The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-09
President of George Wash
ington Pleads for High
Ideals of School.
BELASCO THEATER
CROWDED TO DOORS
President of Institution Given an
Ovation BY Students and
Alumni.

misundef stood in some of the public
statements he has made recently, Presi-
dent c. W Needham, of George Wash
ington University, from the Belaseo
stage al the oighty-eighth annual COM
meneement Of the -ur ,versity. this morn
ing outlined his reasons for the present
administration of the affairs of the in
stitution.
President Needham said that some
weeks ago he laid aside the address he
was then preparing, and decided he
would discuss the affairs of the uni
Yersity before a washington audience
The theater was packed to the doors.
and President Needham was given close
attention and much applause.
"A university" he said, must serve
the needs Of the community in which it
is located
What kind of a university SHAH
George Washington be2 Shall It be. as
pending legislation provides, a graduate
institution, giving no degrees and for
the advantage only OF those students
who have obtained their degrees else
where; or, shall Il be for the entire
community. for the young men OF the
city OF Washington
That is the question that il must be
for you TO decide, and even then it Is
possible that the support will not be
forthcoming that will make this great
work possible. -
Referring. then. to the She reason for
the changing the hours OF work in the
university. he said:
There was no intention or desire.
when the time of classes was changed.
body
Change In Glasses.
In this ne referred TO the work that
a. a
CUPID the government departments
and mo formerly met in classes from
$50 p. III. until later IN the evening.
This change advancing the hour
until 4.SO in the afternoon" he said,
was for the purpose OF conducting
the work of the universit- as Il is done
in other universities. Another. reason
was that under the old scheme, these
classes We're Isolated and there was no
spirit Of enthusiasm in any of them.
By the change, the students were
brought together and given the Oppor-
tunity for that COmmingling that is
for the hest accomplishment in uni
VeTslty work.
This university, as have often
said Is q true university. We have
advanced for the reason that Il seems
patent that we must advance TO serve
the people Of the community in which
We are located
AIM a Lofty One
1T is possible that we have advanced
too fast. / do not know But I do
know that the aim is 10 ty: the goal
noble
Washington is made ~ of a type
Of people different from any other city
Of its size. College men and college
women are here in great percentage.
Many of them. while Of ability, are not
paid large salaries Thousands. Of
whom I personally know many, have
college educatiOns. their wives have
college educations, and they would like
their sons 70 have the best Of training
Even now, the civil service Is being
closed against the young man from the
do, if his father cannot AFFORD 10 send
MIN away from home for his higher
education
Every one OF the States has an en-
dowed institution Of higher education,
and the residents o. that State can OBJ
tain their education at a nominal cost
Must Help District Men.
What show does the young man from
the District OF Columbia stand II he
goes out into the States to compete with
these young men with educational train
ing?
Shall the young man OF the District
OF Columbia have equal opportunity
with the young men OF the States, or
shall he not?
shall we have in Washington a true
university, open to the young men Of
the Capital, or shall We not?
What shall il be-a university open
only to those who have obtained their
education elsewhere, or one Ope-s to the
high school graduates and the graduates
Of the preparatory schOoIs?f'
TaHn IL -
the members OF tie graduating classes.
urged them to remember well the needs
Of the university. and to be it's apostles
throughout theU careers. He pointed
out that once college of liberal arts
has been established. the other colleges
come easily.
An Engineering School.
when such a college is estab-
'lished," he said, "an engineering
school. for instance, can be added
with little trouble. Under such con
ditions, 200 students viii pay for the
maintenance of such a school. Mind
you. II viii not pay for their educa-
tion, but IT Will pay for the engineer
ing school.
"That represents what the univer-
sitv has been doing. We have added
ana added. we have a library now
of 10000 volumes We have well
equipped laboratories, such as are
needed TO do the work this university
!But. as / said before. whether we
have gone too fast, ] cannot tell. No
one can tell at this time, but this
question is one Of vital Importance
TO you people who live in the Dis
trict of Columbia and one TO which
YOU should give the best of your at
tention and thought"
The theater was beautifully decorated
and the graduates. in cap and gown,
were banked in the center of the house
while the members of the faculty occu-
pied chairs on the stage. Flowers took
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