New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-21
THE Defence OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE.

THE Defence OF COLUMBLA COLLEGE,
To old NEWCOMERS the proposition to abol-
ish the Academic Department Of Columbia Col
lege Will be startling yet this question has been
seriously raised by President Barnard, and is
now subject of active discussion. To quote
his own words, 1.-THE operations Of the insttu-
ton have, in recent years, extended over so
wide a field that the original college has been
entirely overshadowed, and a doubt has been
raised whether its usefulness has not ceased"
The Alumni Association of the college has Just
issued for general circulation copy of its an
nual report, in which Professor j. II. Van AM
ringe makes an earnest plea against the pro-
posed change. This has been received by the
alumni with universal appreciation, which we
are inclined to believe will be echoed by ed
ucated people in this city.
The chief argument for the abolition OF the
college proper seems to be that the professional
schools. such as those Of law. medicine and sci
ence. have grown to such dimensions that there
is certain incongruity in still subordinating
them to considerable extent in affairs OF adj
miniStration to the college itself. Then it is
urged that there are too many undergraduate
colleges in the country, and even in this city,
and the proposal is made that Columbia shall
employ its great endowment solely in the work
of graduate instruction. The protest of the
alumni is vigorous one and it seems to us
that they have much the best of the debate.
The fact that there are TOO many Undergraduate
colleges is certainly not a reason for discOn-
tinuing one Of the oldest and in many respects
Al. - It
there must be elimination let the weak and
poorly equipped colleges disappear. Nor is it
easy TO see why the growth Of the other depart
ments Of the university-for such Columbia IS
fast becoming-is not great advantage, rather
than disadvantage, to the School Of Arts The
concentration of large body Of instructors,
and of valuable collections, apparatus libraries,
etc. must greatly facilitate the work of under
graduate instruction On the other hand, while
the schools broaden the college, the college
feeds the schools. During the last year rs per
cent OF the entire attendance in the graduate
department came from the School Of Arts. The
college would lose the use of half million or
more of endowment. And it is not easy to say
in what respect the schools would be better of
without the Undergraduate department. They
would not be any more attractive to the under
graduates Of other cities than they are now.
The sentimental consideration is certainly
entitled to some weight. Originally founded in
1864, this college has since continued i'm active
operation, except during the Revolutionary
War. During all that period it has been hon
oaby identified with the intellectual life of
this city. II has contributed many names to
The roll Of distinguished men in all the pro-
LESSONS. Within the last quarter of century
under the presidency of DIR. Barnard it has had
a remarkable growth. and we can begin to SEQ
the time when we shall have here great
university worthy to be compared with any in
this country or with the universities abroad.
In lS63-'64 the total number of students in
all departments, including the Medical School,
was 622 in 1879 it was l,s32. There is
a field for such a university in this city, and
Columbia College has the prior claim, although
its development as university is by no means
completed yet. There are great privileges 10