New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-15
DEGREES FOR WOMEN.
TIE OXFORD CONTROVERSY WITH SIDE
LIGHTS AND PARALLELS.

u.hu. ..ro,,,rs thr,u,h Waltcn-st in the di-
rcction Of the University Press and some.'ne
Hall witnessed a scene which certainly 'ndi-
Gated a survival OF medieval ideas Of women
;nfer,or.ty IN the working world, even II II had
no direct bearing upon the burning question Oh
university degrees group Of three women TWO
Of them girls was In the centre or the street
doing the work Of scavengers, with broom prush
and lag Men and boys are the scaVeheers vi
London and other English cities ana arc eur
ploycd night and day in their necessary out UNI
s,rh;ly l,bors. In no other English town have
seen women so engaged. 1t is a far cry from
scovcnger work to higher educa ton and university
degrees but this casual glimpse OF degrading
employment for women and girls betokened n
stacnant kind Of conservatism in Oxford which
vas not good augury for triumph Tor inc SEA
IN to-day's struggle for academic recognition
The controversy over university degrees VINO"
has been conducted in oxford and Cambridge
with unwonted ordor and bitterness during 'hc
last month is indeed characteristic of the con-
servatism OF these famous educationai strong
holds The same question was settled long ago
IN France. where universities we're opened to
women and degrees conferred upon them during
Tho Second Empire IN Switzerland, Holland.
Belgium Denmark Sweden. Norway. Italy ana
Hungary women taking university courses OBTAIN
the degrees for which they arc quallhed oy en-
eminations Austria is moving In the same
direction, and Germany also. although more
slowly In Russia II Is probable that medicai oe :
Erees will again be conferred before many years
the practice having been suspended OWING 10 the
drastic measures adopted against the Nihihs's'
many of whom were women in the universities
Germany and Spain alone are on the same level
with oxford and Cambridge in denying equality
Of rights to the sexes ii> higher education.
Outside Oxford Cambridge and Dublin. women
have won their battle in the United Kingdom
The University of London. which Is simply an ex-
aiming body confers degrees without reference
10 sex or residence The Victoria University,
with Its colleges at Liverpool Manchester ana
Leeds, adopts a like course with the quail
fication that the candidates must have ATTENDED
lectures In those institutions. The four Scotch
universities Of Edinburgh Glasgow. Aberdeen
and ST. Andrews confer academic and medicai
degrees upon women as we'll as men. The new
University Of Wales with its three colleges. ad-
-,cits women to degrees. Durham and the Royal
Irish University are conducted on equally hoerai
principles. Nine universities, with much larger
number Of affiliated colleges, have completed the
emancipation Of women in higher eoucauoh'
Courses OF ali kinds are open to women on terms
of absolute equality with men, and the degrees
are conferred upon all candidates without regard
FOR sex, who properly qualify themselves for
passing the examinations Only three universe
ties Oxford Cambridge and Dublin, withhold a
full measure of justice to women
so FAR DRAWN BATTLE.
Seventeen years ago university education
was Instituted for women at Oxford. There
are now three colleges for women here-Somer-
Vile. Lady Margaret and 81. Hugh's At Cam
bridge Girton and Newman colleges are also
IN successful operation. One step has been
taken at a time, and there has been compro-
mise at every stage. At the outset the womens
colleges were not allowed to share any Of the
advantages Of the university system. From
time to time privilege after another has been
accorded. The lecture-rooms have been opened
10 women the lower series Of examinations
has been brought within their range. and
finally at both universities they are allowed to
qualify themselves for degrees without obtain
ing them. At each university there is now an
organized movement for securing their admis-
sion TO the degree of B. A. The struggle at Ok
ford has been a most spirited one. and has
eliminated to-day after a crowded meeting OF
the House OF Congregation. in what may be
regarded as a drawn battle. for. although the
appeal Of the women has been rejected by
vote Of 215 against 40. the minority is so large
that the general result is virtually a victory
for them Indeed whatever may be the action
Of the oxford Congregation upon the substi-
tute propositions rcxt week. the remarkable
demonstration Of force In this first engagement
will encourage the friends Of women to redou-
tle their efforts at Cambridge. where petition
on the same subject has received the powerful
support Of the Archbishop Of Canterbury the
Duke Of Argyll and Arthur Balfour.
Before referring in detail to this drawn battle
In Congregation. ii may be we'll to describe briefly
what this body Is and what are its relations to
the university and the twenty-three colleges
The government Of academic Oxford Is COM
b!nation Of State and Federal principles. Each
college with its head. fellows and tutors is
seif-governins body and law unto itself. The
university has also its executive heads. the
Chancellor and the vice-Chancellors with Proc
tors. Sub-Proctors and subordinate officials.
charged with the maintenance Of order among
the students; and also its governing bodies, the
Hebdomadal Council the Congregation and the
Convocation The Council Is a small body con-
eisting of the chief university of1cials and
few heads Of colleges and senior members OF
Convocation All proposals or statutes are
submitted in the first instance to this Council
for approval. and then with it's sanction are
referred 10 Congregation. which includes all
resident members Of Convocation. The. new
measures. II adopted by Congregation are
then submitted for final action to Convocation.
which is the entire body Of graduates officially
registered at the university.
MODERATE DEMANDS.
The women made their first appeal 10 the
Council. and it was submitted with caution and
discretion. They did not ask for admission to
all degrees. but to a single one, that OF B. A..
They did not raise the question Of their ell
ribility to the degree OF NJ. A.. or to member
ship in Congregation and Convocation. and a
voice in the government Of the university. But
the opponents OF the movement were not con-
ei,lated by the moderation Of the demand. They
have taken the ground that the B. A. II granted
r-ou,d lead necessarily to the NJ A., and to a