The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-16
UNIVERSITY PLAN
MUCH DISCUSSED
Gigantic Undertaking Generally
Commended by Business Men
iirsRiehnond y esterdas.
WHAT 1T MEANS TO THE CITY
WHAT 1T MEANS TO THE CITY
Suggestion of What Movement
May Develop Into-General
Board Interested.

The plan for establishing the Univer-
sity OF Richmond was the topic OF con-
versation In all parts of the city yester-
day and last night. Large minds, capa-
BILE of grasp,ng large ideas and seeing
the possibilities in so great an under
taking. were disposed to heartily favor
the plan as proposed; with many others
tho scheme will have to be absorbed IN
all of its gigantic possibilities as 1t
gradually unfolds.
Many OF the most prominent citizens OF
Richmond were gathered at the Y. Nj.
C. A. luncheon in tho afternoon. and the
university was tho topic of conversn-
tion. a number Of suggestions being
made as to its feasibility and some pos
sible objections being fully discussed.
The Plan Proposed.
The whole matter is as yet entirely
tentative At the meeting on Monday,
committee, Of which Mr.. joseph bryan
is chairman and consisting OF DR.. S. G.
Mitchell. OF Richmond College: DR.. r. r.
Blackwell. OF neutrality-suspicious.; Captain
w. Gordon McCabe, Mr.. John Garland
Pollard and Mr.. John G. Freeman, were
appointed to consider tho plan and scope
of the proposed institution. This com
mittee will no doubt correspond with
the great universities of this country and
abroad with a view of securing copies
OF their charters and plan OF organizing
the various schools that are grouped
into university.
The far-reachins Importance OF the
movement was shown at the meethiH
Monday. when one Of the gentlemen pres
ent asked for the appointment OF sec
retary, saying: IT wish some one to tRke
down the names Of those present TINS
afternoon / wish 1t to be recorded for
all time that was here"
IT should be distinctly understood thai
what Is proposed Is not university, In
the American acceptance OF that term.
but rather city OF colleges, somewhat
after the idea of Oxford or Cambridge.
The real genius of the plan proposed con-
slsts in the fact that each Individual IN
stituuon maintains its separate identity.
without change OF one iota In Its char
ter. denominati tional ownership and con-
troll; will be preserved In It's course of
study, spirit, faculty and organization.
and yet each of the separate colleges will
have at Its disposal a. central plant OF
common utilities, which Is furnished by
tho citizens OF Richmond. Each college
will haN% to the central plant exactly tho
same relation that 1t now bears to tho
Virginia State Library. 1t will be q
have no concurrence in It's obligations.
The principal objection that has been
raised to tho plan proposed Is the fear
that the various classical colleges will
get out from under tho denominational
control Of the church which has founded
them and so far sustained them. The
projectors OF the college city Idea claim
that tho reverse will be true. Any one
of tho religious colleges can become even
ctc jrof Ion, ~
so choose, without marrins In any way
the integrity of the University OF, Rich
mond.
Richmond College. which has been
largely sustained by the Baptist Church,
might ongraft into its charter proyi-
sion that every tutor should be a member
of tho Baptist Church. II the denomina-
tion saw fit, without this charter proyl-
sion, heing any embarrassment to the
university corporation. The case tt Union
Theological Seminary is even more strik-