Promises kept

'U' should remain faithful to Rackham trust

People tend not to like change. So it is no great surprise that several student groups on campus, specifically a capella music groups such as 58 Greene and Amaizin' Blue, are upset about the upcoming adjustment of the University facilities policy involving the Horace H. Rackham graduate building. What these groups and other students on campus need to keep in mind is the historic significance and opportunity originally promised with the donation of this building that now, through the correction of these facility operations, will be able to exist more accessibly.

Historically, the development of the Rackham building was proposed to the Rackham Fund trustees in 1935 by then-University President Alexander Ruthven to provide for what he called, "the very heart of the University." In their decision to fund a graduate school building, the trustees specified the building must exist to enhance graduate student life on campus.

Arguably one of the most beautiful buildings on campus, made of Indiana limestone with a copper roof, marble staircases and bronze window casings and railings, the Rackham building has served as a valuable asset on campus, but often not for its intended purposes. Due to the wonderful acoustics and seating of the Rackham Auditorium, as well as easy accessibility to pianos found throughout the building, the Rackham building has come to serve as an ideal location for a capella music groups on campus to hold their concerts and events. Unfortunately, this type of student activity is now being regulated by the University due to the lack of graduate students involved, which goes against the deed of the building.

The building's original trust says that "among others, there are not to be any worship services, undergraduate activities or organizations, groups outside the University or theatrical performances using Rackham facilities."

While this has been allowed in the past, current Rackham Dean Earl Lewis said there had been confusion about the use of these facilities. When Rackham administrators met with University Production officials last spring, it was concretely explained that the graduate school is bound by law to follow the trust to the building word for word. This has now led to the Rackham administrators' decision to restrict its facilities, including the auditorium, to graduate student organizations only.

While it may be argued by some campus organizations, such as the a capella music groups, that there are not enough graduate student organizations to use or have a need to use the Rackham facilities, this can be changed. Aside from being an unarguable issue in the eyes of the law, this clearing of the auditorium schedule and other Rackham facilities provides a wonderful opportunity for graduate students to become more involved. At least it should.

In 1980, the Rackham building was recognized for its endurance and beauty by the Building Stone Institute's Tucker Award. This should serve as a motivating factor and reminder for all graduate students to use these facilities.

With such beautiful resources on campus dictated directly for their use, graduate students should take the opportunity to create more groups on campus and become involved.

10-15-99