The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-01

Il
is radical. ana the statement Is not too
| strong. mo proposition Is 10 cnange In
| toto the whole theory and practice OF the
| administration OF the University OF VIZ
| GINA The movement toWaids TINS
| cnange seems 10 have been accelerated
I between the time of the resolution OF the
] board and the report OF the COMMITTEE
| The hoard seemed 10 contemplate the
| election of a chairman of the faculty as
| an executive head. The report plainly
| proposes the election OF pIeslueh' III
| addition TO the chairman OF the IacuIly'
and proposes plan Of organization uh-
| der the headship Of this president eh'ire-
| ly inconsistent with the organization anu
management OF the University as II mas
/ existed from its foundation.
That the idea Of having president Is
not new, is apparent from the action
of tho board while Mr.. Jefferson was
| Rector. when William Writ, then Attor-
ney-General OF the United States was
| proposed as President and Professor oil
| Law. and for reasons which are as Soou
| to-day as they were then, Mr. Jeneraoh
| entered his protest. a copy OF Whlch Is
| appended 10 this minority report.
Among the reasons why the organiza-
| ton Of the University should not De
| changed TO that proposed, the following
| appear to be worthy Of considerations
! First. 1t violates the fundamental theiry
| of the organization Of the University
| which has worked successfully for seven
~ years. and has indicated the WISDOM
| Of its author. The government OF the
| University is in the hands OF the faculty,
all Of whom share the responsibility ana
are under obligation to promote its well
fare and orderly conduct with their BEST
chosen by the Board of Visitors from
year to year. as chairman and executive
head of the University. lie IS the mouth
piece Of the faculty, and his duties, which
are laid down by law, are simple ana
plain. Heretofore some member OF the
faculty has been found who was able and
willing to perform the duties OF chair
man as well as to fill his chair as a
professor Many years ago, 1t was Gus
tomary for the chairman TO hold his
office for a short time, and then to be
succeeded by some other member OF the
faculty, so that a partial rotation was
established The choice Of chairman was
always governed by the aptitude OF the
professor for executive duties. After the
war the chairman, though elected from
year to year, was kept IN Office for a
period so protracted that the idea of TO-
was obscured or lost. The plan under
which the University is managed utter
" rejects the idea OF one man power,
and does not commit 10 the chance OF
choosing a possibly unsuitable person.
the great interests which are ordinarily
lodged in the hands OF tho president OF
an university. 1t was thought that from
so large a body OF eminent educators as
constitute the faculty OF the University,
it would be easy to choose some one VINO
could administer the functions of execu-
tive head for a limited time, and who
could retire TO his exclusive professional
duties and be succeeded by another
without any breach whatever Of the con-
tinuity of organization and management.
That a suitable man may be had for this
purpose, from the faculty is proven con-
clusively by the experience Of the seven
ty years Of the life of the institution.
1t has been said that "the American
college president. as the functions Of the
office have developed, is an anomalous
figure. 1t is a place which requires both
a scholar and a man Of affairs; an i'm
possible thing, TO fill it," But even should
this extraordinary person be discovered,
and the theory under which he would
be elected be conceded 20 be good in
practice for other universities. IL would
be a serious question whether the rule
that might properly prevail elsewhere,
for universities not under political con-
trail, as is the University OF Virginia,
would be applicable in our case. The
report proposes TO pay this president
5000, and provide him with residence;
and. as he would be expected "to famil-
iarize himself with the higher education
as had in the best institutions I'm ;he
world, 10 suggest wise administrative
and other changes TO the visitors, TO visit
the great cities Of the country, and
arouse and inspire the interest and en-
thusiasm Of our alumni" there would ne
cessarily be other considerable expenses
incident to the performance Of these
functions, which would have 10 be per-
formed in a manner commensurate with
that adopted by the presidents Of other
great and highly endowed universities.
If the proposed president is 10 meet
these other great universities on the
same plane OF liberal expense. which
they allow their presidents, then an ex-
traordinary fund for entertainment
would have 20 be allowed by us.
position like this new creation would
be one of the most attractive and de-
sirable in the State OF Virginia second
only TO that of the Office Of Governor
itself That this place could be kept out
Of politics would be almost an impOs-
sibility. There are many gentlemen Of
imposing presence, elegant manners, gem
eral culture, and acknowledged elo-
quence, who might well aspire TO iii the
place of president Of the University who
would not for an instant desire the la
boring oar or possess the precise and
scientific knowledge required of a pro-
lessor.
IT, however. a non-pOlitical president IS
chosen. no one with a desirable prestige
or eminence could be gotten except with
the expectation that it would be for
practically a life service The suggestion
that an acceptable one could be elected
for only four years is most probably
impracticable In the event. therefore,
of the election of a president under the
terms Of the resolution OF the committee
it would be implicitly for life, though he
could be removed only by two-thirds of
the vote Of the entire visitors" Should
an unsuitable person be elected, it would
be with the greatest difficulty that any
change could be made and, If made
would impair the reputation OF the Uni
Versity as its fortunes would have been
deliberately committed in very large
measure to the hands Of a single person
If. on the other hand. in the light Of
a knowledge of all the members Of the
faculty, an unsuitable chairman is
chosen. change may be made, without
disturbance or injurious publication, and
the affairs of the University continued
without impairment.
II is well known that the position OF
professor at the University IS one of
singular dignity and independence He