New-York tribune., 1902-04-30
COLUMBIA MEN TO PROTEST
CURTAILING OF PROFESSOR WOOD
BERRY'S WORK AROUSES THE
STUDENTS.

George Edward Woodberry. head of the de-
partment of comparative literature at Columbia
| has been forced to drop one of his assistants
and to give next year only two of his present
five Undergraduate courses. This. it is said. Is
due to opposition from trustees and fellow pro-
fessors. 1t Is said also that there is a long
standing difference between Professor Wood
berry and Professor Brander Matthews. of the
department of English and that two years age
Seth Low, then president of the university
deemed it expedent give Professor Wood
berry separate endowment. This done.
and it was arranged that President Low should
pay the salary of Lewis " Chase as assistant
| to Professor Woodberry. with the understand
Ing that the salary would be provided for by the
university in it's budget of 1902-O3. This has
not been done, and it is for this reason that
Mr. Chase will leave the department next year.
The students are aroused over this curtail-
ing of Professor Woodberry's department. and
will mold mass meeting tomorrow to take
action on the affair. with view to sending
formal protest to President Butler. The Spec
tator," the undergraduate newspaper, has de-
voted columns to consideration Of the matter,
vigorously supporting Professor Woodberry
With a view to clearing the university in re-
gard to the matter, President Butler yesterday
issued the following statement:
The university authorities are aware of M rea
son why the number or variety Cf courses offered
by the department Of comparative literature should
been announced have been made by the depart-
tbe ieerng aDtira9r tiTS "nrSn rS
financial provision for the department of com
parative literature made by the of 1eO2Os
is identical with that made for 1s0l-O2 except that
the sum needed 70 meet certain statutory Increases
of salary of officers Of the department has been
voted Part of the cost of maintaining the de-
there is no reason 10 believe that similar provision
could not be made for 1902-OS.
Friends Of Professor Woodberry, however
point out that this fails to met the charges. It
not alleged that the departmental expenses
for comparative literature had been cut down for
the coming year. but the complaint was that
additional provision for Mr. CEase's salary had
not been made. President Low told Pro-
fessor woodberry the trustees had promised
Through the columns Of THE Columbia Spec
tator" Professor woodberry has made answer TO
President Buffers statement The professor
says:
have partly withdrawn from undergraduate In
struction and have Indicated that would do so
shp held bT Mr.. Chase has not been provided for;
should it be provided for the old courses would go
on as heretofore L thinh II Is due 20 @ myseL Ito 70
make frank statement Of the circumstances sur
its establfshment not as a measure of expansion.
for il brought no new instruction. put as neGeSdGy
in the maintenance OF the Old The recommends
l then explained in detail TO President Low that
follow at once and he met the situation by say
ing that If he could persuade the authoritles TO
establish the tutorship permanently ne WouId pro
vide for it the first year on Marcn o. LSol' ne
wrote to me You will be glad to know that the
trustees. their meeting on Monday, autnorlzed
the appointment of additional tutor in conpara-
coming. I take pleasure in saying that you can
make your courses on this basis with corr
hdence that this organization OF the department.
will be maintained
matter last fall. and gave him this Information
After the budget for 1902-'03 voted asked him
what was done in regard 70 this and was told tnaC
the tutorship was maintained. provided the money
to what / should do, he said that II might De pest
since neither he nor knew where the money cou!d
be raised. meet the position or the trustees
frankly which position that means should
not be provided from the funds for work IN my
department duplicating work IN the EnSIlSn de-
partment; to inform Mr.. Chase that he would not
best arrangement for courses possible nave so
done have had no further information
In view OF the warm interest Wnicn, rnIcn 10 my
surprise. the undergraduates have SHOWN IN ny
word which NAV allay their feeling and allow them
to take a just view The EngAsn depart
rrent now provides instruction IN all the literature
which was formerly own sphere, ana conse-
/ duently the:e is no longer any necessity for my
! old courses. ample teaching by IarSe pody OF
able instructors is given in Eng1Sh. and the STU
dents are generously PROVIDED Tor. IL Is reason
able in view of the financial d1ffcuIueS or comm
ba that II 7 cannot continue TO do my Old Work
| should be asked confne myself TO the proper
province of my chair comparative literature Whlch
| cannot be an Undergraduate SUBJECT anu 4eC 'Ha
! English department do the rest
! Professor woodberry stands high in under
| graduate esteem as he has for three years been
/ elected the most popular professor in the col-
/ lege-