There would be no more classroom lectures; exams; Greyhound Hall where Couch and a skeletal staff had the task of closing up ball games; dances, theatre productions or music recitals. An Yankton College. educational institution and an entity that contributed immeasurably So limited were the cash resources, payroll could not even be to the quality of life for many in the community - in sports, in met and the United Church of Christ membership stepped in theater, in music would vanish. offering their assistance by creating an emergency Relief Fund for The seriousness of the situation came to light shortly after twelfth the college employees. In times of need or not throughout the life YC president, Edward Couch was of the college, the UCC membership inaugurated earlier that fall. The (many of them YC alums) generously decision to close was made after the supported the school, because of their grave financial picture finally became close association since its founding. known after weeks of analysis and an Like a death in the family, many in-depth audit. The first college in close to YC felt bitterness and anger, an Dakota Territory was a victim of debt, early symptom of natural grief. But small enrollment, an over-extended the vast majority responded with curriculum and no endowments. To dignity and restraint. A few random save the school, estimations of raising acts of vandalism by students and nearly $3,000,000 were determined some untimely finger-pointing were necessary. The majority of the board the exceptions. Legal entanglements of trustees thought the deficit was just and multiple claims arose from area too great to go on any further. businesses, faculty, students and even Couch admitted to the press, “The YC alumni visit the Yankton College office during an All-Class Reunion to President Couch sued (who charged decision seems cruel from a human the trustees did not tell him how bad see the historic collection of college memorabilia. point of view, but from a legal and off the college really was when hired). financial viewpoint, the trustees had no choice.” It was a very sad By the following February, one-third of the faculty had found day, indeed. Their yes vote put 118 faculty and other employees employment and 90% of the students were transferred to other out of work, lost $1.4 million in annual payroll in the Yankton colleges (many opting for Yankton’s Mount Marty College). As a community and forced 220 students to seek their education special request, over forty displaced seniors returned in May to elsewhere (particularly seniors who scrambled for a final semester graduate from their alma mater on the YC campus for the 98th and somewhere before they could enter the work force). last commencement convocation ever to be held at Yankton College recruiters from 28 schools arrived immediately hoping to College. expand their own college enrollments and help students. The Meanwhile, questions were raised about the unforeseen South Dakota Board of Regents authorized state schools to accept financial crisis and those involved tried addressing them the best YC students with a minimum loss of credit hours. Scholarships were they could. One Christian viewpoint emphasized the remarkable lost and financial packages were at risk causing problems of one value of the “Yankton experience” and its positive impact in keeping kind or another with the transfers. A flag on the soon-to-bethe Yankton College spirit alive even through future generations deserted campus flew at half mast on Friday, December 21, and that the years of fiscal giving from alums, friends, Yankton demonstrating the traumatic period on the Hill. residents and the UCC churches were “not considered a waste (and An executive committee voted to file for reorganization under apparently not enough) but a tribute of providing thousands of Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code. The campus buildings students with 103-years worth of educational excellence.” were padlocked, pipes drained and utilities shut off except at Ward YANKTON COLLEGE continued on page 20 In Your Time Of Need... We’ll Be Here For You •Traditional Services • Cremation Services • Prearrangement Planning Guiding and serving families with compassion and trust. Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton Tami Keller Memorial Resource Center, Tyndall • Memorial Chapels, Tyndall, Tabor & Menno Funeral Director 665-9679 • 1-800-495-9679 • www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com HERVOICE MAY/JUNE 2014 v 11