The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-08-29
PEOPLE TO CONTROL BOARD
State Superintendent in Open Letter to
Teachers Of the State Urges New
Plan for Selection Of Men Who Gov
ern the University of Wisconsin.

the University of Wisconsin. His
plan is to have the regents elected by
the people the same as in Illinois and
several other states. He holds that
this would give the people of the state
much closer hold on the university
and take away the control of the
Legislatures. In his letter the state
superintendent says:
~ have never yet see a legislature
that the university could not manage,
and [ never expect to see one. " Such
was the statement Of an experienced
university regent, man who had
been close observer of legislatures
for many years. He might have said
with equal assurance that he had
never seen a board of regents that
the university could not manage, and
did not expect ever to see one.
The university is essentially a self
governing institution.
In the past seven years six regents
of unusual ability and prominence
have resigned. First came Colonel
Villas, next Governor Hoard, next Re
gent Hanks declined to serve any
longer; the followed Pliny Norcross
and Magnus SWenson and now Regent
Birmingham. Every one Of these men
was deeply interested in the welfare
| of the university and ready to make
great personal sacrifices of time and
strength in its behalf. All of them
were men Of large vision and marked
business ability. All but two were
Madison men, and all were members
of the executive committee-a COM
mittee that, to a large extent, trans
acts the business of the institution.
Did these men grow weary in we'll
| doing, or become SO absorbed in their
business as to want to quit this pub
| lie service?
1t is probably correct to say that
the point Of view of the regent body,
as a whole, is essentially wrong. When
appointed to the office of regent the
average man seems unconsciously to
take the point of view of the univer-
sity as an end in itself and to feel
that he is special advocate and de-
fender of the university at all times,
In all places, and under all circum-
stances. I am not saying that this is
the attitude of all the board at all
times, or of any one regent all the
time, but [ believe it is the fundamen-
tai, unconscious attitude of the ma
jority of the board of regents always.
The university is the creature Of the
state, established not for itself, or to
glorify anybody connected with it,
but to serve certain well-defned edu-
cational purposes which the state re-
guards as essential to it's welfare. The
proper point Of view, therefore, for a
board of regents is that of the intelH.
gent public rather than that Of an
ambitious institution.
Since the university was created in
the beginning by public opinion and
has ever since been, and must always
tie supported by public opinion, pub
lie sentiment and public money, would
! it not be more in accord with modern
ideas to have board of regents elect
ed by the people instead of board
appointed by the governor? Let no
one infer that / intend to criticise the
appointments made in the past; l am
criticising the psychological effect the
system has On board members. [ have
made it point to inquire of compe-
/ tent persons in certain states where
such method is in operation. In no
case have | found the people dissatis
fed with the plan of having the cleo
tors of the state choose the regents.
That the university would be op-
posed to such method of selecting
regents is an easy guess; but it does
not follow that the people would not
be better satisfied if they were in a
little closer contact with the institu-
ton and had a better opportunity to
tell the regents from time to time
what they think of their stewardship.
The University can safely trust the
people. It is their university. Dan
ger from politics? That danger is not
so serious as one that is inherent in
the present method. That danger is
that the university may dictate, or at
least suggest to a governor the ap-
lpeintment OF regents who will do the
bidding of the university in every i'm
portant matter. AS affairs now stand
the university is very remote from the
citizens. The people elect the gov
ernor; the governor appoints a board
of regents; the regents elect presi-