Montana labor news., 1939-12-14
ON THE.
UNIVERSITY PROBLEM
Great Falls Tribune

A large majority of the citizens OF
the state, we believe, have been
hoping that the turmoil at the State
University in Missoula would sub
side-that the president and the fac
ulty would finally arrive at a har-
monious understanding such as
would work for the good of the in
stitution and the attending students,
Reluctantly-very reluctantly-we
have reached the conclusion that the
university administration is not Win
ming its way toward such an objec-
tive.
The people of Montana earnestly
desire to have our university system
built up steadily until it adequately
serves the young women and men
of the state. We want our young
people to have ample opportunity
for collegiate training within the
boundaries of our own state. In
deed, their welfare is the main con-
sideration-not the Individual de-
sires or ambitions of those whom we
have or may select to operate the
different units of our university sys-
tenn.
When the first clashes occurred at
Missoula following the election of
DR.. Simmons as president, The Tri-
bune was skeptical about the truth
fulness of the attacks made upon
him. We felt anyhow that he should
have a full and fair opportunity to
work out his institutional policies.
AS time passes, and the conflict of
personalities continues on the cam
pus, and there appears evidence of
a desire to drive from the faculty
men of high reputation who have
served the institution well for many
years, we have become deeply con-
cerned in the presence of accumu-
lating complications.
The Tribune has received many
statements from alumni-not radi-
cals-who have no personal or po-
litical bias in this dispute, and has
examined statements coming from
various persons who have had some
thing to do with the affairs of the
institution, in an earnest endeavor
to arrive at a fair judgment. More
recent developments have confirmed
us in a deliberate conclusion that for
the good of the university, the board
of education cannot find it desirable
to reappoint DR.. Simmons to the
presidency when his present official
term expires. Even if one inclines
to side with DR.. Simmons in the pro-
longed educational rumpus at Mis-
soula, still there does not appear
any way out if he continues to keep
the executive office he now holds.
This is not a personal conclusion at
all-it is one taking into account all
of the complicated circumstances in
the case.
We must also and again express
a candid opinion that direction of
our colleges by the state board of
education, meeting but a few times
a year, and unable to give personal
attention to day-by-day problems,
has become ineffective and unsatis-
factory. The failure of the state
board to straighten out the bad mess
at Missoula should be rightly
charged to a faculty system-not to
the ability of the individual mem
bers Of that body. We greatly need
a rather complete revision of educa-
tional operation through the state
government.
The university system should have
a competent commissioner of educa-
ton to administer the business of all
the units. The presidents of the diff
ferent colleges should have to deal
only with the professional work of
the institutions. This business di-
rector ought to be a man thoroughly
capable of rendering careful admin
istrative supervision of all expendi-
lures. He should be responsible to
the governor, and be able to really
tell the appropriations committee of
each legislature how much money
is needed to generally maintain, and
progressively develop, each one of
our higher educational units.
The state board has not proven an
efficient agency for business direc-
ton. We repeat, it is the system and
the method of operation, that is a
failure. The present situation can
not continue without great harm.