University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1909-11-01
OXFORD CONTROLLED
BY TWENTY MEN
Graduates Have No Say in the
conduct of University
Affairs.
INTELLECTUAL OLIGARCHY'
proctor> Spy pom Students
and Report Violations
of Ancient Rules.

CEhe Rev. v. W. Boyd in the ST.
Louis Tines,
OXFORD. England - Though the
fact remains that an Oxford mans
life renter' in the college to which he
belongs. within whose walls he re-
ceived In" larger share OF his publi..
teaching and all his Individual tut
ton. where II" forms his social and
athletic ties to which memory will
oIt"ueSt revert in after life. vet from
his Very first freshman term he is
mad" to feel that he is a member of
greater ami far more influential
body. the university. For from the be
ginning this body takes cogniZance of
his conduct and brings his attainments
to the test OF examinations
1t may b" We'll. then. for ne briefly
10 desc rib" It's constitution. or method
OF government. OF the constitution oI
tn" university. Lord CurZon. the pres
ent Chancellor. says: 1T is not in all
probability such Il scheme as would
have "nanated II any one mo
ment from tn" brain OF any one. man
N body uf men. | have even seen il
described ny q hostile witness as the
worst form Of government ever de
viscd by the Wit ri man. II is the
result ci a long historical develop
ment. in which successive REFORMS
haE" endeavored Ia shape to She needs
o.! their time Institutions that orig
mated and grew up under widely re-
mote conditions. and in TIE progress OF
which chanc" appears 10 HAY" played
an even larger part than design
System is Unw;eIdy
l. Is certainly a most Cumbersome
and unwieldiy organization In theory
the government o. the university rests
ultimately with the whole number OF
Masters OF Arts. who have been grad
Uat"d from the university and have
kent their names upon its hooks by
the payment OF an annual fee. The
result OF this restriction is that from
half to tWo-thirds OF the graduates
OF Oxford lose all formal share in its
government. Our system in America
Is much TO b" preferred. by which the
name o: graduate. without any
money consideration. remains on the
rec ords oi his university and he has
an active share in determining its
policies.
No change can be made in the meth
DDS of Oxford University until it has
been submitted to the VI. AS who are
On record. These are divided into TWO
bodies, the congregation and the con
vocation. The congregation consists
OF high university officials and al
qualified NJ. As residing in Oxford
within one and a half miles OF CarfaX
9TH" center OF the town. the total be
ing more than 500 persons. The con
vocation consists OF all NJ AS and
Doctors of Oxford. resident or nor
resident, WHO have kept their names
on the books of the university or of
any college, mere than 5000 in
number.
IN addition 10 t,tes" : a third bu'iy.
the Hebdomadal Council .omposed of
tn chancellor. vice chancellor. two
proctCrs and eighteen members elected
By the congregation. This council is
the supreme executive and administra-
tive organ Of til" university. the author
of its policy. the sole originator OF its
laws Without The consent o: a ma
jorty OF its members no new measure
Jan be even discussed in the other
assemblies. II is an intellectual oil.
5archy. Its members usually being
I'D and conservative men. and holding
heir seats for six years. reform at Ok
ord has q long and tortUous road to
ravel.
Chancellor Ices Little.