Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-03-17
NO SEGREGATION
FOR WISCONSIN
BILLS MAKING co-EDUcATioN
PERMANENT RECOMMENDED
FOR PASSAGE.
EDUCATORS, CITIZENS AND LEG
IsLAToRs lNooRse MEASURE
IN COMMITTEES.
Madison. March |

A1duASOAs MATCH IL.
There is no danger of segregation
in the University of Wisconsin. Hear
ings before the committee on educa-
ton last night revealed strong SEN
timent among educators, citizens and
Legislators for coeducation. The bill
for permanent equality of both sexes
at the educational institution of the
state was recommended for passage.
The addition of woman member to
the board of regents was also viewed
favorably, and will receive the atten-
ton of the legislature, as well as the
Donald bill requiring school boards TO
be comprised of one-third of women to
two-thirds of men.
Mrs. Olin argued that segregation
is a retrogressiye step. The separa-
ton of classes meant in the last anal
ysis inferior advantages for the girl
students. The establishment of
separate school for women, such as is
contemplated at the University of
Chicago would be the final outcome Of
the defeat OF the bill of Assemblyman
Hambrecht to make Wisconsin Univer-
sity once and for all an institution for
the greatest good of both sexes.
There was but one dissenting voice
raised in the public hearing before
the committee and that was not
against coeducation, but against the
encroachment of the state upon in
ternal government OF the university
This came from James F. Trottman,
regent of the university, who inter
perts the new measure as going
farther than coeducation. He read
excerpts from university laws of other
states to show that many of them had
restrictions upon privileges of women
and that none of them had bestowed
benefits upon the gentler sex not en-
joyed by men The bill under discus
sion, he argued, makes coeducation
permanent and does not leave the
school management the right at any
time to establish separate classes.
This particular bill goes very much
farther han that of any state, he said
in part "If the principle of coeduca-
ton were in danger would not want
it curtailed; nor would any regent on
the board. We are friends of coedu-
cation from top to bottom. AS for the
dgnger of establishing a separate col
lege for women, there is no provision
for that. We couldn't do that if we
wanted to- If we should try it, the
whole state would rise against us. A
resolution passed by the board of re-
gents gives women and men equality
in our university. The amendment
proposed makes the law infiexible.'
Magnus Swenson. another regent of
the university. stated that the large
majority of the regents have no OBJ
lection to the bill He could not see
how the board could consistently OPP
pose it, after it has adopted the reso-
luton giving men and women equal
rights.
Van Hise Opposed to Segregation.
President Van Hise denied that he is
an advocate of segregation. THE re-
port that | am in favor of segrega-
ton" he said. sis entirely untrue. I
have always been for coeducation. !
have been surprised that after had
advocated the equality of the sexes
for many years. should be placed
among those that favor the separation
of them"
The president agrees with other ed
ueators that there are courses speci-
ally fitted to women as we'll as classes
that are of particular interest to wo-
men. He did not believe that the
proposed bill would interfere with the
adoption of studies adaptable TO diff
feTent purposes.
Senator DoRald's bill to have women
members in boards of education re-
ceived the Endorsement of John NJ
DIN. There are ITO women teachers
in the city of Madison and only IL
men instructors. Mr.. Olin said. The
school children number loss boys
and 1894 girls And we haven't got
a woman on the board" he said And
have never been able to get one