Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-02
PLANS FOR UNIVERSITY
George Washington Alumni Dis
cuss Possibilities.
ANNUAL Meeting HELD
President Needham's Statement Re-
garding Van Ness Park Site.
ADDRESSES BY THE MEMBERS
Election of Officers Held and Other
Business Transacted-List
of Those Present.
ADDRESSES BY THE MEMBERS

'I am laboring in hope and faith for
great university in this great city, for an
institution that will be a worthy sister TO
any university of the world" declared Pres
ident Charles W. Needham of the George
Washington University last evening, adj
dressing the members Of the George Wash
ington University Alumni Association. The
members were gathered in annual session.
Following the election Of officers for the
ensuing year. the interest Of the meeting
centered in the plans for the future Of the
university.
That in the next few months the future
status Of the university will largely be
determined was the opinion voiced by those
in authority last night. A great campaign
for money for the erection of new build
ings on a specially appointed campus il
planned, and the decisions regarding the To-
cation of the buildings must be made soon.
In this connection the announcement by
President Needham that Van Ness Park
would not be used for the university,
should the friends of the university prefer
another site, was somewhat unexpected.
and opens again the question Of the campus
location.
Owing to the illness Of William Bruce
King. the retiring president Of the alumni
association, Mr.. H. F. Woodward, vice
president, was in the chair, and Prof. II.
L. Hodgkins acted as secretary. After the
reading and approval OF the minutes or the
last meeting, Mr.. John B. Larner, treasurer
of the association, presented his report.
This showed that at the beginning Of this
year the association had $431 16 in the life
fund and SOL. IL in the general fund, and
that investments to the amount of 81, 291.75
are owned by the association. The unique
financial plan of the association provides
source of revenue. By investing the money
collected from life memberships. the asso-
Of sos per year. which practically means
10S new members each year. The fund Is
growing, and will soon be substantial
enough to allow the association to attain
larger objects.
Election Of Officers
The election which was unanimous, re-
suited as follows:
President, Edwin c. Brandenburg.
Vice presidents, N. Landon Burchell, DIR.
Theodore N. Gill. DR.. Virgil B. Jackson.
Fulton Lewis, William A. Mearns, John B.
Sleman, jr.
Secretary H. L. Hodgkins.
Treasurer, John B. Larner.
President Needham cast the unanimous
ballot of the association for these officers.
dent to the chair. After thanking the
members for the honor Of election, Mr..
Brandenburg said
Il think we all realize that the university
work to be done. If the president Of the
institution will unfold his plans he will
startle you with the magnitude of the I'M
dertaking. Single-handed the work will
be hard for him to accomplish; but with
the united strength Of the alumni the work
will be easy. If we, as alumni, give our
support the president can do much. There
is no reason why We cannot have here the
greatest university in the world. In this
beautiful capital city, with its many ad-
vantages. there ought to be greater edu-
cational institution: and l hope every
alumnus will encourage, assist and sup
port the university president and do what
he can to make this the most complete uni
versity In the land.
President Needham's Address.
President Needham was then introduced.
He spoke in part, as follows:
81 wish you knew how pleasant 1t Is to
come out Of the work and look into the
faces Of those who are back Of the uni
versity-who believe in 1t and in its future,
and who are willing to come out on night
like this to show their interest: Unless ine
graduates support the institution there is
little hope for it; unless they are proud OF
1t who will be proud of It? Unless they
support 1t who will support It?
1--WE are in swift running current ana
very much is depending on what happens
to the university in the next few weeks
| or months. Great opportunities are open
| to us and great success may come to U.s.
1
| in the next few weeks will decide the fu-
ture of the university"
| In the next few minutes President Need
| ham explained some changes that have
| been made In the university recently.
/ First, he stated that all departments have
been placed on the full day basis and the
| first year class is enjoying the opportuni-
ties of this change. This does not mean
| departments are to be neglected. for the
| evening classes are continued. But, the
president said. the trustees saw that rely
| ing on that class Of students the university
had reached its highest development In
numbers. The question whether to be con-
| tent with the present number or of enter
ing a wider field and a broader work was
| met, and it was decided to provide for the
| men who come to the university to devote
| all their time to the university work.
| Otherwise, men Of that kind are lost either
by their going into work or by going to
other universities.
Involves Increase Of Expenses.
This change in plan by providing for the
full day sessions Of the classes, the presi-
| dent pointed out, increased the expenses
of the university. AS q general rule. sta
tistics show. the tuition which a student
pays in college covers 50 per cent Of the
expense of educating him, and the other
so per cent is paid by the college. In
George Washington University the tuition
|
lege must pay the other Is per cent. II
| the college is to operate on the broader
basis entered this year, then, the president
| said, more students will come and the ex-
| penses of the university will be larger
! Besides that additions to the faculty are
| being made, eighteen new members being
| added in the college Of arts and sciences,
five more in law and four new ones in the
| medical school
On account of the change of plan in pro-
/ vidng the full day sessions and taking on
more of the aspect Of a typical eastern
| university, the work has been increased
| and intensified, requiring more time and
| more thoroughness on the part Of the stu
| dents. Men who were working found that
more years must be spent in getting
| through college. This resulted in de-
/ crease of $50 students in the university this
| year. AS two-fifths of those were taking
| special work. two or three courses. the loss
| does not seem to be SO severe
\ Each of the various colleges of the uni
versity, the president pointed out is in
| creasing In strength. Many full day stu
| dents are in the frst-year class. In the
various courses, the president stated
| laboratories are being used more largely
| than ever before. The student now learns
not only the principles Of his profession, but
| the arts as WELL AS one cannot make an
/ athlete OF man by lecturing to him, so