Enterprise news-record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1910-1911, 1911-02-04
COMMONWEALTH
SERVICE THE SLOGAN
OREGON FOLLOWS WISCONSIN,
PUTTING "sTATE TO SCHOOL

The University as the Social Engineer
Of the State-This State Keeping
Abreast of the Times in All Lines.
Those who have thought of state
university as mainly a school Tor the
study of the classics are awakening
In these fresh morning years OF the
twentieth century from Rip van
Wrinkle sleep, to find the educationai
world looking strange to them. rhe
state at school" is the phrase coined
by a noted magazine writer to describe
the University Of Wisconsin, and TINS
phrase suggests the dominant ideal In
the state university today. Whenever
training is possible, the lack OF train
ing means social waste. This is why
the states are employing the agency
Of their state universities to furnish
IN all classes such training as they
can receive. Wisconsin has as many
'students scattered through the state'
on farms, in factories and WORKSHOPS
stores and offices, as on the university
campus. These pursue, at nominai
cost. courses which contribute direct
ly to fit them for higher grades OF
work. and which, without the aid OF
the uniyersity's correspondence de-
partment. they could either not pro-
cure at all. or could procure only at
very large aggregate expense. All oi
the other states supporting state UNI
yersities are following Wisconsins
lead in this matter.
University as Social Engineer.
The commonwealth service ideal In
wolves much more, however, tnan
merely ministering to the needs OF In
dividuals here and there. 1t means
leadership in effecting improvements
in general social conditions through q
higher type Of municipal government
social surveys, courses of lectures CIV
en- to large groups Of persons on eco
nomic, social, historical, literary and
scientific subjects by university pro-
fessors in local study centers ike
schools and libraries. 1t involves, also
suggestions for scientific surveys aione
various lines Of state conservation anc
the supplying, mainly through III
graduate school, of experts to serve
state boards and commissions, like
the railroad commission, tax commis
sion, and the bureau OF comparativ,
Iegislatlon-in short, In every 1leit
where modern training counts TOWARD
efficiency. productiveness and tn
elevation of social life.
Oregon Abreast OF the Times.
Our own university has already al
enviable record Of service through 1t
correspondence school, as letters from
men in mining camps and logg,n
camps, as we'll as from men and wo
men in the more usual walks OF life
abundantly attest. 1t Is the purpos
Of the administration to push forwar
this phase Of the work by making tn
facilities more nearly adequate. to tn
demands upon them.
Field Sociology.
It Is also the expectation OF the DC
partment of sociology to develop tn
work already begun in field sociolog
making social surveys of type com
munities, analyzing community need
and the forces which might be utilize
In improving conditions, co-ordinatin
toward the end the most helpful lint
Of social activity.
The University Advisory Bureau.
In line with these activities Ii II
recent organization at the universal
of "The University Advisory Bureau
whose aim Is to make all extenslc
work Of utmost value to the stat
The bureau consists of those men
bers of the faculty whose speci
training and scientific interest best
them to advise locai community
along such lines of municipal orgal
ixation. water and lighting supple
ventilation and illumination, roads al
pavements, parks, architectural pro
lens, power and irrigation problem
etc.
It is not the purpose Of this b
reau IN any manner to compete WI
established concerns in carrying o
the details Of any improvement pr
ject. but rather to act only In a mo
general advisory capacity supplyi
--as II can readily do from the
partments-the preliminary inform
tion which may enable any comm
nifty to take the best and safest III
action.
Tho School Of Sanitary Science
In accordance with suggestions
members OF the oregon meulcai II
ternity, there is under organization
the university what may be called
school OF sanitary science. This
make still more effective the work
the advisory bureau. and help
state. Il In hoped. to solve the pre-
ing problems of health through sci'
tificaily purified water supplies
scientifically constructed sewage 9
TENS, as also to render sanitary
watersheds and to make the strea
wholesome. The theory 10 that II
state shall furnish Just FEW m
'ounces Of prevention" the heavy
upon society which 10 involved In
cost OF the "pounds OF cure" and
the loss Of life through failure to 9
will be In large measure remitted. 2
was the contention OF noted ph
clans VINO spoke at the recent @
monwealth conference held at the
versity.-U. OF o. Bulletin.
EGGS SOLD IN DISGUISE.