Evening star., 1933-11-26
CHICAGO MAY Join
NORTHWESTERN IN
EDUCATIONAL UNION
Founded by Different Denom-
nations, Schools Cast
Aside VarianCeS.
BY RUTHWELL DUNCAN.
Epeci;' Dispatch to The Star
CHICAGO NoYember 25=Educat

Epecig Dispatch to The Star
CHICAGO, November 25.-Educatioral
circles in Illinois are stirred by th2 dis
closure hat the States two biggest and
best known institutions OF higher learn
ing among those dependent on private
endowment and support are Seriously
contemplating a merger. The Univer-
sity of Chicago and Northwestern Uni
verSity have been cOurting quietly for
months. The courtship is now said to
have reached an advanced stage and
terms of the marriage contract are un-
der discussion.
The projected combination of re-
sources and activities is Symptomatlc OF
the times. The last few years have
seen many mergers in the field of the
smaller colleges throughout the country.
In Illinois the most notable was that
of historic Knox, in Galesburg, and It's
nPighbOr. Lombard College. Knox has
behind it nearly century of service,
and glories in the fact that it was the
scene of the Lincoln Douglas debate.
But in all the mergers so far consum-
mated there has been none on so big
sale as that which is now in prospect.
The union of Chicago and Northwest
ern would be a major event in the edu-
cational world. and possibly the pre-
parable institutional sphere.
The probability that negotiations will
culr,linate effectively has awakened two
schools of conflicting opinion as TO the
wisdom of the proposal. One OF these
contends there will be much advantage
from the standpoint Of economy: that
the ratio of overhead to service will be
reduced: that the combination of re-
sources will promote the Strengthening
of educational programs. the develop
ment of research and the aims OF scnol-
arship. On the other hand. is group
that is skeptical about the reality OF
such envisaged values The dissenting
argument asserts that experience has
shown economy is not one of the results
nj MAGNITUDE, that beyond a certain
point magnitude disproportionately in
creas IS cost and tends to decrease ett1-
cienC'. 1t is pointed out that big
facu : more easily hides mediocrity
than ~ne of reasonable dimensions, and
that a vast student body makes intimate
contact with the personal sources OF
knowledge and inspiration virtually i'm
possible. In that loss of close touch be-
tween professor and student, it is ar
gued. there is a serious II not fatal
diminishing CT educational values.
The combined student bodies of the
two institutions would number probably
not less than 30,000-a huge mass OF
largely immature and restless humanity.
Northwestern has approximately 1,1oo
persons on its faculty and the Univer-
sttv of Chicago nearly 300.
An interesting feature OF the expected
merger is the fact that Northwestern is
nCminally Methodist institution, while
Chicago was born as child of the
Baptist denomination. Those sectarian
differences seem to PLAY little or no
part in the discussion of the proposed
union. While there are no signs as yet
of the union of the Methodist Episcopal
and the Baptist Churches, their educa
tional progeny seem untroubled by the
fact that they have separate creedal
origins