Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-07-05
COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY.

The early American college was pop
ular institution. 1t was for the people,
1t belonged to the people. BY the efforts
of the inhabitants in close proximity,
each college was maintained. The feel
ing toward the college on the part of the
community rose not so much through
the motive of mutual interest as through
the love of all that was high and noble.
Whoever reads the history of those early
colleges reads of a privation and sacrifice
on the part of our fathers which, in the
life of today, is without parallel. In no
movement ever undertaken for mans
betterment can be seen such universal
and liberal support, at times, with great
sacrifice. The history of Middlebury
college, one of many, is a record of I'M
selfish loyalty and support on the part of
this community. Their college was to
them an object of intense local pride; it
was their centre of knowledge, culture
and inspiration.
Today, throughout the country, this
early spirit has been set aside and the re-
lation between the college and the COM
munity Is, in many cases, one of indif-
ference, not to say hostility. In Its
character it is like that of the medieval
time. Interest in the institution and the
benefit derived from is seem only for
those directly connected with its in
struction and affairs.
In searching for the causes of this
changed condition it must probably be
admitted that the American college is, in
certain ways, increasingly exclusive.
Not that it does not still extend its pow
erful, silent influence, but it does not
offer to those outside its membership the
educational and civil help which it easily
might and should.
Not every college can enter the Uni.
versity Extension movement but every
college can urge upon the people more
frequent and general use of its library
and attendance upon lectures adapted to
their needs. 1t can thus convince the
public that the college lives for all; its
purpose the betterment of no exclusive
few.
The American college, unconsciously
it may be, has become, perhaps too eX-
cluslvely theoretical and self centered.
What might not issue of advantage to
college and community alike, if the coll
lege should give of its knowledge to the
lettering of community affairs, the one
contributing gladly what the other as
gladly receives The college conducts
researches in bacteriology let it be ever
watchful for the public health. 1t has
courses in engineering let it be ready to
offer counsel as to local grades and roads
| . ha1 10 Infn 1nf ~ Ia
known and felt whatever correctable er.
rors may exist in its towns management
and these are but few of the things the
college ought to do. The road will not
be easy, the alienation has gone too far
but let college enter it in spite of diff
culties, Qet it ignore suspicion and the
charge of Interior motives, they are
sure to be encountered but as sure tt
vanish when men become more familiar
with disinterested effort for the public
} good.
But there is another side. If the col
lege has been thus at fault the college
community is by no means blameless
The old time spirit of sacrifice is gone
perhaps it is no longer needed, but un
swerving and whole hearted loyalty OF
the part of those about it the college can
not afford to lose. Instead, we often wit
ness such an attitude Of distrust. One
is almost forced to dsbelieVe there eve
was the kindly, loving feeling. Rathe
= than assisting in her welfare, or ever
maintaining neutral ground, how many
a community. today is eXerting its ever!
effort to check the college in its high en-
deavors For a typical illustration TAX
Willlamstown, Mass, and its attitude
towards Williams college. \ sleepy lit
tie Berkshire town, you have said it al
if you eliminate the college. But for
century and over the college has BEEF
there, and the name of Williamstow
and the power of WilliamstOwn are fel
in every land. Her lines have gone on
through all the earth. And yet the pee
pie grumbe that Williams grows to-
rich. Rich: No college is rich, each
poor and poor because of creditors thos
recipients of her bounty, 10 whom,
true TO her mission as a conserver o
times to be, she must give her best an
give her all.
Each town, then, owes debt to It
1t is not a money debt, 1t is a debt o
= loyalty and love.
Nor should there pass unmentoned tn
: reciprocal debt, which the college owe
: the town. 1t is debt which those VIII
incur it stand ever ready TO acknowledge
The words of DR.. Truman Post, spoke
=, within these walls in 1879, are the word
of generations to whom Middlebury
dear. much do we owe to the peopl
= of this town, old and young. There ar
=, names may not stop TO recite, still the
seem to live, waiting to greet us; still W
hear their voices. Beyond the marti
carolling of sweet birds, beyond the sig
= of evening through the whispering evel
!, greens, we hear their far off voices. w
], hear them calling, calling ever, and the
white hands we see reckoning beyon
/ the morning star. Our boyhood an
9 youth they blessed. They bless us sti
and eyermore."