The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-09-03
DEAN SLICHTER
RAPS REGENTS
Dean of Graduate School
Denounces Action On
Refusing Gifts.
A DEPRESSING EFFECT

Madison, Wis. The &C
ton of the University of Wisconsin
regents in refusing future gifts from
large incorporated endowments has
had depressing effect not only upon
the friends and alumni but upon the
faculty of the university as we'll, c. S.
Slichter, dean of the graduate school,
declared.
"a university is not mechanical
institution like a postoffice," Dean
Slichter observed. at cannot be built
by budgets and appropriations alone
or even by the routine labors of its
staff. A university is a spiritual or
ganization like a great church, min
istered to by devout and devoted men.
1t is created by the sacrifices of its
leaders and by the lifelong affection
of it's graduates and the loving care
of its friends. This is the spirit that
needs to be fostered at our own uni
versity and we must not be cut off
from any generosity or from any prop
er reward"
Depressed Entire Faculty.
81 am sure that nothing has hap
pened in 40 years 1 have known the
University of Wisconsin that has had
such a depressing effect upon the fac
ulty and upon the alumni and friends
of the university as the action OF the
regents in announcing that gifts from
educational foundations are not ac-
ceptable," he stated. "It speaks vol
umes for the good name these founda-
tions have earned for themselves that
this feeling should be so universal.
"The action of the regents" he OBJ
served, Seems to have been interpret
ed everywhere as a condemnation of
gifts in general and as rebuke to
the well known public spirit and re-
markable generosity of our wealthy
fellow countrymen."
at is true" Dean Slichter said,
that there is no country on earth
where money has been SO easily earn
ed as in America during the past gen.
Grafton or two. But this easily earn
ed money has not been confined to
any one class and by no means has
been limited to the very few. The
prosperity has been widespread and
the fine thing about it is that the
successful ones have made public>ge
erosity one of our most prominent
and praiseworthy American traits.
"The alumni and faculty seem to
feel that a blow has been struck at
this great American spirit of gener-
osity and that we are to be considered
in the future as practically shut off
from the rewards and announcements
that might come to US from special
aids and gifts"
Dean Slichter was careful and de-
liberate in his statement.
Puts Wisconsin at Disadvantage.
81 must say" he continued after a
brief pause, "that l believe no great
university can thrive in this genera
tion which attempts to hold itself
aloof from this stream of American
generosity. The action of the re-
gents cuts across the practice of our
neighboring universities and not only
condemns all existing educational
foundations but condemns in advance
all that may be founded in the future,
whether by men like Ford or Edison
or by anybody else. To make the Uni
versity of Wisconsin great, we must
have the good wishes and the earnest
prayer of all of its 10000 alumni, we
must have the respect of all generous
ly disposed persons, we must welcome
benefactions and accept the support
Of all agencies for the advancement
of learning.
There must be enough character
and moral purpose among the regents
and professors" he maintained, ito
accept awards from the great educa-
tional foundations and to put such
funds to noble use without the slight
est danger of losing our moral way"