The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-07-07
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.

THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS.
BLOOMINGTON. IND, June %, 1874.
To the Public:
In accordance with custom of long stand.
ing the board of trustees ofthe Indiana State
University appointed the undersigned a
committee of visitation, on behalf of the peo-
pie, for the inspection of their institution.
Our instructions were to make two visits,
one at any time during the year to suit our
convenience, and the other at the close of
the last term, and also to furnish a report TO
the trustees of the results ofour observations.
Having made detailed report of our vista
ton to the faculty and trustees, we have
also been requested to present statement of
the practical workings of the university to
the people Of the state We have made the
visits, as requested by the trustees, and
have instituted careful scrutiny into the
working OF the university. We congratu-
late the people of the state that there is such
a college at the head of our great common
school system. IL should be a source of
satisfaction to every lover of popular edu-
cation, that place has been perfected
whereby the primary schools of the state
have been brought into harmonious union
with the state university, thereby offer
ing to the children of the commonwealth
continuous and complete course of culture.
/ Ibis arrangement is one OF great advantage
| to the lower schools as well es to the univef-
sity. To the children of the former it offers
the highest incentive to active exertion: to
the latter it presents wider field for useful
ness in the increased number of youth that
will come up from the schools, and in their
more thorough preparation for collegiate
study. 1t was feared that if any union
were effected between the extremes OF the
common school system, it must be made
at the expense OF the higher institution.
Such fears have not been realized and need
not DE further entertained. No change has
been made either in the quality, or in the
amount of instruction afforded by the uni
versity. No abatement has been made i'm
the number or in the amount of the studies.
ana the statistics of the institution show
that in the study of the ancient languages
there is larger per cent. of students en-
gagged than ever before There is another
aspect in which the
PRESENT CONDITION
of the University may be viewed, compared
with the past, that is extremely gratifying.
Then, students of but one sex occupied the
halls-now the daughters of the people have
an equal chance for culture with their
brothers. The change has brought with il
signal advantages, not alone TO one sex but
to both. Each has assisted the other. The
manners and the morals of the young men
have undergone a remarkable TRANSFORMED
ton; where rudeness and vulgarity were
formerly the rule, now they are found to
be the exception. Nor has the intel
lectual training of the students suffered
any loss by the introduction of the
young women. A fair comparison will show
that the young lad les are in 10 respect infe-
rior to their brethren in all the qualities that
go to make the scholar. Formerly, and it
was not long ago, the number of students in
attendance at an institution was about the
only standard by which it's success
measured. We are glad to be able to state
that the University has passed the point
when her usefulness can be measured in that
way: While she strives to benefit every in
dividual who comes to claim her services, she
will not attempt 10 do it st the sacrifice OF
scholarship At the beginning of the present
year large number OF applicants were per-
mitted to leave the institution because they
were unwilling to have the faculty deter
mine their standing and classification. We
look upon this action of the faculty as emil
nentlY wise, and commend both faculty and
trustees for their determination to make
scholarship and not numbers the evidence
of excellence. We have seen the students
in their recitation rooms, and we have been
permitted to examine the papers that they
prepared as tests of their training. From the
evidences, we have been able to
make comparison Of this years
work with that of former years,
and it is gratifying TO know that
such comparison proves the superior ex-
cellence OF this years work. The papers
generally give evidence of good training
neatness and accuracy are their prevailing
characteristics, while the care bestowed upon
composition, spelling and penmanship,
shows the faithfulness of the faculty in look
ing after these important though frequently
neglected subjects. The recent erection of
a new building for the accommodation of
the law school, the laboratory, and the mu-
scum of natural history, affords additional
proof of the determination of the
trustees to spare pains ex-
pense to render the institution one of
the best in the country. In conclusion, we
are exceedingly gratified to be able to say
to the people of the state, that they have now
an Institution in every way worthy Of their
confidence and esteem place to which
their sons and daughters may be sent with
reasonable assurance that they will re-
ceive that culture which the spirit of the
age demands. ALEX. NJ. Cow,
w. 4. BELL,
JOHN !. MORRISON.
Approved by the board of trustees, and
ordered published.
WILLIAM K. EDWARDS,
President, pro tenn.
ROBERT G. FOSTER, secretary.