The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-03-05

ceiv~ package libraries" every year
through Extension" In 1924 nearly
10000 package libraries" $4,000
lantern slides, $4,000 reels of educa-
tional motion picture film. were sent
out Communities of the state saved
thousands of dollars by patronizing
Extension" lecture courses instead
of those of private bureaus.
During the same year 493 Wiscon-
sin cities called on the Extension
Municipal Division for counsel and
advice, and Al cities availed them
selves of clinics and medical lectures,
demonstrating the newer methods of
diagnosing and treating disease.
That is part of the story of Public
Service" of the university, which last
year cost $1,760,075 or about one-third
of the university dollar. Of this
amount the state furnished only
$s43,053.
Cost of Teaching.
now come to the first primary
service rendered by the state univers-
ity, the cost Of instruction and stu
dent supervision. There is probably
more transformation in the state of
Wisconsin on this particular subject
than on any other. AS l am writing
this article there lies before me an
editorial printed in one of the states
leading dailies, charging that "the
cost to the state of imparting uni
versity education to a student at
Madison exceeds $500 year." This
statement is a fair sample of state
inents current in the press, is wholly
unfounded and is absolutely untrue.
The real truth is that in 1923-24
the university spent exactly $1,471,-
557 of the states money for student
supervision, for student health, for
student instruction, and for student
library books, on student enrolment
of S010 regular students, 1890 sum
mer school students and 257 short
course agricultural students. That
is the real, actual truth.
Under the peculiar bookkeeping sys-
tenn of the state an additional sum
aggrcgating $1,428,03s, is charged
/ against this branch of the University
service, but this amount, large as it
is, was the income of the university
from dormitories and dining rooms,
athletic games, student fees and de-
posits, agricultural and other sales,
etc, ard did not come from any funds
provided by the state.
During 192S-24 the university
further spent $186,383 of the states
money for general administration and
$434,76S for heat, light, water, janitor
service, repairs and general mainten-
ance of it's physical plant; total of
$621,1 51 for these items.
The reader will readily understand
how nearly impossible it is accurate
ly apportion this amount as between
the Public Service" and the "Stu-
dent Service" of the university. A
part clearly belongs to each service.
But in order to arrive at some sim
Pile conclusion l charge the total
amount, all of this "dead overhead"
to the suffering student body, and
with this result:--in 1923-24 it cost
the state $1,471,557 for student super
vision, health, instruction, library ser
vice, scientific apparatus and supplies,
and library books. It cost the state
$621,151 for administration, for heat,
light and maintenance of the univers-
ity plant. A total of $2,o92,7o8.
And then consider that it costs the
average parent upwards of $1,000
some more, many much less-to send
his son or daughter to the university.
SO 100000 spent by the parents, ST.
100000 spent by the state.
Next l. shall tell how dark is the
future of the university without the
adequate support which it must have.
What was once the states pride is
dangerously near becoming the states
shame.