The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-11
VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
TO HAVE A PRESIDENT
Radical Innovation in Old
Dominion Institution.
WILL HAVE PLENARY POWERS
Under Per Cent System Each Professor
Marks Out Own Course of Study
and Students Are Overcrowded.

! Shades of Jefferson, The University
! of Virginia is at last to undergo a radi-
cal change and have a president at the
| head of its faculty The board of visi-
! tors. elected by the State Legislature,
Will meet at the University June 13 and
elect a president with the powers and
duties which belong to the executive
! heads of the other leading American
universities.
For years this move has been agi-
| tated. but hitherto always defeated
The Virginia Legislature. however, has
voted to allow the election and given the
| power into the hands of the board of
| visitors. This action on the part of the
| State was necessary, since the Uni
versity of Virginia is {. State institution,
and receives annually from the State
! $4,000. In return for this sum any cit
izen of Virginia may enjoy an academic
education in the university free of
! charge.
The need of an executive head and
centralized power has become impera-
tive to the university. At present each
member of the faculty is an fndepend-
ent factor. Each professor arranges his
own particular course in large meas
ure to suit himself
Bad for the Students
Many have added so much to their
courses that the student who Is ambi-
tious TO take a degree must study day
q nil nd
possible to gain the prize without
"corking' at least once: that is, drop
ping back year and finishing with the
next lower class. It is hoped presi-
dent will effect improvement in the
work apportioned the students
The University of Virginia Is not
largely endowed, and though the grad
yates have been generous in their gifts.
there has been no officer in the uni
versity who could give a large share of
his time to stir up the enthusiasm of the
graduates. as do the presidents of other
UNIVERSITIES, by travelling throughout the
country to attend the reunions of the
alumni associations. To the lack of a
president is attributed the fact that the
University of Virginia has not kept
pace in worldly goods with other and
smaller universities.
Jefferson the great Democrat. was the
patron saint of the University of Vir-
GINA. He it was who laid out the plans
for the university buildings, who advo-
Gated democratic faculty in which each
member should have an equal voice, and
who inaagurated the honor system
among the students in examination. He
was practically president of the uni
versity
Jefferson as Architect.
The Greek style of architecture, after
which the old college buildings ara mod
eIed. was chosen by Jefferson. From his
home. Monticello, which is about two
miles from the university buildings. aid
ed by telescope. he used to watch the
buildings as they were going up. If any
thing did not suit him he would i'm
mediately mount his horse. and ride over
to put it right. He was an old man
else could mount.
Jefferson's idea was that the profess
sors in the university should be bache-
lors, and consequently he had the coll
lege buildings constructed so that the
professors could live in bachelor style
on the top floor, and teach their class
es on the ground floor. But jefferson
miscaIculated in this case. and the ad-
vent of professors wives has made it
necessary to devise new arrangements
for recitations.
Beautiful Monticello.
Monticello. Jefferson's beautiful old
home. Is built upon a hill. On one side
IT looks toward the Blue Ridge Noun
tains, and on the other to the sea.
Though the sea is forty miles away
Jefferson used to declare that he could
see the water with the aid of strong
gIass-some Of his friends said, a glass
of Madeira
The serpentlne wall that runs around
the college buildings designed By Jeffer-
son is the subject OF some discussion. II
is held, on the one hand that the build
ing funds were running low, and Jeffer-
son devised this means of making a wall
one brick in thickness. which would be
stable; while others maintain, princi-
paIly the students, that jefferson laid
out the wall while walking home after
dinner.