Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1898-02-25
THE UNIVERSITY APPROPRIATION.


Dear Sir:-If you will allow me space
in your valuable paper l should like to
correct the false impression as to the
States appropriation to the University
fof Virginia, concerning which there APP
peared an article in your last issue.
In the first place, this institution as
was intended by its founder, Thos.
Jefferson, was established solely for the
good of 1.-The poor boys" that they
might have the advantage of such edu-
cation as was. formerly attainable only
by the rich. In order TO carry out this
principle the aid of the State was nee
essary. The State has, heretofore, con-
tributed $50, 900 yearly for the purpose
of employing some of the most able
professors of the present day. AS re-
suit of this appropriation, Virginia
students who take the ACADEMIC course
are not required to pay any tuition fee;
but are allowed to pursue their course
with advantages equal to those of the
pay students who come from other
states. The rich man has no better &C.
cess to the shrine of knowledge, $50 far
as the University expenses are Germ
ed than the man who follows the plow /;
and as fact, out of the con- paratively
small number of academic students
ninety five per cent of them are men
of very moderate means.
Secondly, the academic law, and
medical departments, practically speak
ing, ere entirely separate schools. In
the law and medical departments each
student pays his own matriculation
and tuition fees; he pays for everything
gets and does not cost the State one
cent.
The state has. nevea yet educated a
lawyer" or doctor" at this institution
and hope this may serve to tighten
he burden of those poor. depressed
souls who are apparently educating the
professional men by the sweat of their
brows.
/. "A PAY STUDENT"
We raised a considerable rack
ct by what we said last week along
the line of reducing the appropria-
ton to the University. The above
letter is not the only drubbing we
have received.
Further, we wish to say, first,
we wish the University had an
appropriation ofs3OO,OOO per year.
As citizen of Virginia we are
proud of the institution. But if
other institutions and departments
are to be "cut," why, let the Uni.
versity share its part in the re.
duction. There, surely, is patriot.
ism enough in the institution TO
consent to this.
Second: Our correspondent
acknowledges that, of the compar-
atlvely small number of academic
students, there are at least five
per cent. of them receiving free
tuition, who are able to pay for the
same. Now it is this five per cent.
that we are after. Ifthey are able
. to pay, why should the State be
taxed to educate thems If the
} number of free students is such a
comparatively small number il
1t seems to us that $4,000 would
be quite a liberal allowance.
Third: We were aware of the
fact that "lawyers and doctors.r
In the regular Law and Medical
schools, pay their own way, but is
1t not fact that the Ac-
ademlc department appropriations
lap over into the other depart.
mentss This certainly must be
true if there are only very soon.
paratively small number of aca-
demic Students" Fifty thousand
dollars is a good deal of money to
be expended upon a ''comparatiye,,
ly small nqmber OF academic stu
| aent<ssaad ws supposed t'ss alnons
Tapped sarcs and the 'shirher
bssnchess wcrs iadirectly arleast,
the beneficisries. However,, we re.
/ peat: we wish the Univels ity had
many times the present appropria-
lions. bat let it share equally with
the lesser lights, who probably are
less abe to bear any reduction.
A Strong Fertilization.