For 33 years, the statue's provisional location was on the south campus behind Foellinger Auditorium, but the Alumni Association moved "Alma Mater" to Altgeld Hall on August 22, 1962, despite student dissent. The "Daily Illini" protested the new location as in the "worst possible taste; it makes the Alma Mater a debased, commercial ‘advertisement’ for the University.” Taft, whose father was the first geology professor at the University, lived for many years in Champaign at 601 E. John Street, less than two blocks from the site at Altgeld.