The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-09-01
Ere another issue of our paper, tn,


Ere another issue of our paper, the
University will have commenced
new collegiate year. No other period
in the history of the University has
been fraught with so much interest
to the friends of the institution. Al
though no past year has been filled
with so many difficulties and dis
couragements, we can see no reason
why its friends should be disheart-
ened.
The attendance for this year may
not be SO large as in some former
years. But this is not the fault of
the management of the University
The causes which led to this state
of affairs are numerous. When the
curriculum was abolished and the
studies we're arranged in schools, the
road to graduation was through the
same studies, only, instead of tying
the student to an inflexible routine
OF study for four years, he was allowed
to take his course through the vari-
Gus schools, and when he had received
the necessary certificates and diplo-
mas from the various schools, he
presented himself for graduation
from the University. Thus it will be
seen that the course of study is es-
sentially the same as under the old
curriculum system, with the excep-
ton of the fact, that each Professor
is in charge Of his own school, and
is supposed to give it all the benefits
of his time, study and experience.
1t will be readily seen by the I'M
prejudiced reader that there was
nothing in the above change to cause
the stampede which followed upon its
introduction. No student thirsting
for knowledge, will turn from the
fountain, because the stream has been
purified and increased. There was
another agency also at work. The
Faculty in their efforts to elevate the
University above its contemporaries,
and place it upon higher plane of
excellence, changed the system of
marking, so that a student WAS
obliged to be far more proficient than
formerly to obtain the same standing
as before. Herein lay the cause of
the so-called Exodus. The mushroom
growth of students, those who de-
sired to flourish, upon the surface,
without delving for the riches that
lay stored beneath them, turned away
from the institution where good, hard,
honest work called for honors. At
this juncture catalogues from other
colleges literally flooded the Univers-
ity, telling the students how easy it
would be to graduate, explaining to
them that they could easily enter
classes, which they knew they were
not qualified to enter here, and the
students who were only in search of
diplomas, eagerly turned to other
States where sheepskins are cheap.
The thoughtful student remained for
he saw glorious future ahead, he
could dimly pierce the future years,
and see the University with its sys-
tenn perfected and regulated, mighty
power in our State.
At Commencement, last year, our
college promised fair to begin its as
cent this year. Alas! sit never rains,
but pours," and from the columns Of
the State papers, who were opposed
to the present administration, poured
forth vituperation for the Faculty,
and the grossest missatements con-
corning the institution. This con-
tinued for weeks, each issue of these
organs being filled with political
slime for the decoration Of our one
institution, which is attempting to
elevate the youth of our State to a
higher manhood. But the University
was built upon the rock of public
approval, "and the floods came and
the winds blew" yet it still staunchly
stands, destined to educate and refine
West Virginia's future sons.
Our hopes for the future of the
University are many. The trample of
so many feet may not be heard in it's
halls as in the years that are past,
but from out its walls will come men
the sound of whose footsteps through
life will be echoed far and wide The
year may not be passed in superb
cially skimming many text books,
but the time will be spent in laying
the broad foundat .ons of liberal
education. When in time to come
the benefits of the present system