The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-01-13
The Role of the "EducatiOnal
Santa Claus"
(The Spectrum, Student Publicatio

(The Spectrum, Student Publication,
N. D. A. c.
The board OF administration has
succeeded remarkably we'll within the
last few days In getting itself in the
eadlines-satisfying that primitive
desire to get ones name in print.
The raising of the nonresident tut
ton fee may be good publicity stunt
and a sop to the pressing demands
of the taxpayer but it throws very
little sand into the eyes of the STU
dents, resident or nonresident, or to
those Of the faculties at the institu-
tions Of higher learning in the state.
This state should be weary Of
playing the educational Santa Claus
for the young men and women of
other states" said Chairman Nelson
Sauvain. Such a statement would
lead us to infer that the Christmas
spirit prevails in North Dakota the
year around. After reading such q
statement we wondered If 1t ever &C.
Cured to the board that every organ
ization or institution has to assume
the role of Santa Claus at some point
in its career until it becomes mature
and established and is sufficient on
to itself both financially and socially.
We feel that the educational insti-
tutions in this state are too young to
become self-satisfied. At the present
time their task is to present an at
tractive enough program, both fl
nancially and curricularly, to attract
students from every state that our
institutions may gain prestige and
recognition in all parts of the uni
verse. When that Is accomplished,
and not until then, can we afford
to raise our fees and set ourselves
on pedestak.
Throwing sentimental fee ings
aside, we feel quite sure that no state
or university student today feels that
degree from their institution would
be worth 81 200. the total cost of four
years nonresident tuition. Certain
ly no student enrolled in the schools
of education or Of science or litera-
ture can feel that way when B. A.
degree may be secured from such an
institution as the University of Min
nesota for $3.50 Of nonresident fees
AS for the technical schools, an esti-
mate made today showed a probable
enrolment decrease Of Is per cent In
the school Of chemistry, one Of the
most adequately equipped and one of
the stronger schools on this campus
According to statements made by
the board, the state plans to educate
its resident students with non-resi-
dent fees. The theory is excellent,
but school officials anticipate q de-
crease Of 90 per cent in the non
resident enrolment II this change
goes into effect. We fail to see how
ten per cent of the 1,l16 non-resi-
dent students will pay the education
al cost Of some thousands Of resident
students.
How any institution can hope to
maintain an educational standard
with decreasing enrolment Is Ques-
tionable. Good instructors will not
be attracted to q non-progressive
school and we shall hate to content
ourselves with Second-rate ones.
In the midst OF business depres-
sion seems q poor time to raise the
tuition fees $277.50. Figures from the
student employment bureau this fall
showed that nearly 30 per cent Of
the students here were partially de-
fraying their own expenses. It is q
known fact that many Of our stu
dents today are taxing their capa-
cities to the utmost to stay in school
until they can secure work.
A bit Of humor was cast into q
strained situation today when a Mon
tana student said, well, my father
can buy two North Dakota farms for
$500, and can still 60 here to school,
Apparently then the board of admin
istration Is attempting to give real
estate dealers hand. but we still
fancy the role Of the educational
Santa Claus"