Veritas, Vol. 25, No. 06, March 1985

              Vol. 24 No. 6
For the Faculty, Staff and Friends of the University of Miami
March 1985
Allen, Knight honored at dedication
by Todd Ellenberg
It was an afternoon of ceremony, salutation and celebration.
Several hundred guests provided a spirit of jubilance for the dedication of the Dean M. Robert Allen Hall of the School of Continuing Studies and a salute to the individual most responsible for its creation, James L. Knight.
“This is a very, very important day in the history of the University of Miami,” said James W. McLamore, chairman of the University Board of Trustees. “We finally have an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Jimmy Knight for all the things he’s done ... No one has done what you’ve done for us.”
The philanthropy of Knight, chairman emeritus of Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc., helped to underwrite the costs of Allen Hall, the International Conference Center in downtown
Miami that bears his name, and several other facilities throughout the University, and to provide scholarship support.
Allen, who retired in 1983 after 20 years of service, holds the titles Dean Emeritus, School of Continuing Studies, and Professor Emeritus of Education. Under his leadership, the University’s continuing education activities gained national recognition for their innovation and responsiveness to the needs of South Florida residents. In 1974 he was named the first dean of the School of Continuing Studies.
“We are here to celebrate two very good lives and what they stand for,” said President Edward T. Foote II.
A special guest at the proceedings was former University President Henry King Stanford, who discussed his relationship with Knight and Allen — which he phrased “a tale of two men.”
A word about James Iv. Knight
“I have sort of grown up with Miami, the University and The Miami Herald,” James L. Knight, chairman emeritus of Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc., said a few years ago. “In fact, we’ve all grown up together. I adopted the University of Miami years ago because I admired the drive and persistence of its leaders to assure the University’s place in the galaxy of great centers of learning.”
Knight moved to Miami nearly 50 years ago when he and his brother, John, purchased The
Miami Herald. It was a time when the city and the University were in their infancy.
Over the years, the Knights built the nation’s largest newspaper group, Miami emerged as one of the country’s great international cities and the UM became the largest private research university in the Southeast. And throughout the University’s history, James L. Knight has done much to assure its continued growth and excellence.
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James W. McLamore (at podium) tells of James L. Knight's generosity to the UM. Those seated are (left to right) M. Robert Allen and his wife, Jane; Knight and his wife, Mary Ann; and President Edward T. Foote II.
“Bob (Allen) had dreamed of a great facility where people in the community could come and recharge their intellectual batteries,” he said. “The paths of these two great men crossed in the Faculty Club at the University of Miami with me.”
For years, the School of Continuing Studies was based in the Merrick Building on the Coral Gables campus, and classes were given at scattered locations around campus on a space-available basis. A central location and new facility was needed to give the School impetus for the future.
With funds provided by the James L. Knight Charitable Trust and other donors, groundbreaking for the $3 million Allen Hall was held April 28, 1982. Construction of the facility was completed in August 1983.
“I’ve been in a state of shock for the past few days knowing this (event) was going to happen,” Allen said. “We, in the rank and file of faculty or administration, do not have buildings named after us ... The University of Miami is a great and tremendous resource to this community”
Iron Arrow, the University’s first honorary and service fraternity, admitted women into its ranks for the first time at an official “tapping” ceremony recently on the Iron Arrow Mound in front of the Whitten Student Union.
Iron Arrow w~as founded in 1926 by then UM President Bowman Foster Ashe, to serve as a men’s honorary and service fraternity, based upon the ideals and traditions of the Seminole Indians. Their continuing project is the collection and preservation of literature, artifacts and other information concerning the Seminoles.
The tapping of women to membership came after more than 10 years of court battles, and pressure from the University and the former Department of Health. Education and Welfare to end its sexual discrimination policies.
During ceremonies on the Iron Arrow Mound in front of the Student Union, Dorothy Ashe Dunn, daughter of Bowman Ashe, was the first woman tapped for membership. Dolores Chambreau and Helene Kichefski were then tapped. Others tapped at the ceremony or at later times were Janie Locke-Anderson, Jean Cobum, Jorge Duyos, Suzanne Graham, Sherra Greenspan, Ahmed Sabri Ismail, Jeffrey Levy. Howard Manten, UM Board of Trustees Chairman James McLamore,
Jack Peck, William Sheeder, Daniel Thomas, and Kathryn Whitten.
Following the tapping, the Iron^ Arrow plaque in the Ashe Building Lobby was rededicated in commemoration of the organization’s return to the University community. Following the ceremonies, new and old members attended a luncheon with Miccosukee Chief Buffalo Tiger as guest of honor.
“I commend the recent efforts of the University of Miami in bridging the gap of understanding between the University and its oldest and most prestigious honor society,” said Dago-berto Quintana, Chief of Iron Arrow. “Membership in Iron Arrow will now be the highest honor attainable, and will truly represent the University community.
“Our 12-year effort in this issue began out of love and respect for our Alma Mater, and we’re looking forward to re-emphasizing that love and respect in the years to come.” Quintana said.
In 1976, Henry King Stanford, then UM President, expelled Iron Arrow from the University’s campus, and barred it from officially participating in any University activities, because of its gender-exclusive practices which did not conform to University policy. But Stanford promised that if those practices were changed, the organiza-
tion would be allowed to return.
Last month, members of Iron Arrow voted to change their constitution to include an amendment which states that “no separate gender-based criteria shall exist for the selection of any member.”
The amendment extends to women members the same rights and privileges as their male counterparts:
• Women will be eligible for selection
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Dorothy Ashe Dunn (just left of center) is the first person led toward the Iron Arrow membership ceremony. The second person neu’ly tapped, Dolores Chambreau (left), follows.