The Washington times., 1909-05-17
Declares @. w. u. Will Get
on Its Feet Again If
Funds Are Found.
ALUMNI ASSAIL
THE PRESIDENT
Say Institution Is Only on Paper.
and Charge Misman-
agement.

With the admission by DR..
Charles w. Needham, president on
the George Washington University,
that the institution was in a serious
way financially, and that unless aid
was forthcoming it would ultimately
have TO close, and the charge by
prominent members of the faculty
that it was becoming a university
only on paper, mortgaged almost 10
the limit, the affairs of the institu-
ton reached a critical stage today.
"The George Washington Uni
versity will not close its doors this
year or next year. But unless it Sc
cures large endowment or is adopt
ed by the District of Columbia
along the lines of the State uuiversi-
ties, it may be compelled 10 close. /
do not expect any such end for the
institution"
DR.. Needham Hopeful
This was the statement made today
by President Nesdham.
But he is hopeful OF the future: he
feels sure that the necessary money wiz
CONS and also believes that the plans
for higher education. better standards
OF teaching and improved eqrspment
which he has pressed upon the trustees
and faculty. win be provided along the
lines that have been laid out despite H.
stress.
On the other hand. DR. NeedhamA
critics claim that the university is be-
ing managed in wild cat" manner.
that its ideal IS ridIcuIously high.
and that an attempt is being
made 10 compets with the biggest
and best endowed universities in the
country with absolutely no financial
basis for such competition Had a like
attempt been made 10 the business field
1t would be denounced by all consgva-
tive investors. as a foolish scheme. 81
critics in the faculty and alumni de-
Szre.
Assailed by Alumni.
Members Of the alumni who assaii DR..
Needhams administration assert that it
longer. because OF a lack OF pulls, IS
well as a lack of funds. They declare
that various departments, hitherto self
sustaining. have suffered from the al
tempt to expand the university. an1
that the present faculty is out OF ali
proportions 70 the demands OF the stu
dents
As evidence Of the financial stress
they point to the presidents report to
the board Of trustees submitted on No
veTnber 10, 1905. This shows the ex-
penses of the institution for the school
year Of 1s07-0S 10 have ben S255.414 g.
The receipts were S157,52S52
The deficit OF S97. SSH, according 10
the report. was paid out Of the general
funds OF the university, excepting rlse
balance shown below, carried over -
the present year.
"In this balance shown below" de-
clares a prominent alumaus. lies tie
OF this highly CClOred document comes
the statement tSat the amount carried
over from the previous year Is 2Iso02.s2.
Admits the Crisis
In view Of the fact that President
Needham admits that the university
vviH run short IN all It's departrr snts, it
Is hard 20 see how il is 10 shoulder this
accumulated debt along with The one
that will accrue this year.
Ha 1s
time this report was published is shown
by the comment made by President
Needham IN the report
1T is apparent that the university can
not &c forward on its present policy OF
advanced work, with increasing num-
bSrs OF students without a provision
Tor the annual deficit The liquid funds
OF the university viii be exhausted this
year. The results of the policy adopted
and put IN force IN 1905 have demon
Strated that there Is a large and grow
ing demand in the city OF Washington
for higher education OF the b est quality
The question now before Us il: Shall We
turn back and further forSake the cause
for which We have labOred and sacrificed
Tor the last few years?'
Advertising Scheme
"In my opinion said the aIumnus
who cited tse report. the development
of the socailed university has been little
more than an advertising scheme and
the student body today. IN numbers and
in the subjects they wish to take, do
rot Justify the large teaching stan tha-
is being paid from the untversitys
shrinking funds.
The new building that never went
any further than the plans Is a magni-
hcent example Of the alleged expansion
Plans for the building were drawn aud
circulated all over America and abroad
There was not cent 10 Justify this
srotect-"
'fsfhe prospectus Of the university pre-
sents the same aspect. Courses are
universities WltE eado EaaeRts Y NIL