The sun., 1917-12-03
University's Head Says Sit
nation Demands Limita-
ton of Number.
FOR A JUNIOR COLLEGE
Two Year Course Advocated
Academic Freedom Not
Menaced, He Asserts.

las Murray Butler. president Of the in
rt!tution. In his annual report to the
trustees. which is Just made public. Be-
cause Of the rapid growth Of the uni
verslty. which continues unchecked de-
spite vigorous Efforts. and which has al
ready made Columbia the largest school
in the world, Or. Butler believes that
come such system is necessary in order
10 insure higher education for those stu
dents who are best fitted to receive II.
In effect DIR. Buffers suggestion. II
adopted, would mean the formation Of q
committee which would Investigate and
weigh the application Of each candidate
for entrance In somewhat the same man
ner perhaps as applications for MEM
bership in clubs and social organizations
ere handled.
Estire1y New Policy.
such policy Of separating the wheat
from the chaff In the educational field
has never before been suggested by DR..
Butler. and has never been tried at any
university DIR. Butler. however. denies
that the selection of students will prove
dangerous, although he says that II
there were but a single college and a
single university in the United States
such policy could not be followed with
out public damage. He says:
1T seems plain that since examina-
tons of<exceptional difficulty or previ-
p'is academic residence Of not less than
two years are insufficient to keep down
tional test must he devised and applied
IN order to make sure that the resources
o. the university are being expended
only upon the education Of those whom
ahe university thinks 1t really worth
while to train.
No arbitrary rule Of limitation Is
either practical or just. II attendance
Sprdr,,i. the hve hupdEe6 and dsst ap-
pr;,n, sfoY admission may present q
rcord and credentials that would Justify
HI bcing preferred before one.half or
e..n two-thi,'ds Of those who had pre-
coded him. Probably the only additional
tcF' which the university can apply is
o." of selection by it's own officers and
s"rrrSerta tives.
"in a general way it may be said that
thc attitude Of the university at present
s. that It will accept any one as a stu
dent nho is not shown to be unfit or
nnprepafed.
Time TO Retreat.
Il, would be wise policy to retreat
Srom this position. which In that held by
colleges and universities time without
end. In order to fortify and hold the
position that the university should itself
by an affirmative process Of selection
bnd not merely by negative process of
exclusion, choose those upon whom II
wishes to expend its funds and It's en-
ergies."
In his report DR.. Butler. for the FIRST
tmc since the university trustees dis
missed two professors two months ago
also outlines his views on academic free
dom and academic discipline. He says
"J'ist as seven cities contended for the
birthplace OF Homer. 30 not fewer than
eeven academic Wits are contending for
the honor OF having originated the pun
Gent saying: Academic freedom means
Freedom to say what you think without
thi2kng what you say There is no
zeal reason to fear that academic free.
dom, whether 20 defined or otherwise, is
er ever has bean in the slightest danger
IN the United States. Evidence to the
contrary is quite too manifold and too
bbundant
What is constantly in danger, how.
eyer. 10 just sense of academic obliga-
Zion When . teacher accepts an invita-
Con to become q member of an academic
Society he thereupon loses some of tho
Freedom that he formerly possessed. He
remains as before subject to the restric-
vons and the punishments OF the law
Out In addition he has voluntarily &C.
e"pted the restrictions put upon him by
PURPOSES of the institution with which
y" has become associated. Try, as be
nav he can no longer write or speak In
D. own name alone.
Academic Bolshevtlxi.
The time has not yet come. however
N1cn rational persons can contemplate
N'h satisfaction the rule Of the literary
SHd academic Bolsheviki or permit them
seize responsibility for the inteilec-
VIA life Of the nation.
Neglect Of ones academic obligation
't'Hlessness regarding II gives rise to
or"'l't problems Men OF mature years
sHo lave achieved reputation enough to
S I'i'ed to occupy a post Of RESPONSE
- IN u university ought not to have
D" r'nllnded that there Is such q
u'r as academic obligation and that
fail short NIT
v IL humiliating and painful to find
~ Increasing frequency and In differ.
o. parts of the country, men In distin.
- sued academic posts who choose tc
N utter disregard Of the plainest die.
oi ethics and good conduct. It Il
''N'u tHdt HOWeVeI CON-
'nons are instances Of this disregard
S'l are In reality negligible In number
S"en compared with the vast body OF
80 devoted and scholarly American
sademic teachers"
Inc Incident OF the three students
S"en Cattell. soR- OF Prof. CAtteii
Snsrles Phillips. Leon Samson ana th.
osrnard girl. Miss Eleanor Parker. Il
viewed to explain the attitude Of TIN
University. The students. with the OK,
ptlon Of Samson. were arrested ant
s.sed with completely In seeking Il
A"oer the progress of the draft act
70 fs.ish st.Ae.t DisIsy.ity.
or. Butler makes clear that the uni
~rsty 10 forced to suspend studsnti
ho drag the name Of the universit,
ITO public print in such Q manner. III
N; Columbia University u not re-
"matory or q place where offenders
nTever Juvenile. are 10 be given oppor
nifty to exploit their activities through
- ~ Its name or to cause II to b
/ ! QsntsWssS s~ EwsA Psee.