The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-11-02
WORTHY PROJECTS

NHUCH has been written about the sad con-
1F1 dition of the thousands of young Amer
leans who have had TO abandon college work
because of the poverty of their parents and
the growing scarcity of opportunities whereby
a student can earn his way through college.
So far. however, most of this talk has been
nothing more than dolorous lament. Now,
however, it seems that somebody proposes to
do something practical along the line of see
ing to it that this very important group of
American youth shall be headed toward con-
structive careers rather than misery, despair
and gangdom. I offer herewith letter which
1 have received from Mr.. John Stuart of the
American Student Union, who can be ad-
dressed in care of Common Sense" 155 East
Forty-fourth street. New York City.
"A few weeks ago Grover Whalen, head of
the New York City NRA appealed to a group
of New York university students to aid in the
recovery drive. At that time, it would have
been pertinent to ask Mr. Whalen what the
blue eagle is doing for students as a class
whose economic problems are as vital and
pressing as those confronting the populace at
large.
1T seems that no other section of dis
possessed Americans has been neglected as
Aagrantly by the federal recovery aid pro-
grams as the college undergraduate who has
been forced to discontinue his course of study
because of straitened finances. With academic
training incomplete, the undergraduates
chances of earning decent living in profess
sonal fields are very precarious. No one will
employ an engineer, for instance, without a
degree which implies an adequate preparatory
education in the rudiments of engineering
THE undergraduate usually does not be-
come common laborer because his white COL
lar conditioning and associations have af-
fected him too deeply to make the change.
And even if such work or any other employ
ment were available, the economic breakdown
has reduced the number of jobs to the extent
that only older men and women with de-
pendents are employed in what few Jobs there
are. Undergraduates, in this position. come to
rely more and more on their families for the
support which their people find it difficult TO
give them
In short life is none too pleasant for anv
one unemployed, especially the person whose
college career and future plans suddenly have
exploded and thrown him into the maeIstrom
Of the jobless and destitute.
I am, at present, conducting a survey of
the number of undergraduates who have been
financially unable to return to college in the
last three years. My aim is to find out what
amount of money would be necessary to helm
these people return to school for the compile
ton of their courses and the incidental main
tenance while they are studying.
1T would be quite possible, after the fig
ures are obtained, to ask the federal govern
ment to finance the project. 1t is obvious
that this scheme has more far-reaching eff
fects than immediate aid for the undergradu-
ate. Hundreds of unemployed college in
structors would be reinstated and there would
be general reduction of the present retrench-
ment in the budgets of higher schools
Il realize that the project would hit many
snags before it could be put into operation.
Those difficulties could be ironed out in time.
The great problem at this time, however, is to
arouse public opinion and to win public sup
port for the idea"
Another excellent innovation in the educa-
tional field is the establishment of school for
labor action in New York City. Tom Tippett,
A. j. Music and DR.. Reinhold Niebuhr will be
among the leading instructors. Such names
as these insure that the institution will be de-
voted to the inculcation of reliable informa-
ton and dynamic spirit. For those unable
to attend the Brookwood Labor college syste-
matically, this should constitute an admirable
opportunity in helping to train labor to meet
its enlarged opportunities and responsibilities
in connection with the new deal.