New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-23
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
ROOM FOR WOMEN AT COLUMBIA.

ROOM FOR WOMEN AT COLUMBIA.
PRESIDENT BARSARD's TESTIMONY AS TO THE CA
PACiTY OF THE CLASS AND LECTURE ROOMS
To TIE Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The debate raised by DR.. Dix has maze
the influence his words carry felt far beyond the limits
Of Trinity Parish and Of Lent Those who advocate cd
vocational freedom for women. In opposition to Dr DIX
sincerely thankful TO him for attracting so mnch a
tention to subject thought and discussion upon when
cannot fail 10 the advancement of their cause
Enough has been written in dspassionate spirit 70
show that prejudice and vuperaton are by no means
the final elements In the contest. Time VIII snow "
what extent the trustees of Columbia College are e"s
in accord with Dr. Dix controlled by himi anu ai'o
to what extent they will subordinate his theories 10 '
demands expressed in popular sentiment ana suos''"
tated By the experience abundantly supplied by oher
universities where cocducaon has been in satisfactory
operation.
One of THE TRIBUSE's correspondents Few day "so
wrote Of the nature OF coeducaton as pracuseu ho'
only in universities and colleges but In all the churcho
opera houses theatres, halls ana homes
of York; indeed almost everywhere In the city OK
cept Columbia College And the ts tmony OF Professor
Newberry and Mr. Hewitt shows that mp 10 short tune
ago the daughters Of one the trustees and OF seVera
other highly esteemed citizens OF New YORK. Were very
satisfactorily coeducated at Columbia College In ceran
departments which they found attractive. Inc c'ei
of the law had been violated because the Violation was
entirely reaSOnaDc anu lue III" uCooi'S"'J
When It's existence became known instead OF aDroga'
ing IT, "a would have seemed most natural the trustees
deemed best TO rearm 1t and It Is since that date tht
the existing agitation has been naturally de'eiope"
The correspondent also raises question rs 10 the r
intent OF the signers OF the petition In hlhAng uioi
names to H. In asking freedom OF access Tor women W
ecnres ard examinations" were they petitioniI for
coeducation, as pracsed with the danghters OF MI
Hewitt Dr. AGnew, Dr. Torrey ana other ia'IeT vi wac
e. for parael education offered with sarcasm ny
DE- Dixs committee AS OF the signers OF the Pe
ton distinctly understood the FORMER inc peI''oh
was indeed not special plea for coeducauoh' rs VA
planned in the letter accompanying It, In that inc pres
ence Of young not speehcd rs IL necessity po
yldod Young women could have the benefit OF lectures
and by the professors OF Columbia College
II o professors prefer TO do double work In order TO
have their feminine audiences separate 1t Is their own
affair II they prefer economizing une ana energy W
allowing few women to sit presence OF the young
men as they'd few years ago. the petitioners nave DO
objection II Is the substance which they want ana not
tho shadow is instruction by the professors anu not
the liberty TO be instructed by outsiders examinations
and ploas rs the result OF instruction In tolnnba
Collage and not examinations outside with the mere
approval Of the professors.
Tho rornds on which the trustees have refused tho
petitIon are briefly two: FIRST poverty; second lack OF
space In the college buildings II they VIII abrogate
the law which was technically violated for many years
stances 10 carry out with rgor they will at once remove
much OF the alleged embarrassment Poverty prevents
them from putting up IA building for women ala
payng new professors 10 teach these ana hence the
nettioners are invited contribute 100000 for The
purpo.e This is wholly unnecessary There u no
danger OF an avalanche OF women In regard 10 lack
spoce in the college buildings there seems TO be some
adherence OF opinion between the president Ct the coli
ege and tho members OF DR. Dixs committee NOT qute
yeor AGO. lady who belon Ied 90 the executive com
mIttee OF the association from whom the petition orig
mated wrote President Barnard asking for spechc IN
formation as TO the seating capacity OF the various
lecture rooms and class-rooms I'm Columbia College.
The following quotation from his letter. tho original
beng In the possession OF the secretary OF the Asoca
ton for Promoting the Higher Education Of Women In
New-YOrk:
In the new college building In MRdison-aNe. there
are eight large lerturc-roOms OF equal dnrS"hs ne
signed for entire classes ana sixteen hnsrr Class
rooms designed for divided cassea, or sections: Ihe
largest class college at present has bnt ninety
students and class II only Oh rare occasions as al
semi-annual cxaminationsl assembled IN body. w
numbers of seats In these rooms sevealy, IRE "a l0i-