The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-19
A New Feature for Columbia.

The unanimous decision Of the trustees of
Columbia University last Monday in favor
of the erection of residences or dormitories
for students, on or near the new site of the
institution on Morningside Heights, is an
important step toward a Transformation in
tho character of that venerable seat of
learning.
Columbia has always been distinguished
among American colleges as q school of in
struction simply, without the addition of
the community life which is a usual feature
of the great universities of this country and
Europe, and of itself is SO valuable as a
means of education. Tit students Of the
old college, which was the nucleus Of the
great university system now developed,
were drawn almost exclusively from
New York and the neighboring communi-
ties; and, undoubtedly. such support alone
is enough to sustain a very considerable
college. Many parents prefer to keep their
sons under home influences while they are
receiving their college education; and many
more are unable TO pay the cost of sending
them to live in a distant university COM
munity. Among the lads themselves, how
ever, the feeling prevails almost universally
that without this life a college is a dull
place, a sort OF day school only. Conse-
~quently. Columbia has seen a large part of
the most desirable of college tudents in the
Greater New York passing it by in order to
90 into residence at Harvard, Yale, or
Princeton. They do not expect to get bet
ter instruction, but are attracted by the
prospect of life in a college community.
Even if this deficiency in the facilities
afforded and the advantages offered by Co.
lumbia is not fully supplied by the pro-
vision of the residences for students now
favored by the trustees, the new feature
will prove of the greatest assistance to the
special and professional schools and the
other post graduate departments making
up the university system proper. The
students in these come from far
and near, and the situation of Column
bia, in the very centre of American civili-
cation, will attract them from a distance
in even greater numbers if residences are
thus provided for them. One need of such
buildings is chiefly for the accommoda-
ton OF these special and university stu
dents. At present they are obliged to find
quarters in different parts of the town, while
in such residences erected close by the
schools, they would be both moro con-
veniently and more cheaply housed. The
consequent gain in the number Of students
from a distance, taking advantage of the un
exampied opportunities and facilities of the
schools OF law, Of medicine, of science,
architecture, linguistics, and economics,
would undoubtedly be great.
The new site OF Columbia on Morningside
Heights is peculiarly favorable for the
growth of a distinctivcly college community
in a great city. 1t is apart, and because of
the confguration Of the region, will always
remain apart from the hustle of the popu-
lous town. The Hudson River, close by,
affords an unexcelled opportunity for water
sports and exercises, and the neighbor-
ing Central Park will always be an
open pleasure ground for their use. sepa-
rating them from the stir Of the
great city. 1t is probable, therefore, that
when the residences there are provided, there
will be a large demand for their accommo-
dations from undergraduates also, since
they would add to Columbia the feature Of
a distinctively college life which is so at
t~ractive to youth.
Undoubtedly, this prospect OF increasing
the popularity of Columbia among young
men will induce its friends to contribute
the means for putting up the requisite
buildings to enable it thus the better to fulfil
its ambition to stand at the head of Amer
lean universities in all respects.