New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-11
EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS.
NEWS FROM THE COLLEGES AND UNI
vERsITIES WEST AND EAST.
THE UNIVERSITY CLUB AT HARVAkD-DE-
SIGNED AS A CENTRE OF UNDER
GRADUATE SOCIAL LIFE.


Cambridge. Mass. Nov io-At recent meeting
of the Harvard Memorial Society. Major Henry Lee
Higginson Harvard IS. excited much comment oy
questioning the students who were present as TO
the advisabrity OF university club al harVaru.
Not a voice was heard against IT, Having sausheu
himself of the unanimity OF Undergraduate sen'i-
ment. Major Higginson announced next morning Ms
gift Of $4,000 for the building of university ciuo-
house in Cambridge. At the same time the corpora
ton of the university Of which he is a member
offered the Warren property at the corner OF Har-
ward and Quincy SITS. the site OF the bu!lding'
The sum Of $4,000 and the building site practical
ly assure Harvard OF the long desired university
club More money will. of course, be needed lor
the club at the University of Pennsylvania cost
100000, and Harvard proposes to have a finer one
than that. But there Is little question that SZ9VVV'
1900 600 finally be raised. Professor l. y. fio-
* who is deeply interested in the whole scheme'
authority for the statement that the committee
can put it's hands on $4,000 more at any moment
Moreover, the graduates will no longer hesitate 10
make gifts because they now have impetus ana
because they at last understand what II Is the uh
dergraduates have been wanting so long, "'e''
they did not know what wanted before.
The history Of the movement for a university cluo
at Harvard dates back several years 10 the ''iie
when Houston Hall built at the University Oh
Pennsylvania. Harvard men regarded that venture
with interest and finally with the spirit or emua-
ton when II so quickly sprang into successiui
existence In 1866 a committee OF graduates rec
commended a similar club at Harvard, ana poih'eu
out its advantages but TO steps were taken 'o""iu
raising money because of the financial depression OF
1896 The undergraduates soon took up the matter
and formed a committee in 1878 In the spring OF
1895 a prospectus and a plan of the proposed cruz
were drawn up. Their publication. however was
postponed account of the Spanish war SUI
dents mass meeting had meanwhile given the graz
yates abundant evidence that the club was really
desired by undergraduates, and In fact that was
becoming a necessity. J. II. Hyde. 81 OF New
York was chairman of the committee In 1878
Another movement now becomes involved In the
university club movement. When college reopeheu
;n 1898 the students began to discuss memorial LOT
the Harvard men who fell in the Spanish war ana
later In a mass meeting expressed a concerted de-
sire for such a memorial A committee to formu-
late some scheme was appointed and froie ESQ.,,
son was one OF the graduate members. and there
were four undergraduate members After denDera-
ton this War Memorial Committee decided tnat
building In the nature Of university club would be
the best form Of memorial union WIN ct ,ne
and the following general G9mmittee Th'c Ro Ss
IL Sears 49, j. f. Hyde. s G. E. Morgan. ss;
Professor n Hollis Malcolm od DoRaa ~; ga nen aS
". A. NJ Burden '0 ". b. Cutting 90; William
Thps 81 G S SaTh made last spring and cali
for Subscriptions was made N June ~ Is as Hom
mittec therefore that Major Higgnson has made
his magnificent gift.
The need Of a social centre at Harvard has been
growing imperative In the last few years. Often the
question has been raised, Can Harvard remain a
unit socially will II spit up into smaller colleges
And the answer is not TO let II split The rapid
growth OF the university: the wide territory which
the dormitories and students lodgings now cover.
the presence OF several hundred day studentsthese
and similar facts point 10 university club as
most desirable institution. The membership of the
small clubs and societies does not now exceed
three hundred and fifty. whereas there are hundreds
OF students who. care nothing for such organiza-
tions, but would support club which gave them
reading writing and billiard rooms. and a res
taurant and other privileges for small amount OF
money. A university club would check the present
decentrazing tendency Of Harvard, would be a
convenience to undergraduates and graduates, a
rendezvous for students. a place TO entertain
strangers and an. opportunity for goodfelowship