1942 Cedrus Yearbook

he giolut ate p The present conflict has emphasized the need for trained leaders in every field. Its use of leadership drawn from practically every walk of life has further intensified the need even in those fields far removed from actual combat. Moreover, it is generally agreed that the social, political, agricultural and industrial problems of the post-war era will demand a very much larger number of qualified leaders. Cedarville College has had a great history in the training of leaders. The record of her alumni and students has been an unusual one. Furthermore, Cedarville has always made her training available at a very low cost. But she has long believed that many more worthy boys and girls were kept from this training largely by finances. Indeed, authorities tell us that one-third of the most promising graduates of our high schools do not enroll in either colleges or universities. The reason is largely one of finances. After careful study of this problem, the Board of Trustees has voted to acquire a farm as the first step toward a student self-help pro- gram. This farm together with related student industries will provide many new working op- portunities and materially reduce student costs. The reasons for the acquisition of a farm as the basic part of an enlarged student self- help program are: 1. We are situated in an unusual farming area. THIS IS Greene County with its very largedeposit of limestone is one of nature's gardens de- signed for producing abundant harvests. 2. The students will consume many of the products of the farm. The surplus products will have a ready sale in the open market, thereby solving the sales problem of our work program. 3. Although native ability is confined to no section of our country, yet it is generally conceded that boys and girls from rural areas have exceptional qualifications for leaders, especially where there must be a re- lationship between what one knows and what he does. Their early contact with the soil and the creative forces of life has given them unusual success in fields where lead- ership is demanded. The basic farm-work program will tend to develop those deep- rooted character and personality traits so much in demand. Careful studies carried on during the past several years have convinced us that the sum of $100,000 will be needed during the next three years to develop the student-operated farm, to initiate on a small scale other indus- tries that would grow out of it, and to make those capital improvements necessary to carry the experiment beyond its formative stages into "production" on a self-maintaining basis. Of this amount approximately one-half would be devoted directly to the building up of the farm and other basic student-employing industries. The remainder would be used for labor grants and loans to needy students, college improve- ments and equipment, including student hous- ing, necessary salary increases and budget re- quirements until the self-help project is fully developed. CED A R VILL E CO