, carrying the Stars and Stripes in her right hand, wore the shield of the United States on her left shoulder. To those seated on the dais, came the character representing the university. She knelt a moment in homage before America and the state of Indiana and then took her seat at the right of America. The character representing the university was robed in cream and crimson and carried a golden torch and book. The characters remained on the stage during the entire program and gave a brilliant background setting for the picture. In the absence of Governor Goodrich, who was at the funeral of William A. Roach, secretary of state, President Bryan presided. The William J. Bryan oratorical contest, always held on the afternoon of Foundation Day, was won this year by Miss Marietta Sicer, a pretty coed of New Albany, a junior. There were five contestants and the subject was “What Shall Be Done Wi_th The Railroads’ The prize was the interest on. SSOO for one year left with the university in 1898 to the student writing the best essay on the principle underlying our form of government. It is the first time the prize has ever been won by a woman.