"Congratulations students on your new venture and I wish you well," replied Governor Williams when asked to make a statement directed to the students of Western by a Herald reporter. "Let me congratulated the students of Western Michigan for the interest they have demonstrated in the course of the passage of this bill--not only for their enthusiasm and energy, but for the dignity in which they conducted themselves," continued the governor.
"The bill officially making Western a university was signed by the governor at 10:20 a.m. on Tuesday, February 26 in the capitol building in Lansing. Williams signed the actual bill with several pens and then passed these around to various persona present, giving the first one to President Paul V. Sangren."
"Convocation To Be Held Today--3:30 p.m.
Later in the day on March 1, the campus community was invited to the Men's Gym to hear President Sangren and Dr. Dunbar, among others, speak about the "significance of the Name 'University." The major, campus officials, and alumnus were all invited to speak, music was performed, and an invocation and benediction was offered by the pastor of a local church.
The remaining pages of the issue focus on the changes the University will undergo based on it's new status. Increases to enrollment, appropriations from the state, and the continued expansion of campus were among those issues.
"What They Think"
The presidents of Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Wayne State University (the three other Universities in the state at the time) all gave praise for Western and it's new status as the fourth university in Michigan.
"It's a Reality"
Another article outlined the various name changes the school has seen since it's founding as Western State Normal School in 1903. Western Herald editions published after each of these name changes will be posted to MyWMU.com in the coming weeks.
View more Western Herald editions here.