UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 26, Page 2
April 6, 1995
Eulogy, campus update at semi-annual meeting

     The late James Mercer Merrill, professor emeritus of history, was
recalled as witty lecturer and a prolific writer by his colleague at
the semiannual faculty meeting held Monday.
     Merrill, who died March 22, was graduated from UCLA in 1954 and
taught at Whittier College in California before joining the University
of Delaware faculty in 1966. A former Guggenheim Fellow, his teaching
and research were centered on American military and naval history. His
many books included such titles as The Rebel Shore: Union Sea Power in
the Civil War to Target Tokyo: The Halsey-Doolittle Raid.
     Remembering his colleague, Raymond Wolters said that Dr. Merrill,
who also served as editor of the University of Delaware Press,
displayed "a fine sense of humor and a caring attitude toward his
students."
     After the eulogy,  University President David P. Roselle provided
the faculty an update on construction projects and energy conservation
measures, admissions and contributions.
     When the new student center on Main Street is completed next
spring, Roselle told the faculty that the older Perkins Student Center
then will close for major renovations. He also noted that the Campaign
for the Colburn Laboratory renovation has raised $4,357,000 in gifts
and pledges towards the University's $7 million share of the $22
million project.
     Roselle also announced that MBNA America, the nation's second
largest credit card company, has pledged $2.5 million over five years
to support a new building for the College of Business and Economics
and renovation of Purnell Hall, home to the college since 1972. With
this gift, he said, the University has raised $3.7 million toward the
$4 million needed.
     Although Taylor Hall once housed a shooting range for the ROTC,
an indoor track and a swimming pool, it now houses state-of-the-art
photography and art studios, the president said. Renovation of
Recitation Hall and its annex will continue during the summer.
     To reduce energy consumption, the University has replaced water
chillers and boiler controls with the most energy-efficient units
available, Roselle said. The University is also working with Honeywell
Corp. on $1.8 million of "energy-avoidance" projects in seven building
complexes.
     Admission news also is positive, Roselle said, with freshman
applications up by more than 300,  high school GPA "a little higher
than last year" and identical SAT scores.
     He added that applications from African-American students are up
23 percent and applications from Hispanic students are up 26 percent.
The $5.2 million in scholarship support available this year represents
a 10 percent increase.
     Contributions to the University are increasing, as well, the
president said. Alumni contributions through February nearly doubled
over last year's total at that time, while the number of alumni
supporting the University has increased by 47 percent. Employee
support is also up. In fiscal year 1994, employees contributed
$279,000. This year, nearly 600 employees already have contributed
more than $353,000.
                                                        -Cornelia Weil