New-York tribune., 1902-12-17
DIR. MACCRACKEN'S PLAN.
Would Begin Professional Studies in Fourth
College Year-Rochester Alumni Dinner

The annual dinner OF the New-York Alumni As
socation of the University of Rochester was held
at the Hotel Manhattan last night. George A. Alin
president, acted POSTMASTER The toasts were
as follows: The University President Rush
Rhees of Rochester University: THE College Cur
ricuun' Chancellor Henry NJ MacCracken.
New-York University; Greeting from Colgate. -
the Rev. ". A. Granger; The Value Of College
Training the Rev. DR.. William G Biting, of
Richmond College; Municipal Government" Park
Commissioner William r. Wilcox; -'Reminiscence
and ANTICIPATION Professor George D. Olds, of
Amherst College" and 1.-The Man and the Hour
J s. Fassett
The following officers were elected: President.
George Albert Allin; rice-presidents. Willis s
Paine j. s. Fassett, and George P Ludam: sec
Tetary. James A. Hamilton: treasurer, y. Curtice
Holt: executive committee Norman Fox. Albert G
Hale, Theophilus Sproule, Mills Whittlesey. James
W Greene. Roscoe c. z. Brown and Joseph Sui
nvan.
Chancellor MacCracken gave some statistics of
Eew-york University. showing that four-ffths of
the students now enrolled there would not receive
their bachelors degree until they had reached
their twenty-third year. He said that many of
these would spend three years in a professional
school. thus making them ready to enter on their
life duties when over twenty-slx years old He
continued:
This is too great an age for the beginner in a
profession. I favor twenty-five years sufi-
GENTLY advanced age Tor protessonai degree;
TWO measures recommend themselves, First,
the condenSing Of the preparatory course to
lower Iha average freshman age 70 eighteen or
even seventeen. Second, the combining of a year OF
professional preparation with the fourth year Of
the college, leaving iE this only two years of
law or theology 10 be pursued. and three years of
medicine
think it appropriate to limit myself very prac-
Tee ea I rodco yeaT pt of ofe eci9e Sn g
10 reduce the work Of the medical college to three
years?
May it not also provide certain studies for law
complete q excellent Of law within two
years, or give him marked advantage over others
Students who look to theology may be equally
helped by anticipating in college the drudgery of
Hebrew.
For the student of one profession advocate the
year This is the medical profession No other pro-
fession demands so long g course of study. The
d He must enter a hospital 1t is entirely pos
sble for a college OF even moderate means to
offer in its fourth year a course of study that
should the man who has done this work we'll
the right TO enter the second of the best col
1ege of medicine.
The four years of college residence is the most
American 10 surrender il. II is un-American to
turn the college into a shuttle railway or a mere
way station. where students transfer from the pre-
paratory TO the professional school We VIII pre-
serve the four years college course leading TO the
degree of bachelor, but we will plant in the same
Enclosure IN the senior year this new structure.
Roosevelts Office, planted inside the fence Of the
White House
President Rhees said that Rochester University
endeavorins TO collect s150.eao half of which
would be used for a new building
Commissioner WILCOX said that he thought
body conversant with the subject admitted that
municipal government in this country had been A
failure. He declared that this condition not
politicians but rather of the carping criticisms of
the wealthy who lived in their brownstone fronts