New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-28
CORNELL AND HER ALUMNI.
FINDING FAULT WITH HER MANAGEMENT

FINDING FAULT WITH HER MANAGEMENT.
REASONS GIVEN FOR THE DEcADENcE OF THE IN
suTUTIoN-soME PLAIN TALK.
Nearly fl ty members of the New-York Cornell
University Alumni Association met IN Union Square
Hall last night to listen to a report on the
condition of Cornell University by John
d. Warner. an alumni trustee of that
institution and to transact business relating to the
welfare of their alma mater. Ex-Assemblyman
Henry L. Sprague, the president of the ASSOCIATION,
was IN the chair All the prominent alumni of this
city were present. as it was anticipated that some
decided action would be taken regarding the policy
of the trustees of the university.
MIR. Warner prefaccd his report with the state
ment that he had taken great pains to investigate
the condition of the university and the policy OF
its trustees, and he SAID he proposed to give his
convictions firmly and fully. The total university
assets we're ST. 0OO OOO the total income was about
S4OO 600 On the whole, he thought the finances
of The university had been managed IN most
admirable manner. With the general policy of the
trustees however, there was much fault to be
found The management bad dctcriorated. This
showed itself particularly in the change In the pro-
fessors of the JUS tuition. Once such nonresident
professors MS Goodwin Smith and James Russell
Lowell had gwen lectures there and tho chars
were filled by such mon as Russell in history Glove
etc. Such small salaries had been pad, and such
plans folio Aed that men OF that stamp no longer
gave time TO the university. CCrncll thcn stOuh Ior
som, hing definite liberal ideas and freedom IN re-
hrinus thought. This had changed. There were
even attempts now made TO make the university
appear as q religious institution. whereas ~ sh u
no more take up the cause of religion than 1t should
| that OF intdell Y.
The numD,r OF students, the speaker stated, had
been gradually diminishing, not from the causes
usually glven-the failure OF the labor sy stem tne
absence abroad of President Nnlte. co-educatlon
attacks of the religious press and the RAISING OF the
standard IN stuileb-but because Tho university no
longer represented ceariy-deiined ideas ahout
which stu ents could cluster The ciaracicr OF
Coruelrs students had accordingly dctrrioiated;
they " ere not such men OF force as formerly,
only one OF the leading colleges belng on par or
Interior 10 il in this regard Tue attitude OF
the faculty toward the students IN thelr
methods OF government Mr.. Warner con
dcmned. The marking system ami school-boy
treatment of the students were wrong
| In conclusion he paid tribute 10 the genus ana
| ability of President White, yet expressed disap
proval of his absence from the university, ms CIV
ing SO much time political reforms and distrl0ut-
ug his energies and those OF the university over to"
! laTge a fed. Ho thought it time that new pohcy
| were adopted. . ,,
| he association adopted q resolution Of thanks
for the report with the request that II be presented
| 10 the alumni OF the university at lholr annual
/ meeting at commencement. Inc 1alo pan oI
| letter-whIch has lust pas 'ed the State Assembly
and IS nov before the Senate. was approved
| The Executive Committee presented resolutions
ling on the trustees OF the UNIVERSITY
| to at least 5000. These resolutions
| evoked much discussion and opposition. "e
| majority more than two 10 one hnallY TOOK
the ground that the aumll. IN the interest OF inc
with no uncertain sound and the resolutions were
| passed almost intact.