1964 Statement by NU President Dr. J. Roscoe Miller

Below is the 1964 document followed by its transcription.

Spotlight has put in bold the passage that is pertinent to the 2019 issue (proposed text amendment to change the U2 District zoning ordinance to allow professionals sports and for-profit events).

In order to justify the university's tax exempt status, President Dr. J. Roscoe Miller used the argument of "rejecting inducements" by outside entities that wanted their commercial events at the U2.

June 29, 1964

A STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY - DR. J ROSCOE MILLER

Northwestern university is unique among universities in the Big Ten. It is the only institution not supported by taxes. It must maintain its educational standards and compete for faculty and students by relying on its own resources.

Northwestern’s budget – not based on tax levies – is met by income from student fees, endowment funds, and voluntary donations from corporations, charitable foundations and individuals, including alumni and others who desire to support an independent university, which does not rely upon state or local taxes.

Northwestern benefitted from legislative action more than 100 years ago, whereby it was privileged to hold up to 2,000 acres of land in Illinois free of all property taxes. This included not only property used for educational purposes but also so-called income properties, wherein income was derived from rentals and leaseholds.

The landholdings of Northwestern in Evanston have been reduced in 100 years from approximately 700 acres to 153.3 acres of educational property producing no income, and to 18.6 acres of income property of which the improvements on 12.6 acres are taxable. The latter yield the City of Evanston approximately $235,000 annually in tax revenues.

The University’s landholdings in Evanston, including educational properties, total 183.1 acres and contribute 3.5 % of the land area in the City.

Evanston has been preserved as a City of colleges, schools, churches, hospitals, charitable and educational foundations, research centers, homes and a business district adequate for its service requireemnts.

The various charitable, educational, eleemosynary and allied enterprises enjoy a tax-free status under state law. Their combined acreage exceeds the landholdings of Northwestern. The character of the City has been in large measure determined by the presence of those public and philanthropic enterprises and by the preservation of a setting in keeping with their purposes.

From time to time efforts have been made by City authorities to have the University assume some direct financial burden in maintaining the normal functions of the City government. Where direct legislation has been sought to accomplish this purpose, it has been uniformly unsuccessful. On the other hand, where the City has sought cooperative efforts along particular lines of civic endeavor, Northwestern has been a willing partner and participant in planning and contributing to civic enterprises.

Tangible contributions by the University to the City over the years have been significant and of enduring value. Northwestern has worked in close harmony with Evanston authorities in City planning programs. The University has made donations of land to churches, school districts and parks, paving of streets and sidewalks and the installation of sewage and drain tiles where the joint interests of the City and University were involved. Northwestern has on occasion donated land or sold it below market value to aid in promoting the public interest.

Most recently, Northwestern was faced with the necessity of expanding its Evanston campus to meet its commitments to the cause of higher education. Mindful of its concern for the welfare of our Evanston neighbors, and of fidelity to the proposition of not removing any more land than necessary from the tax rolls, Northwestern was compelled to incur an indebtedness of 6.5 million in the creation of the lake fill campus.

All in all the University has endeavored with considerable success to be a good neighbor and a willing partner in what essentially has been a common undertaking to preserve the integrity of Evanston as a choice residential community.

There are many reasons why Northwestern cannot abandon its policy and prerogative with regard to the proposed payment of taxes or their equivalent to the City of Evanston.

Aside from the legal implications and complications, which are onerous and disturbing, there is the fundamental; objection to having the University treated differently than are other institutions of learning, churches, parochial schools, hospitals, tax-free foundations and other eleemosynary groups attracted to Evanston and which have helped to make Evanston the City that it is.

A few days before Dr. Roscoe Miller's statement, The Evanston Review published an article about Miller's decision not to allow Dyche Stadium to be used by a professional football team.

Evanston Review

June 4, 1964

N.U. Shuts Door to Pro Ball Play

Miller Bars Stadium Use as City Readies Protest

Northwestern University closed the door this week to the use of Dyche Stadium by a professional football team, but not before the city council joined the growing protest to the proposal.

Pres. J. Roscoe Miller of the university issued a statement saying that "in what we believe to be the best interests of the community. Northwestern will not entertain any proposal from the American Football League."

Without knowledge of the statement, the city council Monday night ordered the preparation of a resolution of protest to the plan for action by the council at next Monday's session.

Two Groups protest

The council heard two resolutions by organizations and three letters from individuals objecting to the stadium being used by a pro team.

The resolutions were from the Evanston Council of Churches and the board of commissioners of the North East Park District.

The church council noted Sunday games would violate the traditional spirit in Evanston regarding commercial and business activities on Sundays, the dangerous and annoying situation to churchgoers caused by the increased traffic and the "influx of certain undesirable activities.”

N.U. Issues a statement

The statement by Northwestern's president said:

"A Texas businessman, Nash J. Dowdle, and his Chicago associates have been holding discussions with Evanston officials concerning the practicability of establishing a professional football team in the Chicago area.

"Simultaneously, overtures have been made to Northwestern University for the use of Dyche Stadium by the proposed American Football League-franchised team. While such an arrangement would mean a substantial financial advantage to the university, we feel it would be offensive to our neighbors.

"In deference to their wishes and what we believe to be the best interests of the community, Northwestern will not entertain any proposal from the American Football League."

The same resolutions given to the council were presented this week to Northwestern trustees.

Address N.U. Trustees

A letter to the Northwestern board of trustees, accompanying a copy of the resolution passed by the Council of Churches also urged the board to meet "immediately" to issue a statement of policy "which will prevent this type of commercial use of Dyche Stadium now and in the future."

"This problem arose in 19[...] and again this year. Its recurrence should be prevented," the letter reads.

The resolution adopted by the board of commissioners of the North East Park District says that use of the stadium for professional football games "will affect deleteriously the area encompassed by the Park District in the matter of traffic, parking and congestion” and "will interfere with the recreational and cultural activities in the district.”