The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-04

II pttoJ hoHlhdtitlk OAIouHhOuO ANOV tOi
the State Senators and Assemblymen
who, if elected in sufficient numbers
under his management, will meet just
three months hence in caucus to choose
Mr.. DEPEw's successor for six years
term in the United States Senate.
The Approaching Revolution in the
American College.
The annual report Of President But
LER of Columbia University presents a
budget of expenses for the current year
which is significant as showing how
largely university education is free
gift to every student.
This budget for 19O4-05 calls for an eI-
penditure of about million and quar-
ter dollars, toward which sum the fees
from students will contribute only $685.
600, or not much more than one-third.
If there is added the interest on the
endowment and on the investment in
the educational plant, amounting for
the university proper to more than
sci, O0O,O0 the contribution to the cost
of their instruction made by the students
is reduced to q much smaller fraction.
This permanent investment, moreover,
is still inadequate to the needs Of Column
bia. During the last three years gifts
aggregating about five and half millions
Of dollars have been made to the uni
versity, yet twice, If not three times as
much more money is needed to provide
additional buildings, to pay of an out
standing debt OF hard on five millions,
and to provide fur Their endowment.
In the university there is total Of
400 students, besides 1850 extension
students, OF whom more than thousand
are in the Barnard College for women
and the Teachers College. Practically,
the instruction received by all these STU
dents is in chief part gratuitous; and
so it is with every American college
and university. Superior education is q
benefaction conferred.
President BUTLER suggests that as the
students fees were fixed at time
when the cost was far less than now,
they might properly be increased 30 as
to pay larger part Of the rapidly null
tiplying expenses. The objection to such
a policy is that the university will not
properly fulfil ito function il increased
fees should be the means Of excluding
any deserving and promising students.
At Columbia, however, as President
BUTLER points out, so great are the
provisions made for the assistance OF
meritorious and capable students that
valuable students are not likely to be
turned away by the increased fee which
the majority would be well able to pay.
Through the intervention Of a committee
on employment for students the earn
ings OF studente last year amounted to
about $4,000.
A question now ve8ing the Columbia
faculty is agitating every school of
learning in this country which is am
bilious of becoming a veritable univer-
sity. Shall the college of American
tradition and veneration be preserved
or shall it be put in the subordinate
place occupied by the German gymnasia?
A large part of university faculties are
disposed to think that it is no longer
worth preserving in it's old character.
They would give half Of it's present work
to the preparatory schools and the other
half to the universities and their pro-
fessional departments.
Such a revolution would strike blow
at the Evolutionary devotion to the COL
lege, powerful in the breasts Of all col
lege bred Americans, and it is bitterly
opposed. Not to the university, a growth
in this country of the last generation
only, but to the college, the alma mater
OF long existence, goes out their affection.
The advocates OF the university system
would destroy the glory Of the American
college.
The conclusion so far reached by the
Columbia faculty is that the college
should be maintained in its integrity for
4the inculcation Of those ideals of knowl-
edge and Of culture which are the choicest
and most useful products Of our historic
civilization" but that "the attainment
of a certain standard Of scholarly ex-
cellence" rather than the full traditional
period of time spent in the college our
riculum should be the standard for
graduation That is, not less than two
years in college, or it's equivalent to be
tested by examination, should be the
standard for admission to the profess
sional schools Of the university. Under
graduates would be allowed to take the
professional courses as part of cur
, riculum leading to the degree OF bachelor
of arts; and there is strong opinion
that that degree alone should be offered
az representing "the elements Of
liberal education"
The argument for this is that the period
OF preparation FOR profession, would
be wisely shortened for now, as has been
pointed out by President ELIOT OF Har-
ward, it is prolonged TO too late period
of life for many young men who heve
their living and their careers to make.
At Columbia, however, there is a dis
position to frame curriculum for gen.
eraI education based on the study OF the
natural sciences, the requirement OF
Latin for admission to college and a. a
study there being omitted In their oase,
and thew receiving the degree ofabsch-