Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Baylor History, Part 18
Imperative Eight of Vision 1930, mandating a "drastic increase in executive salaries", was achieved almost immediately. Brooks, the Provost and several of the Vice Provosts were awarded immediate raises of at least 35%, and their contracts suddenly contained some remarkably generous provisions. For example, the executives were granted the use of a school-owned zeppelin which was to be moored at the football stadium ready for use on school or personal errands. They also were to be provided with daily pedicures, a Studebaker Land Yacht for their personal use, ornamental jewelry including tiaras and scepters, and a personalized firearm bearing the Baylor logo. President Brooks received, as to this last item, a remarkable Winchester shotgun capable of firing two rounds simultaneously in opposite directions to the right and left, making it almost impossible not to hit something.
Sadly, this partial success of Vision 1930 did not raise Baylor’s standing in the wider academic community. An archival review of college guides published in 1926 reflects this failure. For example, the Saturday Evening Post’s annual Education Ratings listed Baylor in the Sixth Tier (of seven), below two educational facilities located in correctional institutions. Similarly, the Consumer Reports College Ratings gave Baylor a black dot, meaning that Baylor was “unreliable” and “not recommended.” It’s succinct reports simply stated that “Baylor’s professors, much less its students, are unfamiliar with the great works of Western Thought and seem obsessed instead with celebrity news, fashions tips, football, dentistry and singing contests. Those who wish to seek a career in the fields of celebrity-stalking, dental assistanting, cheerleading, or clothes hoarding would be well advised to closely consider Baylor. Others should stay away.”
Of course, as we now know, better days were ahead.
Labels: Baylor History
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Was it during this period that the "Santa Paws" tradition was instituted? Enquiring minds, you know, want to know why Brooks dressed up like Santa Claus every year.
I think that Winchester shotgun now belongs to the Vice President (of the United States).
# posted by 
: 12:06 PM
: 12:06 PM
Were you aware, Prof. Osler, that Baylor around this time became the first and only university to apply inverse functions to the calculation of faculty and staff salaries? Most faculty in that era were unable to live within the Waco city limits due to their four-digit annual salaries, and the Board of Intenders was opposed to any form of cost of living in Waco adjustment. And so when the 35% raises were given as part of Imperative Eight, the faculty and staff in turn received an average raise of 1/35th of 1%, meaning that the average faculty member received an annual raise of $2.28.
What was more disconcerting was that the Board demanded that every faculty and staff member show his devotion to Vision 1930 by donating half of his raise to help fund the $4,000 endowment in Imperative Six. Although this would have increased said endowment by $57.26, the faculty revolted by converting the average amount of $1.14 they would have contributed into pennies, nickels, and dimes. Led by Biology professor Levi Guittard, the faculty dug a series of trenches to the north of campus. And when Brooks and strolled onto campus one afternoon, he found himself pelted with loose change for nearly 45 seconds. Brooks immediately demanded that all of the change must be collected for the endowment ($44.21 was eventually found), and to give thanks to the faculty contributions, the trench area became known as Fort Faculty.
The really awful aftermath of this was that when President Brooks finally assumed emeritus status, he spent his remaining days searching for the rest of that $13.05 that was never recovered. You can still see vestiges of that tradition even today.
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What was more disconcerting was that the Board demanded that every faculty and staff member show his devotion to Vision 1930 by donating half of his raise to help fund the $4,000 endowment in Imperative Six. Although this would have increased said endowment by $57.26, the faculty revolted by converting the average amount of $1.14 they would have contributed into pennies, nickels, and dimes. Led by Biology professor Levi Guittard, the faculty dug a series of trenches to the north of campus. And when Brooks and strolled onto campus one afternoon, he found himself pelted with loose change for nearly 45 seconds. Brooks immediately demanded that all of the change must be collected for the endowment ($44.21 was eventually found), and to give thanks to the faculty contributions, the trench area became known as Fort Faculty.
The really awful aftermath of this was that when President Brooks finally assumed emeritus status, he spent his remaining days searching for the rest of that $13.05 that was never recovered. You can still see vestiges of that tradition even today.
# posted by : 10:12 PM
: 10:12 PM << Home
