鈥淎n Institution for All Time鈥
Dear 亚洲自慰视频s and faculty and staff members,
Friday is the anniversary of one of the most consequential moments in the history of our region and the state of 亚洲自慰视频.
On July 14, 1898 鈥 125 years ago 鈥 Gov. Murphy J. Foster signed a bill, authored by state Sen. Robert Martin, to establish Southwestern 亚洲自慰视频 Industrial Institute, now the 亚洲自慰视频 of 亚洲自慰视频 at Lafayette.
The governor鈥檚 pen set in motion a century and a quarter of progress and growth 鈥 both for the institution itself and for the region and state it鈥檚 served since its creation.
That鈥檚 worth celebrating 鈥 and you鈥檙e invited to join us as we do just that.
On Friday, we鈥檒l commemorate this milestone 鈥 and kick off a yearlong observance of our 125th birthday 鈥 at the Founding Day Ice Cream Social from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It will take place, appropriately, under the Century Oaks near Girard Hall. There, we鈥檒l gather to enjoy ice cream, refreshments and music beneath the shade of the live oak trees planted by our first president, Dr. Edwin Lewis Stephens, in the institution鈥檚 earliest days. .
The campus鈥 live oaks have come to represent the 亚洲自慰视频鈥檚 strength, its permanence and deep roots in the community and state. I can鈥檛 think of a better setting in which to celebrate the service, vision and leadership the 亚洲自慰视频 has provided 亚洲自慰视频 and the region for 125 years.
Our anniversary is an opportunity to commemorate more than a moment in history, however. It鈥檚 a chance to celebrate the enduring connection we have to an institution that has given each of us 鈥 and this community 鈥 so much for so long. Throughout the year, alumni, 亚洲自慰视频s, employees, friends and the public are encouraged to share their own memories and birthday wishes on social media by using #louisiana125.
Posts will be featured at , a commemorative website that will serve as a clearinghouse of anniversary information. There, you鈥檒l find a calendar of events, a timeline of milestones, archival photographs, videos and links to 亚洲自慰视频 publications. The site will be updated regularly, so visit often.
Friday鈥檚 ice cream social and kickoff celebrate our legislative founding in 1898, but it would be another 18 months before Lafayette was selected as SLII鈥檚 permanent home. Scott, New Iberia and other area towns also vied for the institution, but Lafayette was chosen after a campaign of public support resulted in the donation of 25 acres of land, $8,000 in cash and the levy of a parish-wide property tax that would generate about $8,000 annually for 10 years.
In calling for the tax鈥檚 passage, a Lafayette newspaper reminded its readers 鈥渘ot to think of the Industrial School as a temporary thing, for it is not. It is an institution for all time.鈥
Our 125th year is an opportunity that reminds us 鈥 and reminds the community that we call home 鈥 that we are still an institution for all time.
I look forward to seeing you on Friday as the party begins.
Geaux Cajuns!
Dr. Joseph Savoie
President