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Show HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAHProbably no institution of learning in the world was founded with higher ideals' than was the University of Utah, and as we, the students of 1932, look upon the University of today, we wonder a bit just how far the founders still expect us to go, what with Provo, Ogden and a few conscripts from the Allred family permeating the very life of the institution. Since the first session, in 1850, of the "University of Deseret,"* the enrollment has increased from 35to 3,600. This in the short time of 81 years! By the way, how short is 81 years? Perhaps it would be wise to look elsewhere for the solution-the class of '33 can ask Laura Snow and carry her answer to their graves, which opens another field.It was in the summer of 1848, scarcely one year afterthe founding of Great Salt Lake City-happy, happy, happy day!-that many pioneers spoke about a higher institution of learning - little they know! - where the "rising generation" might partake of that influence which would "make good citizens and upright men and women." And this is just the very thing that the University is doing, with perhaps a breath more emphasis on the influences than on, the upright.And so, not long after the establishment of a provisional government of the State of Deseret in 1849, Governor Brigham Young signed the ordinance for his family and the territory became a State-which provided for the University of Deseret. How many other individuals and institutions were provided for in the signing of this ordinance is not known, but it looked like fertile groundfor the birth of a Republican Party. And in doing this the pioneers of Utah established the first university west of the Missouri River! We can afford to give the pioneers this last exclamation point-they began the University. Besides we can afford a few exclamation points to the pioneers; we have quite a few at the present time. President Thomas is carrying on in behalf of the "rising generation" with his scholarly introduction of the Vanities into the curriculum-there was nothing new about the andeluvian chorus or the Thebian bids for the gallery favor. But there was something distinctly new in the combination of setting and Vanities-the congratulations really haven't been offered as yet; but they'll all be in within a few years, President Thomas hopes.The University of Deseret, or the "Parent School," as it was first called, had its first session in the home of John Park. John Park was a Baptist. He's a statue now.But the school was off to a new, stubborn start on a hillside somewhere between the lake and the artillery guns- it's hard to keep a military note out off this history!Tuition was paid in wheat, flour, potatoes, flour, building rock, lumber and bacon (an innovation) and other such goods as were of use to all-although President Orson Pratt did not care Tor bacon. He had no patience with new-fangled notions in victuals. But he did eat it, albiet he was so stubborn that he consumed it for four days before he let himself taste it-stern, unrelenting pioneers. Such steel could not but win out in the end. An appeal was made to Congress but to no avail. President Orson Pratt grew to like bacon, with perhaps a breath of taint, due to his reverence for tradition; and they carried on. My, such carryings on! You still see them.Ridiculous scene of Union Building, unforseen byfounders. X marks spot where Guss and Parryeluded injunctions.Page Three Hundred Eighteen |