Alumnae News and Record (November 1925)

              The ALUMNAE
NEWS
AND RECORD
Published Quarterly by
THE ILLINOIS WOMAN'S COLLEGE
ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION
Subscription Price—Fifty Cents per Year
Entered as Second Class Matter May 15, 1923 at the Post Office at
Jacksonville, Illinois, under the Act of March 3, 1879
VOLUME IV JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS, NOVEMBER, 1925 NO. 2
A Letter from President McClelland
To the graduates and former students of 1. W. C.
Dear Friends:
Upon being introduced to alumnae and other friends of I. W. C., the question most commonly asked me is "How do
you like Jacksonville?" or what is practically the equivalent, "How do you like the College?" And so I imagine that all
those who read these pages are also wondering whether my impressions of Jacksonville and the College are agreeable.
I am glad to say in all sincerity that I do like Jacksonville and that 1 am most favorably impressed with the high ideals
of the College and the fine quality of the student body. I believe the College has a great future, and I am looking forward with much pleasure to having a part in its further development.
In all colleges the alumni are becoming an increasingly important factor in administration, so far as concerns mattes
of general policy. In the case of Vassar, for example, the alumnae have incorporated their body as a separate educational
entity; they publish periodicals for their own benefit; they maintain an alumnae house on the campus; they have eight
members on the Board of Trustees, five of whom are nominated by themselves. They have been of the greatest help
in raising endowment funds; they are kept fully informed by the president and the trustees as to plans and policies.
As far as I am concerned, 1 would welcome an increase of interest and influence by our alumnae in the development of
our College. I want them to know about our plans. I shall endeavor always to justify our policies to them. I shall look
to them more and more for support and suggestions.
I hope we shall have an increasing alumnal consciousness.  This can be best developed through various local branches
of the Alumnae Association. May I ask that a special effort be made this year to have frequent meetings and a attendance? The results in strengthened frendships, as well as in deepened devotion to the College, will be well worthwhile. The words of Daniel Webster, regarding his Alma Mater have never been forgotten:  It is a small college, but there are those who love it." It might have been just as well if
he had used the word "and" instead of the word "but."  The large college naturally calls forth admiration, but somehow it
is easier to love the small college.
We are not ambitious to become a large college.  Our primary aim is for quality.  We must ask ourselves continually whether what we are doing is producing young women of quality. If we do not produce in I.W. C. young women of high moral character, who have the willingness and ability to undertake the hard tasks of life without flinching and with no desire to shirk, we have failed, no matter how superior our
equipment or the ability of our faculty. Macaulay once said "Nine-tenths of the ills that have befallen humanity have had
as their origin nothing less than a union of high intelligence with a low moral purpose." To us education means much 
more than mind training or book learning. To be educated in the I. W. C. way is to have moral purpose, to be governed
by spiritual ideals, as well as to possess an efficient and well stored mind.
I believe that the small college is better able to achieve quality production. The state institutions must expand rapidly, for they must be ready to receive all who come. In our College there is no such need for haste; our classes should never grow so large that the personal touch is lost.
It is probable that an announcement of a definite building program will be made next spring, but let me just mention two
of our needs:—One of them is for a new Science building; the crowded condition of our laboratories is a constant embarrassment. Almost as pressing is our need of a new library.  Won't you keep these needs in mind? This is more important than it may seem. I firmly believe that if we realize sufficiently the need of these buildings, somehow we shall find a way to secure them.
Students, however, are more important than buildings. Our dormitories were filled this fall, but we are eager to have an even larger registration next year. Of course we desire only those who are well prepared and ambitious. Surely there are many of this kind who would ge glad to avail themselves of the opportunities we offer if they only knew about them. Will you not try to interest some of the girls of your acquaintance in I. W. C.? Don't hesitate to speak enthusiastically of the advantages to be found here; our rank is high; we are well established; but we need to become better known, and no one is in a better position to speak effectively in praise of the College than the alumnae. Our registrar would be happy to receive the names of any who in your judgment would make desirable members of next year's Freshmen class. Perhaps
you will find it possible to arrange for a girl to visit us during the year; there is no better way for prospective students to learn about the College.
I shall be very glad to attend meetings of alumnae; if you wish me to be present at the next meeting of your Branch,
just let me know and I shall try to be there.
Very sincerely yours.
CLARENCE P. McCLELLAND