New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-22
SEX AT OXFORD.
STRUGGLE OF THE WOMEN FOR REco0-
N1TION-SOMERvILLE COLLEGE

Oxford, March IL.
.rhA struggle at oxford over the recognition
~ ,xomens work in the university. begun
week ago in Congregation. was brought 10
close Yesterday without compromise Ans
proposal to admit women to me degree y.
q A. having been defeated by vote VI -''
against 40 an alternative motion was orous"'
forward by the leaders OF the movement i'
aimed at the substitution OF oipio"" i''
tho present discredited testamur' "hich 10 nv
signed by the vice-chancellor OF the UNIVERSAL
or by any representative EXAMINING Doa'N
The resolution provided that women keep'"e
residence at oxford for twelve terms ana pass
,p,, under The same regulations as Apply ~
undergraduates all the examinations ''' 80.
dsyree of B. A. should receive diploma ~
WAS specifically described as cer'i"c"'e mo-
60 Tar az keeping terms and passing exam'na-
.,. ros concerned. the candidates had salts
God all the conditions under which undersraou-
v,.r. ar,,.led 10 ask for a degree OF y y.
=, word. since the degree was retuseo W
roren. they asked for a diploma which wou'u
aoo,ars that they were fully entitled TO H.
:, was no, to be expected that the opponents
~ aeyrees for women would stutify themselves
nv voting for this substitute AFTER oele"'"e
the original proposition. II they hao "o"e
they would have made themselves t"e
stock OF the learned world. Wne'ne' " "'p
NJ this kind would have been more usei"' ~
women than the present testamur mie"' oe q"
- question. hut for controversial purposes
-. .,,,. WAS unouestioned. A formal certln-
cato tina. women were fully entitieo 10 "e
gree which was withheld from them simpis U"
.,.o,rds NJ sex would have set the seal upon
the unrcasonableness of the oxIofo o'"' -s
r.so,u,,on was voted down by a division OF l'o
nrevious record beyond those caused by ao-
sentees on each side
A COMPROMISE REFUSED.
The supporters of the womens movement
having lost their two propos'io"S'
unwilling to accept any compromise W.
united in defeating the three subsequent
,not;ons offered from the opposite camp O"e
nronosed a certificate stating the terms kept
,d tho examinations passed; and manifestS
!, would not he more useful to women protes-
,o,a,,v than the present testamur. whiie IL
.or,a he Of no value in the confrovers! over
aaroos Only eleven votes were recorded III
<oyor NJ this proposal. Another mouoh' ""-
tborizing a certificate that the EXAMINATIONS
,ad hean passed and that In that respect 'ne
,enuirements for a degree had been ahswe'eu
received only thrty-hve votes. 1t exciuoeo res'-
dence and term-keeping and was correo'''
scribed in the debate Of Congregation aS n"
.,o,,.nt for womer. of the future. since no
-, rou IN existence could benefit from It,
r,a, came q close vote upon the Hnal motion
owrm,nu that women who have passed any OF
the examinations included In the oxtoro 'n'
versjty examination for women unoer '"'
supervis,on of the delegates or local e~a"'"
lion shall receive a diploma staune t"e 'o'-
,.ee hall or other educational body. II any, 10
has hale CD1
am,nations passed. This was deie'e" ~
vote OF 40 non pacet; 1Se. place'
Thu lac, nropos,tion was commonly described
nv the majority "a a compromise. but In reality
g wss fimsy and valueless concession oneren
Nv tho onponents OF all claims on the part OF
women to recognition IN the University IL suo-
,tituted for the testamur certihcate OF the SAINT
o,.ctical value. without comforting any ne" ois
t,nct;c, or setting up higher standard OF e~ce'-
Ience II was only another way OF s'at'ns 'nd'
certain work had been done and that certain eN-
eminat!ons had been passed. IL was mere'!
convenient method of eveding the main issue
which has been raised by the advocates or hisher
education for women. This makeshift has oeen
set aside and the minority, having mace power
fu, demonstration which has strengthened their
csuse are IN a better position for resuming the
agitation another year.
az fne three colleges lOr WOMEN a. c"i''"'
somervij,e is strictly undenomnational in prin-
c,ple II was opened in 1879. ana the puiioihss
nave been enlarged from time to time There are
tnrea acres Of ground with the O!d Hall. the west
buildings and three cottages. Each Of the main
buildings Is complete in itself with dining ana
drawing rooms library. sleeping-rooms ana
oasces There are about sixty-fve students In
the college, under the charge OF principal three
,es,dent and four nonresident tutors Ihere Is
= Gymnasium with a lawn tennis field and the
students have boats on the Cherwell. Inc charges
Of the college for board tuition. registration ana
other expenses amount to about $3.50 year lot
the best rooms.
WHERE WOMEN ARE ADMITTED.
The women students are admitted to most OF
the lectures given by the university professors
and college tutors. They are also allowed 10 en-
ter for all the public examinations OF the "niVe'
Ssity. except those for the meoicai oesree' anu
their names are published by the examiners IN
,,o c,.ss ,ists along with those Of men. There ID
also a special honor examination for women IN
.n,dern LANGUAGES The specialties OF the tutors
are history. classics, modern languages natural
science and English literature. The examina-
tons required for the B. A. degree are; l. IKE
eponslons: 2. Holy Scripture: g. Moderatohs TOT
pass or honors In classics or mathematics WIN
science or jurisprudence as substitutes; T. FINALS
for honors In literal humaniores. mathematics
natural science. Jurisprudence. modern history
theology, Oriental languages or English htera-
ture; with three subjects. one a language, for
mass These examinations are open to the students
~ someryille Lady Margaret and ST Hughs-the
three colleges for women at Oxford but degrees
ave not conferred. The students of Gsrton and
NEWMAN colleges, Cambridge have similar priv
ileses subject to the same restrictions respecting
degrees.
The great majority Of the women educated At
ovfo,1 and Cambridge who adopt professional
work become teachers. ana they are brought into
connection with women who obtain degrees