Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-10
REPORTS TO BOARD
President ThirkieId'S Showing
for Howard University.
Meeting OF THE TRUSTEES
Gratifying Response Of Student
Body to New Facilities Noted.
Standards Raised.

A''S UleetlIiS OI the
OF trustees of Howard University was
held yesterday afternoon, with Justice
JOB Barnard, president of the board, in
the chair. The trustees consist of Chief
Justice Stanton j. Peelle, Rev Charles
Wood, Rev. Charles H Richards of New
York city, Justice Thomas II. Anderson.
Justice George w. Atkinson. DIR. John
II. FRANCIS, DIR. +. j. Grinlke Booker
i. Washington. William ". Cox. Henry
NJ Baker. DR.. j. fl. n. Warning Dr.
Marcus Wheatland of Newport, r. l.;
John T. Emlen of Philadelphia, Pa; J.
G. Napier, President W. P. Thirkield.
Secretary George William Cook and
Treasurer E. l.. Parks.
The report Of President Thirkield showed
continued prosperity in the university He
commends the large student body for
good order and devotion to scholastic
work. With over 1 100 men enrolled. most
OF them rooming in the city, no serious
case of irfraction of law en- order has
been reported. The deans meet their
departments Sunday in the study of the
BfDie, and classes i'll Bible study and re-
liS1ous work are regularly conducted I'M
DER the auspices of the Y NJ c. A.
President TMrkield reports a fine ex-
preston of the religious experience Of
tne students, as shown Christmas eve.
when nearly fifty spent several hours
Singing carols and Christmas hymns
about the campus and through the wards
OF the hospital and in the alleys of the
city.
Four-Fold Increase Noted.
The attendance in the College of Arts
ana sciences has shown a four-fold in
crease within five years, and the faculty
has Increased from seven to twenty-four.
decided advance has been made i'm the
department of engineering, made possible
by the completion of the new hall of
manual arts and applied science. For
the first time such courses in an instt-
tuition especially for colored men are
available in civil, electrical and mechanf-
cai engineering, with competent instruc-
,oIS from tne engineering departments Of
leading universities. These courses en-
able the university to meet the demand
for the skilled mechanic and engineer.
when it is realized that the colored peo-
pie are making rapid progress i'm the ac-
quirement of land, the building of towns
ana the eSta blishment of manufacturing
plants, 1T is evident that body of SIX lied
mechanical engineers is essential for the
equipment OF the race for larger growth
and permanent progress"
The report also notes the response of
the student body to the new facilities
now offered in chemistry, physics and
biology, as seen in the fact that nearly
!oO students are regularly Instructed
in these branches, with practical labora-
tory work offered ir each department.
This practical scieltific work now re-
quires three professors, one assistant
professor. three instructors and seven
student assistants. The emphasis has
been shifted from the traditional to the
modern basis of education. 1t has often
been said that while colored students
were proficient in the languages, his
tory, etc. they showed no marked
response of the great body of students
to the opportunities here for the first
time offered in any large way for
laboratory work in the exact sciences
of study. and marks an era in the edu-
cational life of the negro race. The
possible application of the practical in
struction here given in the sciences
must have an important bearing on the
future welfare of the race.
College Work as Requisite. :
The raising of the standard to include
for admission one full year of college
down the attendance from 400 in 19O8-0
to 345 this year. The employment of
several professors giving their entire time
given new character to the work in the
school. Large advances have been made
in equipment.
a committee consisting of Justice Bar
nard. DIR. Francis, Mr.. Baker, Mr. Cox,
Dr. Thirkield and DR.. Warning has been
appointed to cooperate in securing the
extension of Barry place, which will ul-
timately connect with Vermont avenue,
and thus give a frontage on a leading
avenue instead Of on a side street reach
ed up a steep hill and coming in at the
back of the main building.
In the last several months, it is stated,
there has been such an advance in the
larger plans for the unifying of alumni
sentiment and loyalty as has not been
before seen in the history of the insti-
tuition. A strong executive board has
been formed, a well defined constitution
adopted and a secretary employed for
reaching the last alumnus. 1t is planned
to press forward the plans for raising the
promised $4,000 for a new alumni gym
nasium.
The President notes the awakened in
terest in applied sociology, thus relating
the life and work of the university to
the welfare of the city as never before
The social settlement, the new building
for which was built under tho lead Of a
graduate Of Howard, is now more closely
related to the faculty and student body
The organization Of the Social Welfare
Club has brought alumni and other lead
terment, with large practical results.
ARM SLIGHTLY SPRAINED