Evening star., 1921-02-22
George Washington University.

George Washington University.
The observance of the centennial of
George Washington University during
the present week is not only of local
but of national interest. Nearly coinci.
dent in it's inception with the founda'
tion of the National Capital, it has
kept pace with the growth of Wash
ington. Beginning with thirty-nine
students, it has grown until 5000 are
now annually enrolled.
Responding to the expressed desire
Of George Washington that there
should be an institution of learning
in the new city which was given his
name, the far-seeing founders Of the
university sought and obtained from
Congress charter so broad and com.
plete in its character that it has served
Statesmen, judges of the Supreme
Court of the United States, members
of presidential cabinets, men Of ma
tional fame, officials from all depart.
ments of the government have served
as trustees and professors of the uni.
versity and have shaped its policies
and nodded and fostered it's national
and local influence.
1t may even claim to have had inter-
national influence, since at it's first
commencement, December Is, 1924, an
honored guest was Gen. Lafayette,
who was then on his visit to the
United States.
The records Of the university show
that John Quincy Adams loaned the
institution at one time $4,000 and
made it gift of $500 Of this amount.
During the administration of An.
drew Jackson Congress in 1882 grant
ed the university, then known as Co.
lumbar College, $25,000 in Washing
ton city lots.
Through the vicissitudes of war and
financial depression it has perpetuated
its life and has passed through the
struggles that all growing educational
institutions must have
It has sent its sons and its teachers
to participate in the nations wars,
and many Of them have given their
lives in their country's defense.
In the last few years the institution
has grown by leaps and bounds
AS the large influx of population in
the past three or four years has found
Washington unprepared to absorb it,
SO the university finds itself embar-
rassed in providing sufficient buildings
to accommodate its growing student
body. The ever growing department
Of arts and sciences, after renting all
available buildings in the vicinity of
the university, finds it impossible to
house comfortably the rapid increase
in student enrolment and to secure
classroom for the extension of needed
courses.
The university has kept constantly
in mind the educational needs of the
young people Of Washington and of
those young men and women that have
come from every state in the Union. The
larger and increasing student body tes-
titles to the satisfactory manner in
which these needs are being met. It
has become a serious question, how.
ever, adequately to provide for future
development.
The city Of Washington has become
a great educational center. No other
city Of our country offers such splendid
opportunities for research study and
for general culture as the nation s
capital. Government laboratories,
libraries and scientific bureaus provide
unexcelled facilities and supplement
and aid the work Of our colleges and
universities.
This time-honored university is per.
forming very useful part in the city
and the nation. Its 5000 living grad
yates are serving their day and gen.
GRAFTON in useful professional and civic
activities in every state of the Union
as well as in the District of Columbia.
1t has seen more than eight thou.
sand men and women go from its halls
in the course Of its one hundred years.
1t is ready for the desired and nat.
ural expansion in plant and teaching,
which should come to it from its
alumni. from the public-spirited mem.
bers of the community and from the
friends Of education everywhere.