New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-04-12
4 NEW ACADEMIC ORDER.

Punch also is among the prophets. A few
years ago that sprightly fun maker evolved
from his inner consciousness a picture Of col
lege students on strike. The Undergraduate
trade union had called them out until better
scholarship and shorter hours should be grant
ed by the faculty, and picketng, boycotung
and all the familiar processes of strikes We're
adopted. People generally laughed at the ap-
parenty extravagant conceit little thinking that
time would soon vindicate its veracity. In
more than one school and college in America
as well as in England there have been strikes
resembling that, and at the present time at
Ruskin College. at oxford, the fancy of
Punch is being realized with literal exact
ness As protest against the dismissal of
union professor the undergraduate trade
union is conducting a strike boycotting the
non-union members Of the faculty, picketing the
lecture rooms to prevent attendance at boy
cotted lectures. demanding the resignation OF
"blackleg" or "scab" professors. and insisting
that all negotiations between them and the
governing body of the college shall be con
Quoted in writing and in full recognition of
the union"
Equally significant of n new order in aca-
demc affairs has been the conduct Of some
Of the theological students at our own Univer
sty Of Princeton. There thc students have or
Ganized to enforce their wishes concerning the
curriculum. the teaching and the general ad-
ministration OF affairs. They object 10 some of
the lectures, or the lecturers, as dull and
soyenly." They want the hours of study and
recitation so arranged to give them larger
part Of the afternoon for their own uses. They
also demand that The curriculum shall be re-
cast IN accordance with their own advanced,
enlightened and expert ideas in preference to
the obsolete notions Of the faculty and direc-
tors. In brief, they want the institution CON
Quoted according TO their IDEAS and if it
is not they have threatened TO GO strike.
Higher scholarship and shorter hours, they
cry, IN literal repetition of 'Punch's'' Imagi-
nary slogan Of years ago.
The new order is, then that the faculty and
students practically to change places The
student body, organized into trade union is
20 direct the management OF the institution. e
is 70 prescribe the studies which are to be pur-
sued, the hours of study and recitation which
are 20 he observed, and the whole scheme of
administration. 1t is TO pass upon the qualiii-
cations Of the lecturers and instructors. and il
these do not come up 20 the undergraduate
standard appropriate discipline is TO be liz
f1icted. The members Of the faculty are to
come to the college TO obtain instruction from
the students and doubtless are TO receive merit
or demerit marks according to the undergrad
uate judgment. The sweet reasonableness of
this new system must be apparent to all 1t
is quite obvious that young men know more
than old men, and that freshmen before they
have pursued any college studies at all are
supremely qualified 10 determine what studies
they should pursue and how the subjects
should be presented by the lecturers and in
sructorS. Surely the clay knows better than
the potter into what shape it should be fash
Toned The prophecy OF Punch is the true
philosophy of the higher learning