The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-22

part referred to as introduction to
frivolous rcmnrlt--namely that IL would
be an advantage II tho statutes Of a uni.
versity provided for leave OF absence OF
the president OH double salary SO often
as he liked.
I'VE do not know whether the progress
OF civilization has In the main been due
to great leaders who havo directed IL or
whether these are essentially by-products
und epiohenomuna OF social and economic
forces. II IL therefore no wonder n wa
! cannot decide catcSor,ca.ly whether or
not q. i. well 20 have Ia the university ono
leader whom the rest OF uy will follow.
III. Il Is probably undesirable. rs It II
certainly undcmocrauc, to have n boss
who drives ua.
"TI!s is tie fundamental difficulty IN
our present university organization. The
president Is responsible to tho tiustsoa
who In :hc private corporations are re-
spoasloic 20 no one. The deans and hcuds
I 81 departments are responsible to tho
/ president. who names them. ana their
! subord!rates are responsible ~ them.
! "1hls department store Bystern reve-aos
! tho correct or Il. all events the demo
cratic direction % responsibility. The oe.
par:relt og group should Hailo i.a head
and those 20 hc ADDED to K. The teachers
or profess should name their deanS
and president; who should be responsible
20 them
! The trustees should DO trustees. no,
should he with representatives OF the
/ faculties. not exclusively with presa-
! cent whom they appoint and VINO IN
,-actco 10 Nkcly 20 se.ect thcni
~, may De That the high lido OF proN-
, dea:!al au;ocracy IN our universities ~
. now cbbluy. At any rate vc are discuss
ing the problem more freely than IN the
past. I have obtained and published ths
opinions OF some three hundred profes.
sors who have done scientific work OF
distinction. These exhibit very wide
! sprcad dissatisfaction with tho existing
system.
''rAe.c IS naturally much difference Of
| opinion as 10 the remedies, but four-nfthS
I OF them favor reforms n the direction
Of greater faculty contro! and less preS''
| dental autocracy. Tho remaining one
iitth are mostly executive officers or men
Ia institutions Where the faculties have
more ;Asa aye:lss influence. Thus the
great ua,ye-ai.y nov. entertaining tIh
cone renee has iut!n:a!ncd the better
{ traditions.
N las been said shat q tho faculties
, man. ne pruccssoTa there viii be IN
sreeI,Ny Gnu de.er orpt!on. To this
may b, replied that Nelo Ia represented
IN tho National Academy OF Sciences oy
eleven members, Cornell and Pcnnsy!Na-
MA, VIII. :wice as many students. each
~ ono member.
Harvard. Ike Yale las maintained .
measure OF faculty and alumni control.
President Eliot, whose niastcrful person
a!i,y nns beca Influential In eXaltlng the
presidential office. has at home deferred
moro ~ tho corporation on the ono side
and In, faculty OH the other than lesser
presidents.
"'rsc plan adopted NJ Harvard Of pro
-Io.!cn after "a fiNed term ot service WIN
uniform incremeuts OF salary and per
rlanence OF tenure for the full professor
removes h.ai from tho most humiliaNnS
relation to ;hc presldei.t
AZ Cornell The faculties have the right
10 elect tar!r deans and President Schur-
man advocates faculty representation on
'ae board OF trustees.
~. princeton the departments have
been authorized - recommend appoint
:uenta a'id promotions. and joint COM
in..t"e elected by tac faculties meets with
/, committee OF the trustees. this latter
plan being IN ny opinion tho most teas-
'bl- method OF improving tho academic
situation.
"o;hrr reforms ~ various institutions
.a the direction of greater faculty control
mIga. cc c,t,i. the mos; striking ana
recent being 40 referendum vote OF con
hieace obtained from the faculties by
tho president OF the University of iii.
LD!s.
whoever or whatever may We tho &C.
cas.on OF reforms ~ acad -nic control, the
yea! cause mus; bc ,uc sentiment of the
, professors. and this can Only be developed
and expressed by proper organization. I
. an proud to belong t. AZ association that
at two consecutive mee;!rgs has taken
} action exhibiting group CONSEQUENCES
! Of this kind,
"a year ago tie american Psycho-
logical Association unanimously passed q
rcso!u; .o!4. which J proposed, 10 the cifecf
tina. Il il undesirable for It. members TO
: accept Sort "a summer schools or eN-
tension courses In winch the pro rata
: payment ~ less than their regular saa-
ries.
, Las: Christmas 4: New Haven the
= association TOOK The action 70 which ro'-
70 ercaco has been mad" on IL. Dismissal
4 oc tie professor OF philosophy and pg.-
GEOLOGY from La;ayct;" College.
, An ".luon.!a. c1H;ri,teo OF 100 on
. research has pee formed by tho Areri
/. cav Association 20. tho Advancement ~
Science.
= 1T may De nat tie time mas now
. com. when Az association OF Amc. can
. I university professors might b" organized,
g similar 10 Tia. mcd!ca. and bar .aocia
, tons. which would =" an influential force
!, IN improving tno conditions unde. which
I oar wlrl; I, Lorc. Il mould not We 90
3 gotten that t.e maintenance OF high
> standards In tho university q rs imiOr-
: tSnt for the community as 'o- the pro
!essoG. and hH EFFORT oC '3 behalf are
e by 10 means narrowly sc.hsh.
Z the future of the American uHivers.S
y does not depend upon - machinery, but
2 system ~ tina; Il may gradually demo-
o a.lzr the spirit AID deals o' tho men
= working under L. and may keep from II
or drive from /; the KIND OF men who "a,
r needed Nigh. We not al! agree that we
should do wnat We can 20 make the Uni
: versity q democracy OF scholars serv.r 6
the larger democracy OF which II is a
= part"
u when a speaker has only twenty mi,-
Z utes "a which 10 set the crooked straight
% lie cannot =" expected 10 devote much
time 20 explaining tina. /: ia not SO very
q crooked AID ~ U!hdn Of sound timber
4, But perhaps | may be permitted 70 clcs.
, Dy quoting from a NOR" formal address
tha. nSd" earlier IN the year:
: "Wh!'r q is proper 10 protect against
c IL, uuu-mUcrNtic survivhls In the urivcr.
s,,.va taa, We have inherited. tho great
4 services which they have rendered ana
!, now perform should not y" forgotten.
. FROM tho foundation OF the universities
q of S.crno, Bologna, pnrlS and oxford .
p, the establishment OF the johns itopi.iL'
: stanford and Chicago, tho university ht
y been ono % the principal factors in tn
advancement Of science ard IN tho pros
r r.ss OF civilization.
Q III Is under tho ngia ot privilege oun
IT,