Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-13
STATE UNIVERSITIES
Convention Of Presidents
Begins Its Sessions.
MR.. ANDREWS ADDRESS
MEETING WILL DEAL WITH PEN
SIoNS FOR TEACHERS.
List of the Educators Present From
Almost Every State in the
Union.
MR.. ANDREWS ADDRESS

Inc Association of Presidents of state
Universities began two days session at
the Shoreham this morning. 1t was a nota-
bic gathering of educators from nearly
every state in the Union. The meeting
dealt particularly with matters of univer-
sity government and organization. 1t was
not open to the public.
Those present included Presidents Ed
mund I. James. University of Illinois;
George E. Fellows, University OF Maine
and secretary of the association; George E.
Mclean, University of Iowa; F. P. Ven
able, University of North Carolina: Frank
Strong, University of Kansas; David r.
Boyd, University of Oklahoma Garrett
Droppers, University of South Dakota;
Robert Fulton. University of Mississippi;
j. A. Boyd, University of Louisiana; w.
L. Bryan, University of Indiana, Guy P.
Benton. Miami College, one of the Ohio
state universities; F. NJ. Tisdel, University
or Wyoming; L. Luther, University of New
Mexico James F. Kane. University of
Washington; H. P. Armsby PENNSYLVANIA
State University; NJ. H Buckham, Univer-
sity of Vermont. and Joseph Hills of the
University of Vermont.
Joseph Swain sof Swarthmore Frank
thornton, University of Virginia; Stubbs
OF Nevada. j. \. Mclean of Idaho P II.
Baker of Colorado, Kingsbury of Utah
Bryan of Indiana, Ellis of Athens. ONO;
Van Hise of Wisconsin, Merrifield of North
Dakota, Fellows of Maine Houston of
Texas. Patterson of Kentucky, Ayers or
tennessee. Sherman of Pennsylvania Boyd
OF Oklahoma and Abercrombe of Alabama
Chancellor Andrews Theme.
One of the interesting features of the
morning session was an address by Chan
celior E. Benjamin Andrews of the Uni
Versity of Nebraska, president of the as
sociation- Professor Andrews said, in part:
Gentlemen-lt Is fitting on an occasion
IKE TINS TO review the condition of uni
verslty life in the United States in the
light of current criticisms. Such criticisms
you know. are plentiful and various Many
bogy men are abroad, whom not few
people believe to hail from the university.
The infidel. the rake the dude the
shaggy athlete, the specialized pedant the
pale recluse, and many more are supposed
to frequent every university walk and
pretty accurately to represent university
ME very sober men and women are of
the opinion that we pay too little attention
to the moral and the esthetic side of stu
dents development and too much to the
physical side, and that In dealing with the
mind itself, the part of our work which
they say we lay all the stress, we commit
grave faults of aim and method, training
our pupils in pedantry, mental pride men
tai dependence, and variety of other torts.
University Life
Regarding the charge that American
UNIV el Slly me - NSGh III IIllutHceS OF the
spiritual order, the case is far from being
so bad as it Is often represented. Irreligion
in institutions of learning Is rarer than
formerly, and is decreasing rather than in
creasing. 1t is certainly less prevalent In
university circles than in other large aggre-
cations Of youth, and not more prevalent
in state universities than In UNCONVENTIONAL
colleges. Moreover owing to a happy
change in the spirit of science and In the
spirit of religion, the schism between those
two vital interests at universities in the
general world OF thought is less and less
angry with the passing years. science grow
ing devout and religion comprehensive and
sweet.
This In regard to religion Is nearly as
true of morality. The admitted fact that
forms of immortality flourish in certain uni
versties IS due. not to any cause intrin-
sically connected with university life. but
to unhappy influences of our time in society
at large The vast fortunes possessed by
some families foster not alone aristocratic
feeling, but anti-social sentiments. When
scions of such stock enter the university
they often not only bring with them what
ever vices they already have. but use the
freedom of their new life to nurse those
vices into dangerous vigor. But such mani
festations of evil are local. Making all
due allowance for them where they exist,
still the main tendencies at work III the
university domain favor morality.
Alleged Defects Pointed Out.
after ALL while youth in a representa-
tive American university Is subject to no
moral strain which he would escape else
where and is likely to be by his university
experience morally strengthened in many
vital points, most of our educational insti-
tutions come short of utilizing fully the ad-
vantages which they naturally possess for
the creation of rugged character in stu
dents Considering the plastic age during
which they have young people in charge
the much which they achieve for them
morally is far less than they might achieve
| intensely reprobate the view that we are
not responsible for the moral welfare Oh
our pupils. our work for them being purely
intellectual. We fall, unless to the utter
most OF our privileges we aid them 10 form
strong and ideal manhood. The university
must be as free from narrowness and par
tisanship in its moral attitude as IN its
presentation of scientific truth.
Function of Co-Education.
I'll sociality is not to be put aside by de-
crying socialIty, but by proper attention
to sociality OF the right sort Co-education
is fulfilling a great function in producing
this. Studies in sociology help to the same
result by another path. Cultivate the
democratic by which l mean the republican,
tendencies in every student body SO that
no sharp separation of social classes shall
appear therein While leveling Is not
sought, we do desiderate the most perIect
possible sympathy among human beings,
however variously born or circumstance.
Attention to music and the fine arts, hap
PLY encouraged now in all progressive uni
yersities, is valuable both socially ana
morally You need not be a yfrtuoso or
connoisseur in art to feel the influence OF
its neighborhood in elevating and enriching
your nature.
Critics not seldom sheer at the zeal, so
ardent in most American institutions OF
learning, for physical education. This en-
thuslasm for bodily training / regard as
almost wholly good.
Nothing of course can be more empty
than the heads of such students as make
gymnastics their main business. College
sport is good within limits and in its place
means to physical and mental health
and TO large life.
THE benefits of physical exercise by STU
dents are by no means confined to the con-
servaton of their health and mental alert
ness for the time being. 1t tends to impart
permanent strength, sanity and order to
the mind. and to develop that firmness or
will without which. especially in the great
crises of life, the most gifted OF mortais
become the sport of fate.
IN schools whose pupils are mainly from
cities careful physical training Is certainly
necessary. City youth are very apt to be
ill-developed in their vital parts. and the
young man or woman from the farm re-
quires to continue and to systematic bod
Nv exercise