Decorah-posten og ved arnen., 1909-03-05

Editor Decorah-P osten:-
In America" for Feb. 10 appeared
the following;
Mere forklaring trenges.
Registrars Office
The University of Minnesota
Minneapolis.
February II, 1909.
Dear Sir:-
Your letter of February 10th, with
reference to Park Region Luther
College has been received. That
school Is not on the accredited list of
the University, and students desiring
admission from Park Region Luther
College would be required to take the
entrance examinations.
Very truly yours,
E. b. PIERCE,
Registrar.
Park Region Luther College was
not on the accredited list published
Nov. 20, 1908. ! was, therefore, very
much surprised to see you concede
in America, in your reply to Cd
land, that Park Region Luther Col
lege is nov on the list. An inquiry
at the University brought the above
official reply. The school is not on
the list and the graduates will not
be admitted without entrance ex-
animation. The question is this:
Does not Mr.. Odland know what he
is writing about or is he intention
ally misstating things. What is the
use of humbugging the people any
wayl Odland is off, way off, or else
he is dishonest!
Kor.
Man bedes lagge merke til, at
ovenstaaende Brev er fra Minnesota
Universities Registrar og at Diet er
dateret Ute Feb. 1909. We'd Univer-
~sitetets Registrar kanske like, hvad
han skriver oml Lad os faa grei Be-
sked. ANS Red.
l almost feel like apologizing for
answering the attack of a man who
Is afraid to sign his name; he is like
an Indian that shoots his arrow from
ambush, being too cowardly or
crooked to fight an open battle. But
in view of the fact that the above has
a bearing upon Park Region Luther
College, in whose welfare l am
keenly interested, ! will honor 1t with
a reply.
1t would seem that my anonymous
friend Is not informed as to both sides
of this controversy, for II he had read
my recent article in Decorah-P Poster,
he could not have written as he did
unless he is absolutely unfair Or de-
void of judgment. In that article |
proved my case SO conclusively that
even Prof. Anderson was convinced,
as witness his reply in "Amerika" for
Feb. S, and it is surprising that the
professor saw fit to reopen the dis
cussion by publishing the above com
munication, backed up by his editorial
endorsement. 1t shows how anxious
he must be to drum up something to
discredit a mar who has incurred his
displeasure. 1t seems to me that if
Prof. Anderson had been a fair man,
with the average amount of self
respect, he would have enlightened
his correspondent as to the true facts
in the case, as they were presented
by me in Decorah-P Poster, and would
not have revived a controversy which
he himself admitted had been settled.
In the spring of 1907 Prof. George
+. James, dean of the school of edu-
cation at the University of Mime
sofa, made a thorough inspection OF
Park Region Luther College, at the
request of the principal, who desired
to have the institution placed on the
accredited list. 1t is not the policy
of the University to act hastily in
such matters, because the number OF
students seeking admission is so great
that it has become a serious matter
to take care of them, and the besr
policy is to make the entrance re
quirements as rigid as possible; anc
it stands to reason that the Univer
sity, being a part of the state educa
tional system, ought to favor th'
state high schools in the admission o
students. But Dean James was 81
favorably impressed by the thorough
ness and efficiency of the work don
at the college here that, while he di'
not see his way clear to place tn
school on the regular accredited list
at that time, he promised Prof. Rista,
that graduates of the college, recon
mended by the principal, would b
admitted as students at the Univer
sity, without examination.
;. In September, 1908, two P. R. l
c. graduates, Axel Burkee and A. c
Sletyold, sought admission to tn
University, in accordance with thi
arrangement, but were told by tn
registrar that they could not ente
. without taking an examination. Th
, matter was Immediately taken up b
:, the principal with Dean James, VIII
: wrote the following letter in reply:
Minneapolis Sept. I6, 1908.
f.; Rev. d. G. Ristad,
Fergus Falls, MINI.
{ My dear Mr.. Ristad:-
e am exceedingly sorry that, OWN
4. to my absence from the city and I
a mistake on the part of the registra
I there was any difficulty in regard /,
the admission of the two young me
whom you mention. Our arrang,