Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-27
PRESIDENT BENTON'S
REPORT TO U.V.M. TRUSTEES
Finds an Increased Attendance and a Loyal,
Self-Respecting Body Of Students at
End of His First Year.


trustees of the University Of Vermont
was held at the library of the medical
college Monday evening, at which time
President Benton presented his annual
report The report follows in fun:
10 the Honorable. the Board of Trustees
of the University of Vermont and
state Agricultural College. in annual
session assembled at Burlington. Ver-
mont, Monday evening. the twenty
fourth Of June nineteen hundred and
twelve:
,ientlcmen The 12lst year of the Uni
versity of Vermont is drawing to a close
and beg to present 20 you this my first
annual report as president Of the institu-
ton under your control.
First of all. let me thank you for the
very great distinction you have conferred
in calling me to service in this ancient and
honorable institution OF learning. 1t Is
worth while to have a history Tradition
counts for something. A college or uni
versity may have all the other requisites
but until it has hoary years replete with
honor behind 1t. its atmosphere lacks the
bracinE quality essential to the best health
OF an academic community. The Univer-
sity of Vermont has to its credit glori-
Gus history and have felt 1t a distin-
Euished honor to be chosen as Its preSi-
dent. I hope always to be worthy of the
confidence and esteem shown by the board
Of trustees in calling me to this position
of large opportunity.
My task during this first year Of service
mas not been altogether an easy one. 1t
requires high degree of courage for any
man to follow In the administration of
the affairs of an institution that has been
under the direction Of one master mind
for a period of 40 years. Matthew Henry
Buckham was a man OF far-reaching VS.
ion. and yet l believe, from what ! have
gathered this year. that he builded wiser
than even he knew He laid here broad
and strong and deep the foundations of
an institution for which the excavations
were made by an illustrious line of pred
ccessors. l-pon these foundations so
well laid firmly believe that we may
rear an educational superstructure which
will everywhere compel admiration and
command respect
NEW AND OLD ADMINISTRATIONS
My difficulty. of course, has been to
work of the new administration to that Of
the old that there might be satisfac-
tory gain without counteracting loss.
Such a desired end could not be reached
by sudden and violent change in the ex-
isting order of things. | understand from,
those who knew my predecessor intimate
ly, that he had many changes in mind
which he expected to effect had he lived
and continued in office. I entertain no
doubts Is to the wisdom of these pro-
rosed improvements of President Buck
hams and ] am sure. in the progressive
order of things. that some changes will
occur to me that he had not thought of
but to which. on suggestion. he would
have given his hearty approval. It Is
never to be expected that two earnest
men will visualize their obligations in the
same way, but there has been genuine
anxiety on my part to conserve all tina,
Is best In the old, while making a steady
advance toward a realization of those
ideals which have the endorsement OF
the best educational thought of the new
age
The natural inclination of the man am.
bilious to succeed is to signalize the be.
Winning of new work by startling in.
,ovations that will command the atten.
ion of the public even though these
'hanges do not guarantee general ap
oroval. For myself, however, | may say
that have been on guard against yield
ns to this temptation. have prayed tc
>e delivered from doing things simply 70,
the sake of having ii said: There Is
something doing" The few changes made
k,,t
7uch as seemed TO be required by the
necessities OF our situation. / am GLAD
to report, therefore. that though ther,
has been 4 new hand at the helm. the ef.
fort has been to hold our educational shy
straight ahead In It's course wltnout at.
tempting to seek out new lanes OF pas
sage. / have fully understood that s..cr
course would draw some criticism.
nave not been disappointed in that ex
pectation. though am very grateful that
there has been so little of fault-Gnd,ne
and so much of commentator. .hoult
have drawn more criticism TO myself ant
The university II l had attempted a pro
1ounced departure from tho OLD course.
NO LOSS OF PRESTIGE.
II is remarkable that the change Of ad
min!stration has seemingly resulted In n,
loss of prestige to the university Tha
this Is true. however, is due in larg,
measure to the wisdom of the trustees o
the university In the prompt action takel
Immediately following the death of Pres
dent Buckham. The election Of Mr. I.y
man as acting president with commits
sion to give his special attention to tn
business interests of the university an,
the appointment of Dean Perkins to at
tend to the educational side, kept tn
work moving in such a way that retro
erosion was impossible. A debt o
gratitude Is owing from all the friend
Of the institution to Mr.. Lyman and Dea
Perkins for the masterfu way in whlc
they safeguarded the interests Of the uni
Versity ad interim.
INCREASED STUDENT ATTENDANCE
1t Is because Of the fact that this wor
was so well done that | am able to repor
to you an increased student attendant
this year. We have "A right to rejoice /
record breaking enrolment. The tota
attendance for the college year is 563. "A
increase Of 30 over the 5l3 enrolled 10
l1l0-l9ll. In the University Of Vernon
College of Medicine the catalogue show
l0 students in residence, and though tina
is "a decrease Of 16 below the 1876 OF las
year. it is easily explainable on tn
ground OF higher standards required fc
entrance 1t Is well to understand no.
that we shall. without doubt. have
smaller entering class in the college
C,.lI