Evening star., 1946-07-12
Educators Turn
To Long-Range
College Needs
u. S. Officials Join
In Discussions of
Heavy EnroIIments
a.. D-sI
BY George Beveridee


education was emphasized today a.
$50 educators delegates to a three
day conference here on emergenc,
school question, went into round.
table sessions to discuss their prob.
lens with Government officials.
The forum on housing today drew
UP resolutions asking Congress fol-
appropriations of hundreds of mil
lions of dollars to aid construction
plants at colleges.
One resolution supported a $780,
100000 proposal of Senator Mead
Democrat, of New York, providing
for funds for classroom, laboratory
and other non -dormitory facilities.
Another called for passage of q
$3.50 900 900 plan introduced by SEN
ator Mead that would aid colleges
with permanent construction prof.
ects.
Members of the forum will pre-
sent their resolutions to the gen.
eral conference tomorrow morning
for consideration.
To Confer With Agencies.
The forum also asked that the
American Council on Education
form a committee to confer with
the Federal Public Housing Ad-
ministration and the National Hous-
Ing Agency on college construction
problems. Norman R. Miller. FPHA
representative, told delegates his
agency would welcome suggestions
from such committee
In a White House visit yesterday
afternoon, the educators were urged
by President Truman to help "over-
come those prejudices which cause
wars-religious prejudices, economic
prejudices, misunderstanding be-
tween races and people of different
languages" The President spoke
extemporeanously but the text of
his remarks was released later by
the White House.
The president told the delegates
that nations represent a commun-
ity of individuals, and there isn't
any more reason why we can't un-
derstand each other as nations and
why we can't understand each other
as individuals.
Urges Stress on Tolerance.
Now it is your duty, as the educa-
tors Of the country, to get the rising
generation to believe that" the
President said.
Mr.. Truman welcome the dele
gates for the opportunity ito make
few off-the-cuff remarks on a sub
ject very close to my heart" He
jokingly remarked that he was
happy to note that returned service
men and women "are giving you such
. headache on education"
Il hope they will continue to do
that" he continued. And if they
do. think the country is perfectly
SAFE"
Facilities for Veterans.
The President followed up his re-
marks by recommending through
the Budget Bureau s100 100000 ap-
preparation for provision under the
Federal Works Agency for nonhous-
ing facilities needed at schools Of
4cllllS CUuISSS 10 Veterans.
The conference was called by the
American Council on education to
devise means for meeting heavy
enrolment demands on colleges this
fall, but delegates in today's meet
ings brought up long-range aspects
of all six of the subjects discussed.
Carter Davidson, president of
Union College, who is leading dis
cussion on housing, told delegates
that according to enrolment esti-
mates for the next few years, what
we now call an emergency in college
enrolment is actually a permanent
situation"
100000 by 1856.
Quoting the recent Snyder report
to the president on education, Mr.
Davidson said average enrolment
will be 100000 in three years and
100000 by 1956-double the 1912
student number.
Does it mean our colleges and
universities must all expand 10 per
cent in their capacity, or that we
must add an equal number of new
colleges and universities?" he asked
One of the greatest problems now
Is housing for non-veteran faculty
members, Mr.. Davidson said. He
praised a move of the Federal Public
Housing Administration that allows
teachers to occupy per cent of
temporary housing units. Other
questions he put before delegates
were:
Will States aid with the cost pre-
pairing sites for temporary housing
units? Can the Army and Navy
declare more of their camps and
buildings surplus Immediately, and
can they be ready for occupancy
In September?
John D. Small, Civilian Produc-
ton Agency administrator, yester-
day promised the educators authori-
zations for construction would be
issued whenever work lis really
necessary, and cannot reasonably be
postponed" He also promised ad-
ditional aid if contractors are un-
able to get materials for essential
construction.
Voice in Liaison Asked.
Arthur S. Adams, provost of Cor
nell University, told the group he
thought recognition of the faculty
shortage as a long-range problem
was of chief importance to the
conference.
In an interview, Mr.. Adams said
he feels certain adequate materials
and facilities are available If some
one were to get them together"
He recommended that the President
appoint a special assistant to CO.
ordinate education matters between
schools and Federal agencies and
give educators voice in their
affairs"
Herman T. Stichman, New York
State housing commissioner, also
called for a single Federal authority
to coordinate education. Addresses
were read from Housing Expeditor
Wyatt and Senator Mead, both of
whom were unable to attend.
Another problem for round-table
discussion is surplus property for
colleges. L. E. Grinter of the Illi-
nois Institute of Technology. said