Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-03
A Plea for the University.

tclc entitled Richmond. the Medical
Center of the South" signed Nellie
Parker Henson"
Having read q great many articles,
few favoring and many opposing
the removal OF the University Med
ical School to Richmond. ard having
( tried To follow the subtlcty 6, some
OF the arguments In support OF re-
moval II IL refreshing 10 read ono
that deals 80 frankly with the situa-
ton from tho standpoint OF those
who favor Richmond as the location
OF The University Medical school. In
the beginning OF her letter Mrs.
henson says:
Would not every man and woman
in Virginia be glad to see Richmond
medical center AS noted as Balti-
more? Why cannot this lie accom-
plished? We have the material AT
home--brains and ahiiity--hut here
tofore have not had the other needed
rcquisitc--money
We did not think /, was possible
10 have "a Federal reserve banh here.
But We have il ana IT has been most
succcssful.''
Among the reasons She gives wl:,
NHchmond should have the medical
school are the following:
Richmond has Il great many more
doctors than charlottesville. some
whom the whole world knows and
honors. and many others who will
NC known TO fame. The clinics
here are much better than in Char
iottcsvillc because there is more ma
tcrial. We have more stu
dents from Virginia than the un!-
Versity Of Virginia has. We
nave better equipment and facilities
IL thus appears that i;ichmoRd al
ready has Il medical school with
many noted doctors, an abundance
OF clinical material. excellent cuuip-
mcnt and facilities. and Il large pom
ulation TO draw from and while
according To the writer, this medical
scnool IL baby as compared with
that at the university. II has much
larger student attendance. with all
OF these advantages there is never
theiess some ,hins lacking which pre-
vents Richmond from becoming tho
great medical center il should b.
.nd that something apparently can
only be supplied by removing the
University Medical school to Rich
mond.
ono naturally asks What is IL that
is lacking? Surely II tx not merely
money, and IL IL IL the removal OF
the University Medical school VIII
not supply this The comparativcIv
small appropriation devoted To med
ic"i education II the University Of
Virginia. II diverted to Richmond.
would not cnabl" Richmond to De-
come the great medical cente. !,
should bc.
Ihi~ lacking clcmcn, can harniy
hc anything material according To
Richmond already has more doctors.
more clinical material, more .u,ip-
ment and NOR" students than the
University Medical school II isn't
tn" physical equipment and facilities
OF the university that are wanteu.
These arc To he abandoned or con-
Eerted to other uses IL the medical
school is removed to Richmond !,
is something indohnabie-t the great
spirit soui OF the university ~
MIS-. Henson expresses II, the unIvcr-
Sity can lend its hallow"d name to
college In Richmond and make f.,
as big. in medical way. as the uni
Hers'ty itself is for culture"
This suggestion will prove shock
20 those who have lived in the ar
mosphcrc Of the university and have
carried away its spirit. The medical
the product of 100 Years cndeavor,
ana which has reached its highcs;
stage OF efficiency. will suffer by
removal. There are numerous ana
many other reasons for not moving
II 10 Richmond, and much opposi-
ton TO its removal. but why should
this deter those who want Richmond
TO have Il?
As Mrs. Henson says Many
thought ii was impossible for Rich
inond TO secure Federal reserve
bank hut il succeeded"
Are the cases parallel? Richmond
deserved Federal reserve bank. I,
would have been tragedy II tho
capital OF the Confederacy- Of
the great commercial and business
enters OF the Southland not re-
ccived this recognition.
II is difficult however. to see any
similarity between the two cases.
Richmond should he too proud TO
sacrifice Jcfferson's university for it's
""n advancement. 1t need not be
lott 10 conjecture To know what JEFF
,"rS"n's position would be. The at
TEMPT 10 locate the medical school
at Richmond instead OF at the uni
v"rSity was successfully opposed by
Jefferson. II can hardly he assumed
'''''' ~ "ouiu not oppose the re-
n"Nal OF the medical school to Rich
fnond after an experience Of Iuu
years has ahundantly justified his
prophetic wisdom.
All NirEinians feel II just pride IN
Richmond's great Virginia s
I c"Pithi ana largest city. II has taken
ls place among the large cities Of
/ the united States. and all of MS want
3 I" see II continue To grow and Ia
3 succeed. IL IL necessary. however
I Tor Richmond's development TO sac
rihce The university? And. after all,
would such a sacrifice accomplish the
results desired for Richmond?
we have all read much about the
/ opposition to removal being based
upon sentiment. and yet isn't il just
| mat indcfnahlc something tina,
creates sentiment that Richmond
! wants from the university? Can the
atmosphere. tho traditions. the spiri,
"i the university, he transplantcd
! elsewhere by mere legislative act,
Could Monticello. or could Williams
! burg or Yorktown be moved to an
other part of the state? Wouldn',
me sacrifice he in vain? Could Rich
I monds own place in history. Its ira
ditions and culture. Of which all Vlr-