Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1925-06-18
STATE MUST END UNIVERSITIES ten YEARS
OF STARVATION, DEAN CHARLES M.
SMELLING DEMONSTRATES

Approximately ss,5OO,OOO must be
provided for the University Of Geor-
gia in the next five years if that in
stitution is to continue to function
with any degree of efficiency, and if
the university is to keep pace, even
in a small way. with the progressing
and expanding institutions of similar
nature located in other states. in the
opinion of DR. Charles M. Smelling,
Dean Of the University.
Dean Smelling pointed out the
needs OF the university in recent
address delivered before the Univer-
sity Club of Savannah. He SUMMARY
ed these needs using figures compiled
by the University budget committee
as his basis He declared that the
time for action has come if the Uni
yersity Is to live and thrive. He
showed what other states, many or
them southern states, are doing for
their higher institutions of learning,
and drew a comparison which showed
that Georgia, as a state. is tagging
behind woefully in her support Of
these institutions.
One of the first steps to be taken
to improve conditions at the Univer-
sity should be the completion of a
survey of the entire university sys-
tenn
What | should like to have is a
complete survey. made by detached but
sympathetic agencies, of the entire
University" Dean Smelling declared.
Indeed such a survey is desirable for
the whole university system. The
results of such a survey, arrived at
by collaboration with those of us on
the ground, would give a reasonably
sure basis Of comparison and erect
standard to be aimed at"
Using the minimum figures of the es-
climate Dean Smelling summarized the
monetary needs OF the university as
follows:
Increase IN maintenance for salaries,
$102,350: increase in maintenance for
supplies and equipment, $71,185; In
creases for miscellaneous purposes,
$12O,755; appropriation for buildings,
immediate, $500,000; appropriations
for buildings after 1926, $4,000, 900; to-
tai, $3,594,2s0. The budget committee
also recommended an annual increase
of 10 per cent in maintenance.
Meets Immediate Need
Dean Smelling declared these figures
represented sums required largely for
present needs and did not provide for
the continued growth Of the univer-
sity. He gave an exhaustive review
Of the progress made at the un1ver-
sity for 10 years under the administra-
ton of Chancellor David c. Barrow,
and pointed out in particular the rapid
growth OF the College Of Agriculture
under the direction Of DIR. A. M
Soule. He then recited the growing
demands on the university and the
constantly increasing number OF stu
dents.
"The rapid increase in the number
Of students coupled with the fact that
few additions have been made to the
faculty, has resulted In a distressing
condition Of congestion. Lecture room
and laboratory space is practically
what II was In 1915" Dean Smelling
said. 1.-THE library, which is the heart
Of the institution, has had no increase
in desks, or office force, or In space,
or in equipment. During all these
years no money at all has been spent
In buildings. In many cases classes
are so large that effective teaching Is
out Of the question. In some depart
ments an effort to meet the situation
has been by employing student assist
ants. But # can be well understood
that classes entrusted to young people
still in college and with no experience
will make but questionable progress. :"
Dean Smelling then cited figures
showing the educational progress In