The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-06-22
President Van Hise OF University
of Wisconsin Gives Splend-
i'd Address.
ABOVE POLITICS OR MONEY
SAYS State University Should Be An
intellectual Leader-People are
Entitled to Receive the Very
Best Obtainable.

Madison. Wis. June 22.-The dangers
10 state universities resulting from po-
litical control, from the demand for
returns measurable in dollars and
cents from restrictions of freedom OF
teaching. were pointed out by Pres
ident Charles r. Van Hise of the Uni
versity of Wisconsin, in his COM
mencement address to 65S members OF
the graduating class today.
In times of unrest and change like
the present. when new and important
issues are arising, DR.. Van Hise de-
clared. men of learning who know the
past. interpret facts broadly, and have
no other purpose but the greatest
good of the greatest number, should
be absolutely free.
Times of unrest and change are not
times for the university to trim its
sails. he asserted. The state has
right to demand of the university ex-
pert service i'm valuing the public util-
tiles; it has the equal right to demand
expert service in politics and sociol-
ogy.
THE strength of the state university
lies i'm its close relation to the state"
said DR.. Van Hise. "The state de-
mands of 1t service; the university
feels a peculiar obligation to the state
I'm which il is situated. 1t is the duty
of the STAFF university to be at the
service of the state along all lines In
which their expert knowledge Will be
helpful.
"The state owns the university, ana
every citizer feels himself to be n
stakeholder in that ownership. But
associated with these close relations
which are the strength of the state
university. are also the most serious
dangers. These are that the univers-
ity may be politically controlled ana
that ii may be hampered in its WORK
Anent Political Control.
"To the danger of political control
the state university is especially ex-
posed i'm it's youth. A number OF such
universities have suffered from poll
tics i'm their early history. 1t speaks
well for the democracy of this country
that. as the states have developed, the
danger of political interference in uni
versity government has steadily be-
come less. At the present time there
is no serious danger of political con-
troll in any of the older and stronger
state universities
"The other danger--interference with
the universlty's work-has two as
poets: first. 1t may be demanded that
teaching which looks toward materia'
ends shall be strong, while the human :
tiles are allowed to remain weak ana
undeveloped; and. second, freedom ol
teaching and investigation may be IN
terfered with.
TT is natural, indeed. inevitable. tha'
the people shall demand { enectlve
teaching, research, and ension oi
knowledge shall be done In '-Sricuiture
in engineering. and in other helds IRON
which a financial return may be showl
on the investment. These demands
are right, and should be fully met ps
the university: but the people shou''
also appreciate that all material gaih'
are for men and women. why shoui'
we wish to produce more wheat ah'
cotton i'm order that human peihs'
may be fed and clothed But the hl'
is more than meat, and the body Il
more than raiment.'
Freedom Of Teaching.
"Shal the people demand OF thei
university that il provide for thei
material needs and neglect the peopi
themselves-their intellectual, artisuo
moral. and spiritual development IN
university authorities must insist ina
man shall not become subordinate I
material gain. which is for him. i
the people will support state univers
ity i'm which these ideals obtain the'
can Il truly be said that democrac'
is success"
"The remaining danger of the CLOS
association OF the state with the UNI
versity is the possibility of interier
ence with the freedom of teaching ah
investigation. In general such inter
ference Is likely to be Indirect ratne
than direct. and Is therefore all th
more insidious. A sentiment VIII
developed or situation arise IN
state such that the professor feels Una
he Is not free to teach the truth as
sees IT,
For my own part, I have no dou,
that In all the states i'm which the sta'
universities are strongly establishe'
the overwhelming majority of the pee
pie are in favor of absolute freedo'
OF teaching and investigation, but fr'
quently the deep-seated. dormant ser
tIment does not express itself; an
there are always some who wou'
place limitations upon the field OF u
university.
"A university must insist that u
whole domain Of physical and huma