The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-01-10
OUR STATE UNIVERSITY.
THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD
UNIVERSITY.
An Interesting and Argumentative Let
ter From One of the Alumni.-A Pen
Picture of Harvard College, &c.

An Interesting and Argumentative Let
ter From One of the Alumni.-A Pen
Picture of Harvard College, &c.
Especial Correspondence to the Sentinel
CAMBRIDGE, Mass, Jan. 5.-Do
we need University in North Carroll
ma? To give answer to this question
1t Is necessary to say what makes a
University. What is the modern
University
l shall answer by giving a few facts
and figures about Harvard My auth
critics are the last catalogue, the last
annual report of the President, and
an article in the Magazine of Ameri-
can History for December, 1887. I
select Harvard because the statistics
concerning it are at hand and because
there are larger and smaller Univer-
sites.
Harvard University owns about
forty buildings. 1t is composed of
fourteen distinct departments of study,
Harvard College being one of the
number. The professors and instruc-
tors number about two hundred and
thirty. In round numbers the Uni
versity spends a million dollars an
nually. For under graduates there
are one hundred and twenty scholar
ships, yielding s29, $4,000 yearly. The
departments have fellowships for grad
uate students, yielding as rule not
less than five hundred dollars each
yearly
AS to the work done, l shall speak
Of one department only, Philosophy.
In this department there are six pro-
fessors and thirteen distinct courses.
In the large number of eoursee each
student may crafty his taste. And
the number of professors makes it
practicable for each one to gather
about himself four or five students
who are prepared and anxious to do
original work. Then private classes
meet generally at the residence of the
professor regularly and spend several
hours in consultation. Kindred spirits
are thus brought into intimate relations
and the best possible results are
reached.
These facts will give, trust, sug
gestion of the magnitude of the mod
ern University. TO get an adequate
conception one needs to be in the life of
it. Two things are certainly clear
and not to be disputed. The modern
university demands men and money.
Money is demanded net only for
salaries but for scholarships and fel-
lowships and libraries, Harvard adds
twenty thousand books to the library
yearly. Money then is an essential
and the amount necessary is increas-
ing steadily.
"Does North Carolina need a Uni
versity ?" Before answering our ques-
ton another consideration must be
had. We have given in barest out
line the elements of a modern Univer-
sity. And we have to ask Has
not the modern Uni, ersity outgrown
the possibilities of the State institu-
tion ? Do not these figures make it
clear that the State institution belongs
to the past Direct taxation has ever
been a dangerous problem. Is it
practical to think longer Of doing mod
ern University work by the State
through direct taxation of the people
A million dollars year for one insti-
tuition would be burden to the rich
est of our Commonwealths. Nothing
less than the devotion of united and
sturdy people would endure such a
strain. Again, We observe the great
striving of our Institutions throughout
the country after endowments. The
people not only approve but sustain
their efforts. A large gift to any
institution is heralded far and near.
The donor is approved benefactor to
his day and generation. We may
we'll ask what this mean. Is it not a
prophecy that our educating is soon to
be done by endowed institutions2 May
it not be set down as a fact we'll nj gh
accepted by the public consciousness
that the successful college must be en-
dowed ? Harvard is worth to-day
about seven million dollars. 1t is
spending million dollars this year
An official tells me that the authori
ties are looking forward to the spend
ing two of millions yearly. I repeat
then: Has not the modern Univer
sity outgrown the possibilities of the
State institution? The question will
be further considered in future let
ter. III. III. WILLIAMS.