Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-15
WOMEN GRANTED DEGREES
They Are Placed on the Same Foot
ing as Men.
RTs THE FAVORED CLASSES
Purpose of the Irish Universities
Bill Now Pending in the Eng
lish Parliament.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

| The University Of Dublin, or Trinity
College, as 1t is better known, is one of
the few great institutions of Europe
which gives full degrees to women on
the same terms as to men. There Is no
| distinction in rules or conditions or In
any other respect. Women are admitted
to all Of the several schools. arts, science,
| engineering. law and medicine, on an
| equal footing. There are. now about one
hundred in attendance. At first the uni
versity gave degrees to all women who
could pass the regular examinations and
| they came here in droves from Oxford.
| Cambridge and other institutions where
| they had been hearing lectures. but were
not given degrees. All they had to do
| was to enter the examinations and fulfill
| the requirements. But two years ago
| this practice was stopped and now no de-
grees are conferred upon young women
| who do not take the full course at Trim
| ity. The fees are the same as for men
G1O The women students are mostly
| Irish. although few English girls. who
are not satisfied with the certificates
given them at Cambridge and oxford.
come over here from Girton and other in
situations and work for full degree OF
B.A. BIS. Ph.D.. and even for the d.
| pomas in law and medicine. TO accom-
| modate them the university has recently
purchased a fine old mansion in Palmer
| ton Park where fifty or sixty girls are
now lodged under the care of matron'
subject to rules similar to those which
| govern the men students in the dormito-
| ries on University Green.
| Twenty-Five degrees were granted to
women this year. and about the same
number last year, chiefly in the depart
ment of arts which is the same as our
academic courses. and most Of the re-
cipients are intending to be teachers in
Women's schools and colleges.
Only Two Recognized by the Govern
ment.
At present only two unive rsities in Ire
land are recognized by the government
Trinity and its affiliated colleges. COM
posing the University of Dublin, and the
so-called Royal University, also situated
in Dublin, but without faculty or stu
dents, and intended only for the confer
ring Of degrees upon the graduates OF az
filiated colleges situated at Belfast, Gal
way, Cork and semi-independent medical.
law and scientific schools In Dublin.
None of these institutions. however. re-
ceives grants from the government. ex-
cept the three colleges mentioned, all OF
which bear the same name-Queen's COL
lege-and are condemned as GODDESS COL
leges'' among religious people because
they have no chapels. no religious exer-
cises and no religious instruction. NO
clergymen are ever appointed upon the
board of trustees or are allowed to par
ticipate in the management. They are not
prohibited from being elected to the rae
ulties. but their clerical character Is en-
tirely ignored. and they rank precisely
with other instructors. The three Queens
colleges are almost entirely supported by
the state, the fees being merely nominal.
Many Irish students go to the English
universities because the Roman Catholic
bishops have placed a ban upon these
Goddess colleges and also upon Trinity
College because it would not admit Cath
olics for centuries. There Is no lnstitu-
ton for higher education In Ireland which
a Catholic student can attend except TOT
the study of theology. The so-called
Irish universities BILL" now pending In
the house of commons, is intended to
supply this deficiency and to create two
great institutions. one under the care OIL
the Roman Catholics and the other under
the care Of the non-conformist churches.
by consolidating institutions that already
exist and adding new ones to fill the
necessary gaps.
Invasion by Women.
The story of the invasion of Trinity
College by women is quite interesting.
The charter, which was granted by Queen
~
sex, race or religion, and when Prof. Syl-
vester, nov in the chair OF mathematics
in one of our American colleges. was re-
fused degree at Cambridge because he
was a Jew he came here. passed his ex-
aminations and was given one MS
opened the gates, and several young wom-
en- who had been denied degrees AT Tx
ford and Cambridge came 10 test their
rights.
On June 9, 1903. the senate Of the uni
versity passed a resolution that 1t Is de-
sirable that the degrees of Trinity Col
lege, Dublin, shall De open 10 women.
and that his majesty's government be
requested to obtain a kings letter en-
towering the university to grant degrees
to women on such terms and conditions
as may seem to the board and council.
within their respective provinces. on full
consideration, to be most expedient.
On January, IT, 1904. Edward VII. by
rhe grace Of God. of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland and OF the
British dominions beyond the seas, king.
defender of the faith. sent greetings to
all whom these presents shall come. with
information that by the advice of our
tight trusty and right we'll beloved cousin
and councillor. William Humble, Earl of
Dudley. knight Grand Cross OF the Royal
Victorian Order, lord lieutenant general
and governor general CT That par; Of our
said United Kingdom called Ireland. do
by these presents authorize and empower
their successors in office, and the said
senate OF the University of Dublin. and
he caput Of the said senate and all mem
bers thereof and all other persons or bod
les whose concurrence Is necessary for
the granting of degrees. to interpret the
charter and the statutes of said college
in such manner that women may obtain
degrees in the said university. all pre-
yfous laws. ordinances and interpreta-
tons notwithstanding.
Under this, authority on May 5. 1901
the board adopted rules admitting women
TO all lectures, examinations. degrees and
prizes except fellowships and scholar
ships. their fees being the same as those
for men and all the rules applying to
them equally except in the medical de-
partment women shall practice dssec-
ton separately from men, and medical
lectures shall be given them either sep
arately or in conjunction with men. as
the professors may think best"
In June 1904 the senate also passed
"a Grace" for giving degrees to women
who had attained certain prescribed
status in the universities of Oxford and
Cambridge and had passed all the exam
nations and fulfilled all the other re-
uurements for the granting of degrees
for men at Trinity.
The regulations require that women
shall pay the same fees except those for
the commons (meais), that except when
entering or leaving college they shall
wear caps and gowns upon the college
grounds unless accompanied by chap
eron." They are not expected ITO re-
| move their caps in the presence of the
| provost and fellows and may wear them
during lectures and examinations" They
are not permitted to visit the rooms of
| men students in college unless accompa-