The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-10
IS IT BEST TO HAVE A PRESIDENT?

The board of visitors of the University
of Virginia are discussing the proposition
to make a radical change in the manage
ment of their University by selecting a
president and giving him larger powers
than are now exercised by the chairman
of the faculty. Thomas Jefferson, founder
of the University, discarded the notion Of
O. president and during its long and Illus
trious career a chairman Of the faculty,
chosen for one year, has exercised the ex-
ecutive offices of the institution. In view
of the success that has followed adj
herence to Jefferson's plan, it is strange
that there should be suggestion Of a
change.
There are certain advantages in a
president, if great and wise man
10 secured. Unless he is both great and
wise, college president Injuries the in
stitution. In the current number Of Frank
Leslie's Popular Monthly, Prof. Richard
Heath Dabney, in an interesting article
on the University of Virginia, tells Of a
Western university where not many years
ago an able but INSCRIPTIONS president,
who held the trustees in the hollow of
his hand, could, and did, turn out any
professor who refused to be his submits
sire henchman. Mr.. Jefferson's idea of a
University involved freedom Of the facul-
ty from the dictation of president. "Mr
Jefferson was determined" says Prof
Dabney, ito get the ablest specialists to
be procured as professors, and he was
equally determined that these men should
manage their own affairs without sub
lection to one-man power" We are told
that each professor is at the head Of an
independent school," and, being ire
movable except by a two-thirds vote of
the visitors, can arrange the work Of that
school according to his own judgment.
Commenting on this plan, Prof. Dabney
says:
"And who can say that the high
tone Of manliness, uprightness and
the students, is not due in part to
their consciousness Of the fact that
the professors who teach them are
not the humble vassals of lord, but
free and independent men"
The University Of North Carolina has
always had a president, but if ever the
students felt that the professors were
n. Ia nf InrHU no
professors have at any time felt that they
were subjects to "one-man power" it has
never been commented upon. The trust
ees have been gifted with singular wis
dom in selecting their presidents; and we
have escaped the evils that Jefferson
dreaded. The presidents of our Universi-
ty as a rule have initiated the example
of Mr.. Jefferson who, when he WIS presi-
dent of the country, treated his cabinet
officers as equals, and not as clerks, as is
the habit in this era of the republic. He
was big enough to meet on equal terms
the members Of the cabinet. 1t takes a
real big man to let his council feel that
he wants their judgment. 1t is related
that at meeting of commissioners to es-
tablish the University, at an inn at
Rockfsh gap, composed Of Jefferson,
Madison, Monroe (then President) and
others at was remarked by the lockers
ON that Mr.. Jefferson was the principal
object Of regard both to the members and
spectators; that he seemed to be the chief
mover of the body-the soul that ami
mated it, and some who were present,
struck by their manifestations Of defer.
ence, conceived q more exalted idea OF
him on this simple and unpretending oe.
casion than they had ever previously en-
tertained."
There 10 no reckoning the good inhu'
ence which Jefferson exerted, and still
exerts, at the University Of Virginia. He
incorporated into it his hostility to cen
tralization in government, and under his
chart it has sailed through stormy sea.
nearly an hundred years. However sue
ceSsful other universities have found
the incumbency of president, it would
almost be PROCLAMATION of it's great found
er's teachings for the University Of Vir