The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-18
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.

In the Baton Rouge Cdpitotian, OF the tenth,
there appears q very interesting communca-
ton on the subject of the State University.
or course we are not prepared to say
that the criticisms and complaints con-
tained In the letter referred to are just.
The question. however, Is interesting because
it relates to the University, and hence COM
mend5 itself to the attention OF every one
who has at heart the welfare Of the State
Certainly we should be very sorry to believe
that the Cupitoliams correspondent has &C
curatey stated the case. especially when he
says that the obj scts OF the University are
being lost sight OF and It's usefulness de-
stroyed through mismanagement and tue ar
bitrary exercise OF autocratlo power.
II his version be correct, the cause
OF higher education cannot long sur
yiye the terrible burdens imposed upon
1t now. He insists that the military feature
OF the course has been given such q predom-
nance as to seriously prejudice, II not to IA
tally iniure the interests OF general eduea-
ton: that the authority is vested absolutely
In one man, who rules without consulting or
even considering the views OF the faculty, and
whose administration has lost the University
the moral support aud sympathy OF the peo-
Die of Baton Rouge. And Ii this be true, or
only half true, 1t Is not difficult to credit the
further assertion that the University can
never be made to promote the purposes 1t was
organized to serve, but must steadily and
rapidly lose influence
The correspondence closes with summary
or the changes which the writer concelves
are necessary prellminaries to the establish
ment OF any healthy condition OF affairs
within the University. Most of the sugges-
tons embodied In the list are excellent on the
face Of them, though 10 publishing them we
do not commit ourselves to the assumption
that the converse OF the propositions In
volved represents the situation In the uni
| versity:
| i. Those military features which conflict with
advancement IN q literary and social point OF
yisW should DO abolished.
4 M.ans should b ad opted to bring the stu
| dents into Intimate association with the tier
class OF cniz9us OF baton kluge, 30 taat the a.
/ stu tents on the one hand m y b banettei Dy
| tho refining Influences OF society. ana the clti,
| zens on the other may ba led to tahe more and
1 NOR interest In literary tastes and unite with
| the Z liv rstv in rlevdting the standard OF cd
| nc at N in the State
| 3. The entire organic structure shou'd pe
GAGGED giving the faculty. la oonlunctt N win
| the president, TIE power OF shaping inc couts
| and aims Of the institution. on the common
4 prtnciuls that twelve ads better than one.
i 1 The regulations OF al cinlina should be
| mad def aite, removing all discretionary polo-
| RS whatever, and thus giving u quality Oh sLt-
| hiiity to everything done and preventing any
| charge or even chsnca OF pArttAltty.
| S The boarding arrangements should be no
| nart OF the institu TOO. but should b3 In the
| b nds OF a regular hotcl keeper. to, whom
IL ne the students should be responsible for
| b ard. ,,,..,,
| ltshei IN connection with the university. or
| -tand.ld Of Requirement. for entrance. otnar,
| wise the Institution can never become scnooi
Of higher grade.
The fact is that this Is matter which ought
to be carefully investigated by comp 1teat
authority, and the conclusions arrived at duly
published, before people can make up their
minds as t. the facts and the necessities OF
the case. One thing seems very certatn-we
cannot aft ord to have the efficiency and the
usefulness of the State University in qu4s-
ton. If the complaints referred to are I'M
| founded Ii would do good to ell concerned to
have the fact made known. IL they are true
! something should unquestionably be done, and