Evening star., 1949-02-11
DR.. Byrd Gets
Alumni Backiinul..
In Policies Feud
Maryland U. Head
Hits Baltimore Sun
Series of Stories
By jones 6. Deone
Stor Staff CORRESPONDENT

-. oy1 W. ~ Sb4eASAAN ~ ~
versity of Maryland. today had
alumni support in the latest round
of his long feud with the Balti-
more Sun over university policies.
A packed alumni gathering ap-
plauded Dr. Byrd in the Lord Ball
timore Hotel here last night When
he assailed newspaper stores
written about the university. all
though he did not mention the
Baltimore Sun by name.
Dr.. Arthur l. Bell, president Of
the university alumni association.
strongly defended DR.. Byrd's 13-
year administration as head OF the
university and urged all alumni
to rally behind him. Endorsement
also came from Judge William P.
Cole, jr... chairman of the Board
of Regents, and from Mrs. John
L. Whitehurst, regent and prom
inent Baltimore civic leader.
Charter Day Banquet.
DR.. Byrd was the principal
speaker at the alumni asSocla-
tons annual charter day banquett
marking the university's 1920 an
niversary.
In an address replying to edlto-
rials and articles published recent
ly by the Sun on the universltys
history and management, he &C
cused the newspaper of making
astonishing" and alarming
statements and of showing "igno-
rance" with respect to the lnstltu-
tion's needs and policies.
In a 12-article series, the Sun
last month contended, among
other things, that the univer-
sity has poured funds into the
erection of buildings at the expense
of academic standards: that its
administration has been overly
centralized in DR.. Byrds hands;
that the university has been en-
broiled in Maryland politics; that
its finances are not fully disclosed
although it is large burden on
the taxpayers, and that it lacks
any blueprint for the future.
Hits Recent Editorial.
"There seems to be deep and
fundamental difference between
this newspaper and the president
of the University of Maryland
concerning the necessity for edu-
cation" DR.. Byrd declared in his
address.
"A recent editorial stated this
difference very clearly" he con-
tinued, 1T said that: 1T is COM
mon knowledge that no very con-
siderable proportion of high school
graduates either need or are truly
benefited by attendance at an in
stitution of higher learning -
This is an astonishing state
ment. Such an expression. should
have been uttered in the Middle
AGES"
DR.. Byrd said he believes "al1
people must be educated II they
are to discharge intelligently at
the polls their responsibility OF
citizenship He said he feels that
Maryland citizens, who in 1948
were willing to spend S209, ,557 600
on alcoholic beverages, are willing
to spend one-seventh OF that
amount for the welfare of their
children
Says Building Needed.
The University of Maryland has
not asked the Governor and the
Legislature for one cent for build
ing that does not represent need
of it's teaching or research func-
tions. and it's building pro-
gram is far behind instead of far
ahead of it's academic and research
needs he declared.
The institutions budget, he
added. is made available lin a
form that gives the State fiscal
authorities more definite and
clearer information about the
university's operations than any
other department in the State
government" He described the
university's finances as IAN open
book to members of the State Leg
islature.'
DR.. Byrd defended the scholas-
tic rating of the university by say
ing it measures up to the same
standards of other institutions in
this region"
Bell Defends DIR. Byrd.
Dr.. Bell, defending the univer-
sity head, declared:
"It has been proved beyond a
shadow of a doubt that DR.. Byrds
great concentration of effort and
his singleness of purpose have
been directed toward one objec-
tive namely, that of building up
and developing a State institution
of higher learning that would be
of adequate service to our people
and a credit to our great State"
Mrs. Wnitehurst, chairman Of
the Budget Committee of the
Board of Regents, deplored the
criticism that I'VE do not have a
detailed budget"
I'VE have 1874 pages of detailed
budget" she said. II can't UNDER
stand what people are trying to
do to u.s."
a. lI.L eA