New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-03
Gives CoIumbia's Reasons
for Dismissing Cattell
and Dana
Teachers Subject
To Restrictions
University Is. 2eforma-
tory, He Says of Draft
Foes Expulsion

TOeS EhPuioioii
Columbia University's first detailed
explanation. Of the principles under
lying the recent dismissal Of Professors
7. McKcen Cattell and Henry W. l..
Dana was made public yesterday inSthe
annual report Of Dr.. Nicholas Murray
Butler. president Of the institution.
DR.. Butler explains at length the dill
ference between academic freedom and
license. and also warns against the
menace of the rule Of literary or aca-
demic Bolsheviki." He quotes the cpl
gram, Academic freedom means free
dom 20 say what you think without
thinking what you say" and then con-
tiuues:
There is no real reason 70 fear that
academic freedom, whether so defined
or otherwise, is or ever has been in the
slightest danger in the United States
Evidence TO the contrary is quite too
manifold and too abundant.
what is constantly in danger, how
over, is a just sense of academic ooh-
cation. when teacher accepts an in
vitation TO become a member Of an aca-
demic society he thereupon loses some
Of the freedom that he formerly pos
scssed.
Accepts Restrictions
Gle remains, as before, subject TO the
restrictions and punishments Of the
law; but in addition he had voluntarily
accented the restrictions put upon him
by the traditions, the organization and
the purposes Of the institution with
which he has become associated. Try
ag he may, he can no longer Wrlte OF
speak in his own name alone.
The time has not yet come, however
when rational persons can contemplate
with satisfaction the rule Of the liter
sry and academic BolsheviN. or permit
them TO seize the responsibility Tor the
Intellectual life Of the nation. Men OF
mature years who have achieved repu-
tstion enough TO be invited TO occupy
post of responsibility in a university
ought not 10 have 70 be reminded that
there is such a thing as academic obli-
ration and that they fall short II IT.
The other upheaval at Columbia dur
irg the last wear. which resulted in the
arrest Of Owen Cattell, Charles Phil
Inns snd Eleanor Parker, all students,
on the charge of resisting the draft, IS
also reviewed by DR.. Butler, who e%-
plains their dismissal from the uniyeF-
Sity By saying:
COLUMBIA University is not q re-
formatory or q place where offenders,
however juvenile, are TO be given OPP
portunity TO exploit their activities
through the use of its name or 20 cause
10 to be heralded throughout the coun.
try as sheltering young persons who are
vorse than Irresponsible
Service Rendered During War
At no time in its history. DIR. Butler /
SAYS. has Columbia University shown /.
itself 10 better advantage than since |
The outbreak Of war.
1T is not practicable" he says, "to I
record or even publicly 10 acknowledge T.
in this report all the devoted service .
that was rendered during the closing .
weeks of the present academic year ,
Suffice IL 10 say that the spirit Of the ,
entire university, officers, students and 1
alumni, was one Of supreme devotion TO /
great national and human task"
Columbia has been cooperating closely .
with the Navy Department ever since
the beginning Of hostilities, the report .
continues Until quarters could be .
established at Pelham Bay members of .
the Naval Reserve from the New York .
district were trained in the buildings
OF the university. The United States .
Navy Gas Engine School has been .
established az Columbia under the .
charge of Professor Luckc as civilian .
director
The growth Of the student body is
outstripping the equipment Of the uni .
versity, the report says, and DR.. But .
Ter advocates, TO remedy this, that in
stead of admitting all applicants, as .
heretofore, the university appoint a
committee OF representatives for the
selection and elimination OF those who
desire 20 enter.
He also protests against the new act
% increase revenue. which proposes TO
levy a tax upon educational requests .
and legacies. Dir. Butter believes that
the enforcement Of this measure will
Doe disastrous TO educational and phil
apthropic institutions in the United
States
study Of Ger IAN Approved
Concerning the discussion over the
advisabilty Of continuing the study Of
German IN American educational insti-
tJtious, the report says:
There are perhaps l20,000,000 peo-
pic In the world who speak German.
They constitute an intelligent, highly
organized and powerful group, and
they will continue 70 do so, even when
defeated.
cit will certainly be the hope and
purpose Of the American people to live
in peace and concord with them when
they shall have admitted their wrong
doing IN fomenting and carrying on
this war, and when they shall have &C
ecpted those ideas and ideals OF political
lifc anu social progress which animate
The rest Of the world
Moreover should Germany again go
wrong. VIC must be prepared 70 appeal
from the materalistic and force wor-
shipping Germany Of to-day 20 the
Germany OF Herder and Of Kant, of
Goethe and OF Schiller"
Gifts 20 the university during the
'ast year amounted 20 nearly 1880
600 The total number Of students re-
rciyinC instruction was 22.J94
Report He Celebrated Victory