university of illinois - UIHistories Project

5o8 BOARD OF TRUSTEES [July 15
Employment of Special Counsel to Assist in Acquiring Property
Situated in Urbana-Champaign
It is necessary for the University to acquire a number of privately owned residence
properties and other properties in the cities of Urbana and Champaign as parts of
sites of a new Men's Residence Hall, a Residence Hall for Single Graduate Students,
and for the Student Services Building.
In connection with the acquisition of these properties, legal services in examining
the present titles thereto and ascertaining the present ownership thereof, in
assisting University officers in conducting negotiations with the present owners
for the purchase of the properties from them, and in preparing to institute condemnation
suits to acquire such of the properties as can not be purchased at a
reasonable and proper price will be needed. Because of the time element involved,
and the volume of work pending in the Legal Counsel's Office, this work can not
be done as promptly as is desirable and necessary by the Legal Counsel and his
assistants. For this reason, the employment of special counsel to do this legal work,
with the assistance and subject to the supervision of the Legal Counsel, is highly
desirable. Funds for the employment of such special counsel can be made available
from the present appropriation to the University for land acquisition.
The Director of the Physical Plant, the Vice-President and Comptroller, and
the Legal Counsel request authorization to employ local attorneys in Urbana and
Champaign as special counsel to assist in the legal work necessary in connection
with property acquisitions.
I concur.
On motion of Mr. Johnston, authority was given as requested.
The Executive Committee adjourned.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
WAYNE A. JOHNSTON
A. J. JANATA FRANCES B. WATKINS
Clerk PARK LIVINGSTON, Chairman
ADJOURNED SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
July 16, 1957
On Tuesday, July 16, 1957, Committees of the Board of Trustees resumed
their meetings, beginning at 9:00 a.m., Central Daylight Saving
Time.
COMMITTEE ON GENERAL POLICY
Chicago Undergraduate Division
Mr. Johnston, as Chairman of the Committee on General Policy which has been
operating as a Special Committee on the Development of the Chicago Undergraduate
Division, and President Henry reported on the outcome of the several bills
introduced in the Seventieth General Assembly of Illinois relating to the future
development of the Chicago Undergraduate Division, all of which failed, with the
exception of the provisions in the University's building program. The appropriations
made for 1057-50, include $600,000 for the acquisition of land and $400,000
for site studies and building plans. No legislation was enacted specifying the location
of, or restricting the University in the selection of, a permanent site for the
Chicago Undergraduate Division.
The Committee reviewed the various sites which have been considered, including
Miller Meadow in the Forest Preserve District in Cook County. At this point
Mr. Johnston presented a letter from Representative Paul Randolph. President
Henry was authorized to reply to the letter along the lines of the discussions of
today's meeting and to make public announcement of the reply. Copies of this
correspondence were subsequently filed with the Secretary of the Board.
Mr. Johnston recommended that the Board adopt as a declaration of its policy
regarding the site question: "Miller Meadow continues to be the first choice as a
site but the Board, through its Committees and with the assistance of University
officials, is proceeding to consider alternate sites and to determine their relative
desirability." This declaration of policy was adopted.