The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-19
The SCOPE OF The
U. and The A. C.
SUBJECT OF AN ADDRESS BY
PRESIDENT McVEY or THE
STATE UNIVERSITY TO THE
FACULTY OF THE A. C. LAST
EVENINo-IMPoRTANT MEET.

The Scope OF the University and of
the Agricultural college was the sub
ject of a splendid address delivered
last evening at the banquet which was
given to President McVey by the A.
G. Faculty.
President Mcvey spoke in part as
follows:
II regard this meeting as one of
great Importance in the history Of edu-
cation in the state of North Dakota.
Two institutions that have been look
ed upon as materially differing in re-
gard to their relations to each other
have adopted the motto, Let us reason
together Whatever may be said of
the wisdom Of establishing separate
institutions, the fact remains that un-
der constitutional provision in this
state we have a university and agri-
cultural college, endowned and f1rmerly
established in the educational system
OF the state. The question arises, how
do these two institutions differ in their
scope and point of view?
ITO put it in a phrase, I think it
may be said that the university stands
for what might be termed professional
training and the agricultural college
for vocational training These two
phases of education are equally inn
portant. Both are needed by the peo-
pie of the state, providing they work
in harmony with each other.
"A university has been defined as a
place where men come together TO
study, the object OF such study being
to ascertain truth Its purpose is to
train leaders in the different callings
in whom the people may have full
confidence. 1t 10 q place where facili-
ties are furnished and encouragement
offered to grapple with the great
problems of life and thought. IT is an
agency for resolving the problems of
civilization which are constantly pre-
senting themselves as we go forward
in the organization of human society
1t is the prophet cd democracy en-
deavoring to point out the way by
which a state may avoid dangers and
pitfalls as shown in the history of
previous civilizations. It has for it's
object the formation of statesmen.
legislators. and judges, and it endeav-
ors to expound the principles of gov
eminent, to study the underlying ele-
ments of economics in their applica-
ton to commerce, trade and industry
to develop the reasoning powers Of
youth by which their minds may be
enlarged and their souls instilled with
virtue and the love of order. II at
tempts to enlighten the youth regard
ing the sciences and arts and comforts
of life, and to inculcate habits of re-
flection and correct action. It's high
est function is to prepare leaders and
teachers for every field OF activity.
This Is as noble a purpose as could
be conceived for any institution Great
ed by the hand or man.
Tut no less important Is the work
of the college devoted to the training
of men for specific vocations as dis
tinct from those professions which are
to develop leaders. statesmen, judges
and captains Of industry. The work of
an institution of this character Is to
teach the arts as arts. to train the
hand and the eye, and to place the
emphasis upon the thing that Is being
done. The conflict which Is likely to
arise between two institutions with
two such points or view depends en-
tirely upon the purpose and the scope
which they have before them, The
field OF the university, speaking in
general terms, Ia pretty we'll known;
but the field OF the college Of agricul-
ture and mechanical arts is uncertain.
and this unquestionably leads In many
instances TO the following Of old ira
ditions rather than working out along
new paths. The danger of the agricnI-
tural college when separated from the