Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-02
Plan for Local Institutions
Enlargement.
CHANGE IN THE NAME
TO BE DESIGNATED AS GEORGE
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.
College Department Under Old Name
Combination With Two Other
Organizations.


making Columbian University of this city
the Larger university much talked of
recently. At a meeting of the Alumni AS
ISOLATION, at which nearly every resident
member was present. Saturday evening at
Rauscher's, President Needham of Column
bian announced that proposition had come
to the university to take up the mutual
plan of the George Washington Memorial
Association and George Washington Me-
mortal Institution, which is to make a great
national university IN the capital city. The
other two organizations referred to have
raised over half million dollars, said DR..
Needham. which they are willing to give
to Columbian to be used in erecting new
buildings, on condition that the present
name of the university be changed to the
George Washington University. Many
speeches Were made in favor of the &C
ceptanCe of the proposition, and when the
vote of the Alumni Association was taken
1t was unanimously in the affirmative, In
structing Dr. Needham to announce to the
trustees that the association desired the
change under the offer made.
In outlining the prospective plans for a
national university, DR.. Needham said the
idea was not to let the old name of Co
lumbar die out entirely On the contrary
IT is proposed to create an auxiliary cor
poration which will be chartered under the
be merely a department of the proposed
George Washington University. Much EN-
phasis was put by the speakers on the i'm
portance of Washington as an educational
center, and the wisdom of the plan and
principles set forth by President Wash
ington in regard to national university
here 1t was this idea of our first Presi-
dent. it said, that the two memorial
associations mentioned were formed to
carry out.
Washington's Idea.
1t was also stated that Washington be-
lieved one of the best ways to bring the
nation more closely together was to have
common institution at the capital where
the youth from all parts of the land
might be educated-where they might see
the operations of our government, meet
the distinguished and learned men that
gather here and then go back to their
homes with proper idea of the great
commonwealth and Heaven the whole
lump"
DIR. Needham spoke of the embarrassment
often caused by the confusion of Columbia
University of New York with the institu-
ton in this city. and said that for some
time it had been thought the name of the
younger university would have to be
changed. meaning Columbian of this city.
Those who made addresses, besides Presi-
dent Needham. were William Bruce King,
A. b, class of 1878, president of the Alumni
Association; Senator Newlands of Nevada,
who studied law at Columbian in 1865: AS
sistant Attorney General Campbell class
of 1872: Charles d. Walcott of the board
of trustees; Rev. DR.. Samuel H. Greene
president pro tempore of the university.
1893 19O0-19G2, and DR.. a. F. A. King of the
medical faculty.
President King of the Alumni Association
spoke on Columbian University in the
Past" dwelling upon the growth of the
institution in spite of many adverse con-
ditions. He quoted figures which, he said,
showed that Columbian could not be put
down Leading up to what was to come.
he said the time was ripe for enlargement
More room was needed he declared and
necessity was the mother of invention
"Needham is final said he. s she intro
duced the president.
Arouses Enthusiasm.
The speech of DR. Needham was an en-
thusiastic one, and it was easy to see that
1t stirred his hearers with a revived love
for their old alma mater and her prospect
i've glorious future.
columbian has had great past" he
said. but it is no reflection on her past to
say that she is going to have a greater
future. In order to achieve this must
go forward with a faith that is based on
facts and reason"
He said many had prophesied no good to
come out of the reorganization that has
been going on during the past year and
half. but that all had been accomplished
perfectly. Looking into the past, he said.
il seemed to him as If Providence had been
caring especially for the institution, so
often had it been near a downfall and risen
again.
The president said he appreciated the love
the alumni had for the old name, but he
thought ii was time for sentiment, as
an opportunity had come that might rarely
come again. 81 would not have proposed
the change myself" he said but when
1t is the condition of the largest gift of
money we have ever been offered | believe
we should not let sentiment stand in the
way"
Referring TO the preservation of the old
name, by creating an auxiliary corporation.
he said 1t should be d stinctly understood
that no degrees would be granted by the
college. Degrees. he said, should in every
way be under the direction of the univer-
sity.
AT the conclusion of DR.. Needhams ad-
dress Mr.. King read a letter from Sacre-
tary Cortelyou, expressing the latter's
greet that he could not be present with his
fellow-graduates of Columbian, and his
firm belief in the great future of the in
stitution.
Capital as Place for Students.
Senator Ncwlands, the next speaker,
dwelt upon the greatness of this city as a
place for the students of the country to get
a practical education in all kinds of work
He said he had received a large part of
MS own training mere In his youth, and
was bringing up his CHI ldren as students OF
Columbian University Some day he
thought the national government would
come to recognize more substantially the
development of the arts In the country, and
then the establishment of a department OF
arts might be looked for. He believed also
that in time the government would give aid
10 the proposed national George Washing
ton University in this city. 1t is better, he
thought, to have such an institution started
by general subscriptions than in any other
way, but in the end ii would be but right
that II should be properly recognized.
Assistant Attorney General Campbell,
who like Secretary Cortelyou, is regarded
as an example of a successful man brought
up In this city in government circles, told
how he had learned to appreciate the es
thetic in the world. and expressed his great
interest in anything that would tend to
give others that appreciation. He said he
was heart and soul with the movement for
the new university.
DIR. Walcott favored the plan also, es-
pecially as 1t would carry out the ideas OF
the George Washington Memorial Institu-
ton. in which he was interested.
Rev. DR.. Greene made a stirring address,
arousing the old college spirit of the me M
bers of the association.
IL believe In Columbian University" he
said, I'm her past. in her present and in
her future" He, too, favored the proposed
plan of enlargement
DIR. King of the medical faculty spoke of