Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-01
COORDINATE COLLEGE
BILL FULLY DISCUSSED
Lengthy Hearing on State Educa-
ton OF Women Before Joint
Committees.
COMMITTEE TAKES NO ACTION
Advocates and Opponents Present
Their Views at Length, Alumni
Fearing That Admission OF Eom-
en- Would Drive Away Students.


en- Would Drive Away Students.
The pent-up interest over the bills
providing for collegiate education of
women at the University of Virginia.
carried over from tho meeting OF the
joint committees on public instruction
Of Wednesday. broke out in the Senate
Chamber last night with display OF
energy. excitement and cioqucnoe.
Those farornE coordination who
spoke were Or. Edwin a. Alderman.
president of the University OF Nir-
ginia; George r. Il. Niche, a member
of the board of visitors; Roosevelt
Page, Second Auditor for Virginia; Sen
ator Aubrey STROBE. of Amherst; Mrs.
s. Is. Muntord, Mrs w. a. Burrows
president OF the Virginia Federation Of
Mothers and the State Teachers As
ISOLATION; *. T. Crawlcy. OF the Chesa-
peake and ohio Hallway Company; Mrs
Norman Y. Randolph. Charles T. Las
sitter, OF Petersburg; Mrs. Henry
Smeltze, Hampton; Miss Virginia Nc
Kcnney. and Mrs. Dare. president Of
the Elementary Teachers Association
of Richmond. Thoss who voiced on.
position 10 the bills on one ground or
another were Eppa Hunton. Jr., Lieu
tenant Peyton II. Evans, OF Amherst;
Mrs. y. Y. Montague. of LynchburG;
Mrs. L. r. Dashiell and Murray NJ. Me-
Guire
MIR. M:chic opened the debate OF the
evening by stating frankly that lie was
a convert. and. after five years of OPP
position and study, had arrived at the
conclusion that women needed and de-
manded the educational advantages
that could be solved by the CO. ordina
ton measure. He recognized the
growth and vitality Of the university
- IF
and stated though opposed TO too much
change of order, and in hope that the
General Assembly would deal gently
and sanely with the traditions of L
hundred years, that he favored the
inca sure. and the board OF visitors
would stand for whatever the Legisla
ture did. but that he did hope the com
mittee would report out no bill pro-
viding for coeducation. He read q reso-
luton passed by the board Of visitors
last December, asking the Assembly 10
postpone action until after the war.
ALDERMAN SAYS WOMEN
DESERVE HIGHER EDUCATIOS
President Alderman spoke III an ad
vsory capacity, and as an educational
expert, closing his speech with d dream
that the State would begin in modest
way n woman's college affiliated with
the university and enjoying its spirit.
traditions and atmosphere: but yet re-
manning of its own structure and body.
He stated that women deserve and need
higher education; that it is tho duty
OF the state to provide tt; and that
the university could not escape its share
on the discharge OF this duty. Among
tho names of great Instructors who
have gone on record as thinking Vir-
ginia must furnish this education were
w. H. Ruffner, Charles S. Venablc, John
s. Minor, Francis Smith and William
NJ. Thornton. lie stated his objections
10 the different form suggested. He
stated that adolescence is Il period Of
differentiation that must be respected
hut that hc did not need to concern
himself with fears of conduct, as he
could trust the honor Of women under Il
decent administration.
Roosevelt Page electrically declared
that he favored the education Of wo-
men at the university. lie preferred
coordination. as did every one speak
ing In support OF the bills. But, like
all his coagitators he wanted coedu-
cation rather than nothing. Senator
STROBE ably defended the bills, while
Mrs Randolph's concerto illustrations,
filled the audience with unhoundcd APP
plause and mirth. The appeal for the
first expense by the State in building
her school system to go to the public
school System was made strongly by
Lieutenant Evans and Mrs Montague.
.'IiS bdSHitl dDDtdl was lot economy
during the time of the emergency; while
Mrs. Munford, Miss Bessie Taylor. Miss
Mckenny and .pNers argued that now
was the urEeft .timci.for opening the
university to women.
EPPA HUTTON LEADS
OPPOSITION TO BILL
The principal opposition to the col
'cg!atc education of women at the
university came from Eppa iIunton,
Who avowedly was opposed to the bills.
which IN his mind made il manda tory
ON the board OF visitors 10 establish
either coordination or coeducation 1T
the university. lie stated freely and
frankly that he feared i, would injure
or impair the genius and usefulness
OF the institution which, because IL was
not one of the many State universities
I 'hat were cocducational. attracts great
hunters or men from other States. lie
stated thar the induction of women
TO the University of Virginia would
ariEe them away and result In a deheit
OF 100000 the State would have to meet:
mat at least 10 per cent of the alumni
were opposed to II, and that IL would
destroy their generous support lie
further read letter from Governor
Davis denying the propaganda repcut
thai he had expressed himself i'm favor
OF coeducation at the university lie
also read letter from Snowdcn Mar
snail expressing his gravest concern
over the proposed encmuatine OF me
university OF Virginia
Ardent In his opposition to the hurs
was Lieutenant Evans. who declared
TOT coeoucation never, and said that co..
ordination was iInpracticable ana .
leap IN the dark at present at hes, on
account of the war