The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-03-01
The WOman's Hall.


The proposition for a Woman's
Hall as told in our dispatches from
Charleston has failed. The legisla-
ture took the proper view of the
case There is no imperative demand
for such Hall and even if the mon
ey was not needed a great deal more
for many other more important
things in connection with the Uni
versity it would be better for all
concerned if it were not given for
this purpose.
In the first place there is no real
demand for such Hall. The young
ladies who come here now are of
sufficient years and discretion to take
care of themselves and in the fami-
lies where they are now to be found
they are a Thousand times better
cared for than they could possibly
be in any dormitory They have the
advantages of a home life that should
be very attractive to them all.
In dormitory they would lose all
this. They would be subjected to a
system of espionage that would
prove irksome and lead to the very
things that are at present so COLI
spicious by their absence.
A dormitory would probably brin g
more girls to school here. But these
girls would be Of class in great
measure that does not exist here
now and that are not wanted here in
the future. Parents who can not
trust their girls either on account of
their inexperience or their giddiness
would be the first to take advantage
of the Hail. This class of students
would be source of continual and
irritating effort at discipline.
The effect on the entire student
body would be bad and would do
much to rekindle the latent objection
to co-education in the University
that only waits for an occasion to
break out. The conditions as they
now exist are the best to be had.
Any change that would be pregnant
with the dangers that Hall would
have is not only not needed but is
positively to be avoided.
Besides the objections urged
against the Hall on these grounds it
would be Objectionable from the fact
that it would by taking the girls
from the homes in town remove a
considerable source of revenue from
Peep. Who need it to one person
who has L. particular right to it.
The building of course would be
an advantage to the town III the ex-
penditure of the sum of money that
would be required to erect the pro-
posed Hall but this would be the
only advantage The other draw
backs would so far outweigh this
that it is not necessary to enter into
this phase # the question.
However that the girls should have
some place they can call their own
is readily understood by any
one. They should have some place
where they can rendezvous, study,
hold their various meetings and
meet one another without the horrid
boys intruding.
This can all be obtained with the
expenditure of little money and the
plan would have none of the objec
tions to be raised to a dormitory. 1t
has been suggested that the Fife
property would be d good place forthis
purpose and it is to be hoped that
some way may be secured to get it
tor the purpose. Here the girls coull
have all the advantages that they
now lack and have none of the posi-
tive disadvantage to themselves and
the institution that a dormitory
would inevitably bring.
We are for everything that would
be for the advantage of women in
the University and for their reten-
ton as students there. In conse-
quence we can but feel gratified that
the plan for Hall has failed.
In this view OF the matter we are
endorsed by all who have knowledge
of the conditions as they now exist
and as they must obtain under any
other sytem.