Stetson Letter 1956-4-2

ftfil 1956 STETSON-LETTER VOL. 4, NO. 2 STETSON UNIVERSITY, DeLAND, FLORIDA JANUARY, 1956 Death of Dr. Gordis Closes An Era In University History Death of Dr. Warren Stone Gordis in his ninety-third year closed an era in Stetson history. He went to his grave in his academic regalia, symbolic of a full life in which he continually sought and found God in literature. His classrooms were scholarly and Christ-centered. No clubman, no sportsman, his interests were his family, his church, and his students. He mastered the Greek and Latin languages before he gained his specialization in English. His influence did not end at the close of a given term or with the graduation of a certain student. He corresponded with almost 200 of his former students, writing to lawyers about the law, newspapermen about journalism, and ministers about interpretation of the (Continued on Page 3) 0 Parents Invited To Open House Invitations have been sent to parents of all Stetson students by Dr. J. Ollie Edmunds, president of the University, to an open house in Chaudoin Parlors from 3 to 6 o'clock Sunday afternoon, February 5. "Members of the faculty join me in urging every parent to visit the campus on this day," Dr. Edmunds said. "We recall with a great deal of pleasure a similar occasion last year, the first year we have entertained for parents." The date for the open house coincides with the day that most students return to the campus after the between- semester break. The Fall Semester ends Thursday, February 2, and registration for the Spring Semester is February 6 with classes starting the following day. Many parents take advantage of the weekend to visit DeLand as they bring their children to the campus for the new term and the open house gives them an opportunity to meet other- parents as well as members of the faculty. Will 1956 Be Stetson's Greatest Year? Mid-January Events So Indicate Chief Justice E. Harris Drew of the Florida Supreme Court, left, and Dr. J. Ollie Edmunds will attend a series of meetings in the next few weeks in metropolitan areas of Florida in connection with a campaign to raise $250,000 among members of the Florida bar to match a life amount offered by an out-of-state foundation for a new library and the first units of a law center on the Stetson University College of Law campus in St. Petersburg. Lawyers to Match Foundation Grant Thirty-six Floridians prominently identified with the bar, the bench, and with legal education are honorary vice- presidents of a state-wide committee organized to provide in the next few weeks $500,000 toward a law center on the campus of Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg. Civic and business leaders in St. Petersburg have pledged more than $80,000, leaving $170,000 to be provided, according to Chief Justice E. Harris Drew, West Palm Beoch, of the Florida Supreme Court, who is honorary chairman of the campaign. Justice Drew said an out-of-state (Continued on Page 3) Nineteen hundred and fifty-six is expected to bring major advancements at Stetson University at both DeLand and St. Petersburg. Events of mid-January forecast new building programs and enrollment increases in a "harvest" of efforts which have been in "cultivation" since Dr. J. Ollie Edmunds assumed the presidency in 1948. A recent tribute to the leadership of Dr. Edmunds was his election as vice president of the Association of American Colleges, an association of most of the colleges in the nation for the exchange of ideas and advancement of teaching. Another tribute, this to the work done by Dr. Edmunds, came recently when his record of achievements at Stetson was cited as an example for the new president of another college. The United Stetson Alumni campaign last year produced the largest amount of funds from the greatest number of (Continued on Page 2) 0 Funds Authorized For Student Union Immediate construction of a million- dollar student union building on the DeLand campus of Stetson University was assured with the recent announcement from Washington that the Housing and Home Finance Agency had approved an $790,000 loan for this purpose. The new building will replace the Commons, destroyed by fire during the Christmas recess a year ago, and will provide modern and adequate dining rooms as wel las new recreational facilities. "Work will begin as soon as plans can be completed and contract awarded," said Dr. J. Ollie Edmunds, president of the University. "We are delighted that our application has been approved and are doubly glad to assure students that the temporary (Continued on Page 3)