Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-06
OUR LETTER BOX.
STATE UNIVERSITY.
Editor State Herald.

Editor State Herald ..l5 ..
 Within the last four or five months there has been a great deal of destruc- tive criticism of the management of the University of Alab bama at Tuscaloosa During the sessions of the legislature this criticism reached climax. It sub sided somewhat after the law-makers gave the institution 10000 more dollars Within the last two weeks it has revived since the resignation of President Jonss was made public. The criticism was not definite and pointed. Abuses were hint ed at, and every one seemed satisfied that matters in the university were not what we have a right to expect them to be. Everybody agrees that the number of students is declining year by year until at present there are thirteen freshman moro or less-ten of whom are from Tus- caloosa or vicinity Some ten cadets have recently gone away, dismissed for cause or resigned. At this rate there will not be enough boys in line at con- mencement to make it worth the govern or's while to have a review Every- body knows that the discipline is neither military nor much of anything else, al though the boys do behave pretty we'll It is known from Fort Morgan to State Line that several members of the fac ulty are so old that work must be bur den too great to bear. All the school children know that there has not been a single president of the university elect ed in the last twenty-five years because he was pre-emnently an educator or even a first-class administrator
 It is an open secret that the university conpetes with the high schools of the state, and that after a boy Is admitted he can steer his own course pretty much at his will. It is known that S24, eco of the peoples hard earned money goes to it's support every year. These are all matters of common knowledge perhaps Maybe some do not know all that is here set forth, and may be it is not all true.
 What is to be done in the case? Have, we not all abused the honorable trus- tees enough? The board is composed of some of the best men in Ala bama. It is not conceivable that these gentlemen do not desire earnestly to do their duty to this great trust. It is composed of men from different wa llSs in life, but all are trusted at home. Some have thought that they have tried to run the univer- sity themselves with too little regard to the faculty Maybe that is true But is it fair to lay ell the blame on the
 Some critics have said privately and publicly that the trouble lies almost en- tirely with the faculty. Others have said that 1t could not be that learned gentlemen in a place of such tre nsndout power could neglect their duties alto gether or even perform them with but lttla spirit. Others just will insist that some of them should be retired because of physical disability CT age or laglnsss or selfshness. Very few think that the fault lies chiefly with the facTltyh '9-
 Sorae critics have sa i'd that the alumni are to blame largely because they are nearly all hostile critics of their aging mother instead of loyal and substartl sons. Every year that the society iof alumni meets pecTie s1y that thsy VIII do soriFthingl to inspire the trustees and fs culty. But the rc tings generally end where one or two persons in power wish tt.zm to end-in talk. T. lh There are net wanting these who think that the pssky caGsts are at the bottom of the trouble because they will be heard hafora the beard of trustees about their grievances. and insist that they arc a part of the university Poor boys. The 7 should learn that chi,dZen gre made to be seen and not heard.
 We'll we have had enough of this sort of critfciirn! What ;s the scrse in keeping up this fire? Has ID one any thing wise and Eracticsl to suggest? One thr,g is certain-the university is pass I ing through mort serious crisis. Let seher-min5ed men anu women give 1. their most generous and patient consid- eratiap, Cs nndJ some one make some public Suggestions fFte i eil Ge.r .he trustees, NS Sr arA .trrf-er.a with a selse of their great responsibility? It is seri-