Louisiana State University Has tentatively budgeted between $9 and $14 million for a proposed new dental school at New Orleans, Dean William W. Frye said Kiday.
Dr. Frye, dean of the LSU medical school, said that he and his staff, together with
Dr. Martin Woodin, LSU executive vice-president, had arrived at the figures, two-thirds of which would be met through federal funds if approved.
Frye's remarks were made to the LSU board of supervisors who also Friday:
Voted to purchase a residence owned by State Mineral Board Chairman Hal S. Phillips for use by Dr. .John A. Hunter, LSU president. By resolution the board agreed to purchase the lakefront home for $185,000,
furnishings included, contingent on receipt of the money from the state bond and building commission.
Authorized application to the Housing and Home Finance Agency for $1,600,000 for additions to and renovation of Gra-; ham Hall and approve interi: financing. Graham Hall is men's dormitory.
Authorized applicatioij to FFHA for $2 million and apf proved interim financing for $ new women's dormitory, v i
SURPLUS PROPERTY
Heard a report that the Department of Health, Education anct Welfare has recommended to the U.S General Services Administration that 22 acres in New Orleans on which the Bienville Homes building project is situated be deeded to LSU. The property has been declared surplus by the federal government.
Heard a sharp exchange between two board members over proposals the university permit construction of sorority houses on university owned land and prepare the site for such construction. I Round one came on approval of the recommendation by a special committee which rescinded a previous resolution on financing of fraterntiy houses o include sororities and increase the minimum and maximum which could be, spent on such facilities.
The previous minimum of $80,000 was raised to $100,000 and the maximum from $160,-000 to $225,000. At the same time the board permitted the university a guarantee of up to $90,000, up from the original $60,000.
Board members Theo Cange-tosi, Baton Rouge, and Mrs. Ella V. Schwing, Plaquemine, cast the only "no" votes. Mrs. Schwing told the board she felt fraternities and sororities "are in the last phase." She said they are not operating today as was intended and predicted the end of the system in the future "Who can be buddy buddy with 100 people?" she asked.
Construction of Sorority houses, she claimed, means tha "drinking will increase many fold . . . and if any boarc member thinks there is no drinking in the dorms, he is whistling in the dark."
"Social conditions,'' she predicted/ "may mean the end of sororities controlled by national headquarters." Further, she I said, the "mortality rates of pledge! to sororities because of early marriages tends to weaken the ability of the organizations to guarantee financing of houses.
"I think you have been sold a bill of goods," she charged.
MEMBER REBUKED Later in the meeting, Tom Dutton, board member from New Orleans, and a chief proponent of sorority houses, sharply rebuked Mrs. Schwing. He said he was "embarrassed" by her charges and insisted her remarks were without foundation and were only her opinion. Mrs. Schwing answered: "I think Mr. Dutton has hit' below the belt ... if he says I spoke in questionable taste. I prefaced by remarks by saying it was my own opinion." To Dutton she said: "I think you have been a little cruel in what you have said."
Mrs. Schwing had . previously asked that she not be quoted on her remarks which concerned drinking and integration (although she used the expression social conditions and had not referred to race original-ly).
"I think the poor taste has been on your part instead of mine," she told Dutton.
Board member William Pitcher, Covington, told the board the special committees' recommendation "w a s not based on anything intangible or flighty. . . ." He said the committee had visited other universities and found that sororities were an \ integral part of the schools ". . . they have been here for years/'
Pitcher reminded that the board for years has held out the possibility of construction of sorority houses and added that such facilities would house 400 to 500 girls. Further, he said, if racial conditions mean the end of fraternities and sororities the houses could still be used for dormitories and the rentals amortize the cost."
Mrs. Schwing injected: "They would also make wonderful vice-presidents' homes."
NOT ON AGENDA
The question of a residence for the president was not included on the agenda handed the press, but was brought before the board by Pitcher during report on finances and lands.
Pitcher said that the immov- \ able property could be purchased for $165,000 and the furnishings for $20,000, declaring the replacement value of house and furnishings was really closed to $300,000. He said Phillips had not approached the board, but had been sought out by members of the board. Baton Rouge realtors Verdie Reece Perkins, and Heidel Brown appraised the property for the board.
The home faces University Lake on the opposite side from the LSU campus but adjoining about an acre of property on a
penninsula presently owned by LSU.
lhe university had provided a idence for the president in y/jfars past, but Gen. Troy Mid-feton vacated the home on the ampus, preferring his own, off campus home. The old residence was converted to offices for alumni activities and Dr. Hunter has occupied his own home since "his inauguration.
Pitcher pointed out that every state college provides a residence for their president and said this was also true of most major universities. Board members raised no question and voted to agree to the purchase contingent on approval of necessary funds by the bond and building commission.
REPORT FROM DEAN They were invited to visit the Phillips residence following^ the board meeting for an inspection. The board also heard a detailed report from Dean Cecil G. Taylor, of the college of arts and sciences relative to development plans and future needs for staffs and buildings.
Also reported were plans to project the university's graduate school program to other branches of the university system.
When Dr. Frye reported to the board regarding the dental school, he said that he had recently spent a day with Health, Education and Welfare Department representatives in Washington.
Frye said that actual appropriation of funds has not yet been voted by Congress, although they have authorized expenditures of federal funds for construction, research and teaching, and loans to students. He said that a letter of intent will be filed with HEW regarding LSU's plans to build a dental school at N e w Orleans. Frye told the board that there were two alternate plans — one utilizing some of the medical school property and facilities which would run to approximately $9-million, and one which would utilize a completely new site and facilities, which would mean approximately $14-million. Of this the federal government would provide two-thirds of the cost if approved by HEW. In other actions the board: Authorized Dr. Hunter to negotiate with the state department of hospitals for the sale of six acres in Acadia parish owned by the university.
Authorized Hunter, to ^ ate the release of a lease for 15 acres of land in Acadia Parish owned by the police jury.
Heard from Mrs. Schwing that she had taken a $25,000 life insurance policy on which she will pay $1,300 annual premiums, the proceeds of which will be dedicated to the LSU library.
Heard a report on enrollments which showed a total of 13,130 students on the main campus in Baton Rouge, a total of 4,352 (858 night students) at LSUNO,; 435 students on the Alexandria! campus, 507 at the LSU School\ iof Medicine at New Orleans,1 and 90 at the department of nursing. The grand total is now 18,520.
