The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-12
COLLEGE CONFRONTED
WITH SERIOUS PROBLEM
Many Students Depend ON Their Work
tn Pny for Education, md Places
Are Limited.
Especial to The Times Dispatch. ]

Arc Limited.
Especial to The Times Dispatch
Blacksburg. Va, July 11.-"College
Men Without Money" is the title of a
book just issued as the work of a
student in Southern college. and in
Il the author relates Self-told stories
Of how prominent men worked their
way through college and later filled
places of usefulness in life. The pres
i,lent of the Virginia Polytechnic In
ctitutc is just now confronted with the
practical side of this question in de-
rising ways and means to give en-
ployment to more than 100 young men
Of Virginia. students here for one or
more years. who must give up the idea
of returning for another session unless
they can get scrie work that will help
pay expenses. Each day brings let
tcrs from these boys. and they have
about them much that is pathetic, eN-
pressing also willingness to make
amy sacrifice that will accomplish the
end in view.
With only about ffty-hve positions
To give and three times that number
OF student applicants, there are sure
10 he some ambitious Young mon dis
appointed. These fifty-three places that
are available to deserving students do
not include the student NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
mat ar" nllcd by graduates only. and
Il determining factor in deciding any
ease Is the applicants past standing
In his classes and his conduct. II is
Impossible TO give new students aid
in this way until they have proved
their fitness for it. To arrive at the
best solution of the question, the pres
ident has addressed the following let
ter 10 each applicant for work. The
letter says in part
1T Is . most worthy thing for stu
dent to seek work in Older TO help pay
expenses whether he can come here
without that work or not because IL
shows a determination to make his
own way that is 10 b. commended We
have about hfty-tivc positions to al
lot next session, and there are so
far nearly $50 applicants for these
places 1t is vital, therefore, that all
applicants for positions take an unset
fish and honorable view of this matter
and unless they he actually debarrcd
from returning here. should either
withdraw their applications in favor
81 those who must have the work or
toe unable to return, or they should
write me frankly exactly the financial
Situate that confronts them. am
sending this lcttcr'to every applicant.
and ask for Immediate reply. Those
students who must either have posi-
/ lions or drop out, and whose records
arc good. Will be given the preference.
! After these, those students whose re
sources are limited 10 Il less degree"
I The replies To these letters give an
!dca OF just how anxious many young
men are 10 get an education who have
( not the money. Perhaps conditions are
worse in Virginia this summer than
heretofore on account Of losses to the
/ farmers 'and truckers by the drought.
/ y few say frankly that they can get
( on without help, others say that il they
can have aid from the loand fund they
/ can manage. but the majority write
I that unless they can get work they
positively cannot return to college
/ That the parents OF tho boys APP
preciate tho gravity Of the situation is
! shown in an extract from "a letter re-
! coiNcd from a wcll-known farmer who
I ha@ son graduated here in June
another 10 tax. his degree several
J years ago "A third son in college now
and two NOR" Al home preparing for
V T.. l. lie writes in part:
4 My son has showed me your letter
relative to his application for employ
I mcni next session, and wish 10 thank
YOU FOR the plain and practical way
In which YOU have pat the matter.