Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-26
OUR LETTER BOX.
WHAT ARE THE CHARGES?
Editor of the State Herald.

" @-<AA -At -~N~~
 Editor of the State Herald.
 A great deal has been written lately about the deplorable condition of the state university, and many suggestions
 made in regard to it's future manage
 ment. What is meant by its present
 "deplorable'' condition? No one seems
 to know precisely or if they do, they do not tell. No. specific charges are brought against the management or the manner of teaching. or the conduct of the students but only in general and indefinite terms It is said to be in a deplorabe and unsatis- factory condition. All this is, to say the least very unjust towards the board of trustees, the faculty of the university and the body of students. If there is any thing wrong. and that needs reforming, why not point it out in definite and spe- cific terms. 4 agrt''
 As an alumni of the institution, and having an opportunity to know, I ven ture the assertion. that nothing is very wrong and no great changes are needed. The board of trustees who have the man. agement of the institution is composed of men of the highest character, selected from all parts of the state and supposed
 to be chosen with especial reference to their fitness for this responsible position. The president. is a man of acknowledged ability, successful in business, popular in manner. genial and gentle in disposition,
 of pure and SpOtlesS character and a
 worthy exernplar for any young man to
 initiate. The faculty is able and expe-
 rienced and faithful in that noblest of all
 pursuits, the education of young men,
 ''the rose and expectancy of the state"
 And the body of students, I am sure, is
 equal to any similar body of young m en to be found anywhere
 Indeed if we compare the present con- dition of the university with what 1t was when all admit it was a grand institu- ton and the pride of the state," we will find if if moi fo xuh hot has been in any period of its history. The president and faculty are in all re- spects equal to any that have ever been connected with it, the general manage ment has been on the whole good, as
 much so as you would expect from falli- ble man. The teaching Is far better and much in advance of what it was in the days of It's. greatest prestige, and the average number of students in the last ten years is far in excess of that in any ten years of its previous existence. The attendance even now, compares faYora- bly, with, any. institution in the soutI If you take any of these and strip them of their professional schools and special courses, and - compare the strictly academic students, such as the university has, the number of such students at the university is fully equal to that of any other institution, possibly the University of Virginia excepted. And all this in spite of much secret enmity from pretended friends and open hostility from many acknowledged enc mics. It really seems wonderfula and should be a matter of congratulation among its friends that the university has ! done so well, and should put to silence the unreasoning and unreasonable clamor of l it's enemies. And what makes 1t still more wonderful is that all this has been l done with the pitiful sum of SPA, GOO, its | present endowment. This is what is the | matter If the university had more | money and the earnest and hearty sup ! port of it's alumni, it's possibilities for | good are infinite and beyond all compu- | tatfolf.
 This Is the change needed-only that l the university shall have justice from ! the state and true and unwavering fideli- l ty among its own sons. ALUMNUS.