Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-09
Plans Outlined for Columbian
University Work.
Oh ANGES PROPOSED
PRESIDENT NEEDHAM,S ADDRESS
BEFORE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.
New Buildings Required at an Outlay
of Half a Million Of
Dollars.

Columbian University will. at date not
far distant, occupy a place foremost among
the institutions of learning Of this country.
This was the prediction made Saturday
night. based upon plans of the board Of d.
rectors Of that institution, as set forth in an
address by the president, Prof Charles w.
Needham, LID, before a meeting of its
Alumni association in the lecture hall Of
the main building of the university, at the
corner of 18th and H streets northwest. 1t
is President Needham's purpose to place
Columbian University upon a more adj
vanced plane and to make 1t second to none
1t was stated that the young men OF Wash
ington will be able to avail themselves OF
the opportunities to secure thorough edu-
cation along new and advanced lines at the
beginning of the next scholastic year, and
that the contamination Of such plans will
entail a large expenditure. possibly $500,
as was suggested unofficially.
President Needham's address was pre-
ceded by business meeting Of the alumni,
presided over by the president. DR.. G. N.
Acker, who, after brief address. asked
for the report of the committee on nomina-
lions for officers for the ensuing year, which
was read as follows: President, Mr.. A. 8.
Worthington. law, '6s; vice presidents. Mr..
Alexander T. Stuart. college, '89; DR.. T. N.
Mclaughlin, medicine, 80; Mr.. w. v. r.
Berry, law, 's4: Mr.. John T. Doyle law, $50,
and Jurisprudence. 1900; Mr.. Walter 8.
aarshman. graduate, ~; Mr.. Frank 2.
H. L. Hogkins. college. 'ss; for treasurer,
Mr.. John B. Larner, law, $50. The report
was unanimously adopted, and Messrs.
Chaplin Brown. law, IT; DR.. w. F. r. Phil
lips, medicine, go and C. c. Clark, Juris-
prudence. 1900, were elected members of the
board of directors Of the university ath-
letics.
The treasurer, Mr. John B. Larner, who
succeeded himself in office, submitted his
report for the past year. 1t showed the
association to be In prosperous condition.
with $31.95 in cash in the treasury and
life fund of 81 ,910 which is invested in real
estate and United States bonds.
Immediately upon the election Of the new
officers the retiring president. DR.. Acker,
after few remarks. during the course Of
which he thanked the alumni for the honors
which had been bestowed upon him during
his term in Office, called the new president,
Mr.. A. s. Worthington to the chair. Mr..
Worthington spoke briefly, thanking the as
sociates Of the alumni for his election.
President Needham's Address.
President Needham was introduced at the
conclusion Of Mr.. Worthington's remarks,
and he began his address by heart to
heart talk with the members of the alumni.
He asked for their hearty cooperation with
him in the performance of his duties as
head Of the university and explained the
position and duty Of the alumni. He de-
clared that there should be mutual con-
fdences, and that the members Of the alum
nj should be interested in and familiar with
the future plans of the institution. He said
the men and women who go out from an
institution give 1t its reputation, and that
the officials Of the college gather inspira-
lions from the alumni.
The speaker dwelt at some length upon
educational work in the city, and spoke OF
the innumerable advantages offered to the
student. He alluded to the facilities af-
forded In the various government depart
ments, declaring that they are institutions
within themselves, and do much to promote
the growth OF culture, learning and scien-
tific research. The facilities Of Washing
ton, such as the government laboratories
and libraries which represent the expendi-
ture Of millions Of dollars, should be used
In the scheme Of education.
President Needham declared that the
young man or woman who graduates from
an institution in this city should be well
equipped for life's work. since the city Of
fers so many advantages, and said that all
students who apply at any Of the govern
ment libraries or laboratories are granted
special favors and are assisted In every way
possible. He said that many who are seen
In the everyday life Of Washington are
making the history Of the nation, and that
students should make a special study OF
their doings.
People who live outside Of the District,
said Prof Needham, know very little about
the growth of the national spirit here, and
such growth In the last five years had been
marvellous. He said he could not subscribe
to the prevailing idea that undergraduate
work could not be advantageously taken up
here On the contrary, he declared, the
city Is fitted for a peculiar degree of such
work. He said interest is growing in the
plans of the government, and that the peo-
pie know that the national capital has
greater constituency than has any state,
and that greater university can be built
here than at any other place in the country.
he said the political attraction Of the city
Is great incentive to undergraduate work,
and that there are no commercial or indus
trial interests to distract the student from
his studies Students Of this city, continued
the speaker, see the success Of those above
them, and become inspired with the idea to
do great and original work.
Ideal Place for National University.
DR.. Needham said he regarded this ctty
as an ideal place In which to build a great
national university founded upon the public
high school system of the entire United
States; that graduates from such institu-
tons are eligible to the Columbian Univer-
sity, and to gain admittance will only be
asked to exhibit their certificates Of gradu-
alton.
President Needham spoke at some length
upon the plan to rearrange the courses of
instruction at the university and said that
instead of having departments the student
Will be taught by subjects In this way.
he declared, a student from the time of en-
tering college will be under the direction of
but one professor thus preventing the one
instructed from losing time by the yearly
changing of teachers. The subjects will be
taught by one head professor with a num-
Der or assistant professors The university
VIII be improved in numerous ways. ac-
cordlng TO the speaker, and new work will
be introduced in the art and science depart
ment-namely, instruction in economics DO
iitical science and administration WASH
ington said President Needham ia esne
cially adapted to the study of these fmpor
tant subjects, and it should be the aim of
every university to instruct in lines which
may be easily followed in the municipality
In which 1t Is located. The elasticity OF
such method. said the speaker, is practi-
cally assured. and 1t will bring about q
unity Of the professors and the students
Beginning at the next term of the uniyer-
sity in October, all professors will be paid
a specified salary, and the fee system will
be abolished entirely. In this way the uni
versity will assume ell responsibility. Sew
eral schools Of the university are, the
speaker declared, very overcrowded, and to
carry out the plans laid down II will be nee
essary to have new buildings and more
ground-not outside the city limits. but
somewhere near the heart of the municipal-
ity. President Needham said it was not a
question of whether the university can get
them or whether 1t can afford to have them
but what he wanted to impress upon his