Morning journal and courier., 1884-06-17

|
recommended by the prudential committed
1 would not be an improper departure from
| the purpose of the trust. At any rate tht
| adoption of q reorganization scheme withou
the fullest possible consultation with the
members Of the board would seem to savol
| of discourtssy to them, If not to the memory
| Of bepefactor Of the college.
The other matter which has excited unusu
al interest ia the action, or proposed action
Of the corporation in reference 10 the Medical
| school.
This school has been department Of the
| university for psriod of over seventy years.
| Its officers and professors have been elected
by the corporation and are officers of the
| university, so appearing in the catalogue. Its
programme of studies covering period of
| three years has been adopted and approved
| by the corporation and published to the
| world.
The university has publicly offered to all
| who will comply with the terms of admis-
| sion an opportunity to pursue a full course
4 of three years and at the end of that time to
I receive q diploma emitting them to the
| honors and privileges of members of Yale
| college and to admission to the ranks OF an
| honorable profession.
The students of the department have acted
| upon the faith of this promise.
It is fair to presume that, attracted by the
advantages offered by the university to msdi-
cal students, they have undergone the labor
| and expense of preparation for admission.
Many of them are apparently graduates of
other departments eff the university who per-
haps have sought Yale college with special
pursue their education until completely fitted
for the duties of active professional life.
It is certain that many of them must have
changed their plans in important particulars,
in order to reap the advantages offered by
the Medical school.
hos 10 1n6n
reported against making the necessary and
ordinary annual appropriation required for
the maintenance of the school
1t has gone further, and proposes to take
from a permanent fund, given by the State OF
Connecticut and others for the maintenance
of the department. and held by the universi-
ty subject to a trust for that purpose, monies
sufficient to indemnify it fer certain extra
expenses incurred by the faculty of the Medi-
cal school, with the sanction of the corpora
ton, and on the faith of certain votes by
that body that such expenses should be
paid out of the general fund of the college.
It is impossible to disguise the fact that
such proceedings would necessarily involve
the extinction or indefinite suspension of the
department, as it cannot be conducted with
out funds. This action does not appear to
be justified by any dimiuution in theinumbers
or prosperity of the institution. On the
contrary, it is understood to be fully up to
the average in numbers and general prosper
ity. If such action had been taken with full
notice to the members and officers of the de-
partment it might be in some respects less
Objectionable. But 60 far at least as the
outside public and the members of the school
are concerned, there seems to have been no
notice given that any such step was contem-
plated.
Is this just, either to the faculty, or to
the members of the school; to those who
have paid their tuition fees, relying upon
the permanence of the school; who have
spent year or more there which cannot be
fully counted in their course in any other in |
stitution, on account of the difference IN the |
courses of instruction?
Is it fair that the forty or more pupils of |
the institution should be called upon to pass |
an examination which will not entitle them to |
any substantial benefits? Is the course taken |
just to the faculty of the school who are
placed in very peculiar and unfavorable |
position before the students of the depart
ment, as having invited them to enter upon
course of instruction which the college
now refuses to carry out The college in
the case of the Medical school also holds
funds impressed with a trust for the benefit
of that institution.
Has it acted with due regard to the obliga-
tions imposed by that fact? If the methods
of management indicated by the attitude of
the eommittee are to prevail, what confidence
can the public or students have in the per
manency or any OF tne INSTITUTIONS OF the
university?
What encouragement is offered to benefac- |
tors of the college, if the objects of their
bequests are liable to wholly disappear with |
out notice. or these gifts to be diverted from |
the purposes for which they were given? We |
think that from the history of the observA |
tory aud Medical school troubles, which we |
bslieve We have given truthfully, the conelu- |
sion can be fairly drawn, that some members |
of the college cor GRAFTON have display ed |
more zeal and energy than discretion
1t has seemed to US that the alumni in cast
Jog their votes should have the benefit OF |
knowledge of the facts above recited. Zeal |
and energy are good traits and we give full
credit for these qualities to the gentlemen
whose actions may seem to have criti.
cised. But it may be possible to secure an
equal amount of these desirable qualities tenn
pered with better judgment and more discre- |
tion GRADUATE.