Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03

TIM UNIVERSITY UT NEbhAHAAt
II The Bee does not believe that Nebraska
should keep apace with educational progress
In surrounding states, II should frankly say
so. This would be far more credtable than
attempting to reach the same end by preju-
diclng the public against the university
Lincoln Journal
Because The Bee feels free to criti-
else the management and policy OF the
State university whenever in its judg-
ment IL requires criticism, does not
mean that The Bee objects to having
Nebraska keep pace with educational
progress in surrounding states. Quite
the contrary. The Bee and It's editor
believe in a progressive policy on the
part of the university that will keep
Nebraska at the forefront and provide
for the youth of this state the best
facilities for higher education that our
resources win permit.
Having served for a short time as
a member of the Board of Regents, the
editor of The Bee lie fairly familiar
with the methods of university man
agement and likewise with the scope OF
the work which the institution is doing.
The Bee, however has always objected
to the juggling OF university statistics
In order to pad the attendance figures
and mislead with a fictitious per capita
expense. II has objected to the star
chamber proceedings, although the
editor is free to admit that during the
time he was a member of the board
nothing ever occurred to suggest that
the meetings were not open and freely
accessible to every one. The Bee has
always objected to the bookkeeping
methods of the university, which make
It possible only for an expert to tell
what any department costs, and 1t OBJ
jects also to the lack of adequate audit
and control.
What the University Of Nebraska
really needs Is settled policy, because
on this depends the wisdom or un-
wisdom of legislative appropriations to
meet It's various demands. Is the uni
|
of Nebraska, or are we to build up an
educational center to attract students
from all over the western country? II
we are to invite outsiders. should they
be admitted on substantially the same
basis of free tuition as the home stu
dents? In other words. should the
people of Nebraska pay for the eduea-
ton of young men and young women
from other states. or should they in
sist that the outsiders pay for theiI
privileges the same as they would al
privately endowed universities? II
furthermore, Nebraska state institu
lions are to give first consideration tc
Nebraskans, then the residence qualifi.
cation must be surrounded with reason
able safeguards.
Another question of policy thai
should be determined is whether the
University Of Nebraska is to 60 into
competition with the big eastern uni
versities In what is called post-gradu
ate work. A few state universities are
1t is true, taking up such graduate
work. without the incentive of gradu
ate instruction. 1t Is often difflcult Il
hold the ablest professors, but graduate
instruction is the most expensive par
of university work and the money de
voted to II would give ordinary col
legiate educations to many times thu
same number of undergraduates.
If Nebraska will content itself will
furnishing collegiate and technical in
struction and let the other universitie
take such graduates as want to go int
research work, 1t would find It's re
sources fairly adequate and still keel
apace with educational progress in sur
rounding states. II the University o
Nebraska would center its energies oil
the development of it's agriculture
school and make It really the bes
agricultural school In this country,
would produce more practical benefit
than 1t would in spreading itself in thil
layers over the whole world OF knowl
edge.
There need be no fear that the PEG
pie of Nebraska will let their universit
go backwards or fall into decay, But
; at the same time, they have a right t
insist upon a businesslike administrs
ton of its affairs and a rigid account
ing of the sacred trust funds to max
sure of the very best results possible