Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-06

neither the faculty, the alumni nor the truS.
tees would be seriously studying what they
call "educational policy" Under the cir
Cumstances n more precise term for what
they are studying is financial policy.
A committee of the faculty has recon-
mcnded that the relations between the Uni
versity and the state be made more intimate,
even to the extent of making it state in
stitution after the manner Of the state uni.
vcrsitics Of the West
\ committee of the alumni has recon-
u"ndcd rntr" separation from the state.
with dependence upon an enlarged private
cndoWmcnt for its support.
In order to reduce IN" needs Of tho it>ti
tuition .Ae alumni recommend that no sta
dents be admitted save upon examination,
and then only those who pursue definite
courses of study leading to a degree that all
extension courses be abandoned except such
as may be conducted by the professional
schools that the school of education and the
college course for teachers be separated frorl
the University and placed under the direct
control Of the state that the veterinary de-
partmcnt also be transferred to the state,
and that state aid bo sought only for the
hospitals on the ground that they are chari-
table institutions.
ne luCullS committee hulllltS lHuJ %t'
tain class of students would not seek admiS
sion il the University were Il state insttu-
ton but it insists that the number would
not be large and that it would affect only
the college The professional schools would
not be hurt in any way.
The financial problems would doubtless b"
solved more quickly by the adoption Of the
faculty plan than by the acceptance of the
suggestions Of the alumni. If the state gov
crnmcnt could be induced to assume fnan-
cial responsibility for the University and
along with it the control Of its material
afairs. there would be no lack Of money for
professors salaries or for new buildings Of
a certain type.
There are certain obvious disadvantages,
however in such an arrangement. The
University at present suffers in some degree
from those disadvantages because it is do
nendont on the state for the money 10 make
m it's annual deficit. 1t has seemed ncccS.
sary for it's leaders to keep silent in grave
noIitical crises because if they spoke as men
Of their type ought to speak they would hay"
plirnatrd the support of the politicians.
without whose assistance they could not
hoyc secured their biennial appropriation in
Harrisburg.
The Tnivorsity is tho place to which We
| have n right to look for ethical leadership
in public thought. But while members of
thc faculty have been free with their views
| in private conversation. they have been care
ful in most cases to refrain from saying
ANYTHING in public which would cndanger the
state appropriation.
Tho time may come when interested pru-
dcnce will not counsel such rctiCcnCc, but
under present political conditions tho faculty
might find itself securely muzzIcd if its
members should become more dependent on
the state treasury than they are now.
II is easy 10 argue that tho politicians
would not interfere. but in certain western
etotcs the politicians have seriously ham
norrd the professors in the state univcr-
sitics when those professors have taught
things displeasng to the bosses.
In this state the standard Of political
conduct is unfortunately low. The man
accrs Of those institutions which receive
state aid are expected to 20 along with the
! state machine. and they ar" usually prudcnt
enough to conform to the known conditions.
State control. Of course, would not affect
| the value Of the courses in mathematics, or
| literature or the languages, or tit" sciences,
| hut II would undoubtedly interior" with the
! freedom Of expression Of the professors If
economies and politics in all their subdi
| visions.
! The fnruty is as fully aware OF this as
onv outside observer; nut it douhtIcs& is
h,piug for the best and is willing to believe
tLot the University could accomplish moro.
oven with this handicap. provided il had
! all the money il needs than it can accom-
,,liSh under the present short financial RI =
| tiuug And il evidently is persuaded TINT the
rpodal funds can BE- secured nIor" quickly
In rhis way than In "ny other.
Thc alumni evidently wish H." institution!
- Lo financed as Columbia. Harvard ard
Vale are financed, by the h"n"factionS Of
ruh'ic sniritcd citizens; and they also wish
! th,t It's scholastic policy shall be dictated
he nyDcrts in education rather than by
politicians.
Much can be said in support Of thri!
rn-ition. The great privately endowed col
irrcs Of the East are intellectually Hn'
socially powerful. it is natural that thC
olurhni of Pennsylvania should wish tina
| tbeir alma mater should b" similarly nlu
cntial. and similarly independent Of poltica
| control.
Rut there i also always til" danger il
nriyatc endowment that the men who Civ
The money may seek to influence the pole,
| of tho institution, and there is danger ais
! thar an institution seeking private endow
mcnf may seek to conCiatc the holders o
great wealth, just as the managers Of
rub,iclv supported institution arc suppose
70 seek to conriatc tn" politicians VIII
control appropriations.
There are advantages aud DISADVANTAGE
, in both systems Of support. The trustee
will have to decide which they favor bef)r
there can be any forward movement.
FaSner Provost Smith announced sevcri
voars ago that the University needed frO
' $40 900 900 to SO 900 600, but while oth'
universities have been adding millions
their endowment little or nothing has bee
I done for Pennsylvania, This is because
thc uncertainty about its status, If it is
, he cut free from the state, then a drive {,
I funds may begin. If it is to become a sta
+ university. then no private contributions VI
q be made for it's support 1t is importan
d therefore, that decision be reached by Il
trustees as quickly as possible
Tho more richly supported universities n