 | The University of Virginia record December, 1907 |  |
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA RECORD
Vol. 1
Charlottesville, Va., December, 1907
No. 4
The University of Virginia Record is published monthly, except July
and August, for the purpose of disseminating information regarding the University,
its organization, activities, and growth. The Record is intended primarily
for the alumni and friends of the Institution and for the press of the State,
but will be sent to any address upon receipt of the subscription price, 25 cents a year.
Second-class postage rates have been applied for.
Student Self-Help at the University of
Virginia.
Toward the end of last session (1906-7),
President Alderman sent a letter of inquiry
to each of the seven hundred and
fifty or more men in college, with a view
to ascertaining how many were making
their own way through the University;
by what means or methods they
were doing so; and by what procedure on
his part or on the part of others such men
could be most properly and effectively
aided. The following summary will give
a fair idea of the conditions existing, as
revealed by the investigation.
Out of a total enrollment of 786 students
replies were received from 347, or
about 45 per cent.
1. a. Are you doing any sort of work
that helps you to meet your expenses at
the University of Virginia? b. What
sort of work? c. What do you receive
for it?
a. 60 affirmative.
b. Teaching and assistance, 29; clerical
work, 7; preaching, 5; miscellaneous,
18.
c. Of the 38 reporting amounts, the
total was $11,780 and the average $310.
2. a. Are you living on money that
you earned by your own labor before
coming to the University? b. To what
extent does this earned money aid you?
c. By what sort of labor was it procured?
a. 88 affirmative.
b. Of the 36 reporting amounts, the
total is $9,547 and the average $264.
c. Teaching, 30; clerical work, 21; engineering,
9; farming, 6; business, 5;
miscellaneous, 17. (Two or more kinds
often reported by same student.)
3. a. Did you have to borrow money
to come to the University? b. If so, to
what extent?
a. 59 affirmative.
b. Of the 49 reporting amounts, the
total was $16,720 and the average $341.
4. a. Did you have to ask for credit
in the payment of your University fees?
b. If so, to what extent? c. Do you
expect to return this money by your own
labor?
a. 42 affirmative (not including payments
delayed until further in session).
b. Of the 21 reporting amounts, the
total was $1,908 and the average $90.
c. 28 affirmative; 3 negative.
5. Can you give your total estimated
expenses for this session? Do not include
in this item your traveling expenses
and clothes.
Reports from 291 students averaged
$496. (Charlottesville students and married
students omitted. Reports varied
as to items included.)
6. Do you desire work next session
and if so, what kind are you willing to
do? 103 affirmative.
Anything not conflicting with studies,
53.
Assistant positions in connection with
studies, etc., 27.
Clerical or stenographic work, 10;
teaching, 10; preaching, 3.
7. It is your purpose to make your
vacation of financial value?
188 affirmative. (Graduates who stated
they were entering upon practice of profession,
omitted in count.)
8. Miscellaneous kinds of work done
a. While at the University.
Agent for Collier's Weekly, sales
agent, engineer, field work, work on
College Topics, handling stereopticon,
clearing cemetery, tending cows and
horses, packing cigars, writing law notes,
writing for magazines, farming, newspaper
reporter, Y. M. C. A. work, miscellaneous
kinds of work, 2; total, 16.
b. Before coming to the University.
Hospital steward, medicine, dentistry,
druggist 2, time-keeper in Smelting Co.,
work in tobacco factory, rural mail carrier,
U. S. deputy collector, chauffeur,
sailing yachts, telegraph operator, express
agent, osteopath, miscellaneous, 2;
total, 17.
A slight inspection of the foregoing
summary reveals some rather interesting
facts. Using the averages given as a
basis of computation, the following totals
are obtained.
| The 60 workers earned last year, | $18,600 |
| The 88 men earned before coming to the University, |
$23,232 |
| The 59 borrowers borrowed | $20,119 |
The 207 men who helped themselves
by borrowing, by working here at the
University, or by working before they
came, helped themselves to the amount
of $61,951; in round numbers, $62,000.
If we conclude, as is quite likely, that
some of the same men are found in two
or more of the above classes, it only reduces
the number of workers, not the
total sum earned or assumed to be earned.
Moreover, it is quite probable that a considerable
number of students who were
earning at least part of their own expenses,
did not make any report:—are to be
found among the 439 that did not reply
to the letter of inquiry. Hence one may
be safe in the approximation, that over
200 of our students last year—more than
25 per cent.—did some kind of work
either after or before they came here, or
assumed obligations to be discharged
after leaving here, in order to attend the
University.
All of this shows an encouraging situstion.
It shows that many young men
are still willing to tol for learning. It
shows that the number of such young
men that seek the University of Virginia
is on the increase. It shows that the
University of Virginia is no longer—if it
ever was—exclusively a "rich man's
school"; though many rich men and
many rich men's sons come here, and
always will come, because of the attractions
of scholarship, traditions, associations,
and high honor that belong to the
place. It shows that, as President Alderman
said at the alumni luncheon in
June, "the spirit of practical academic
democracy is on the increase."
All of this shows one thing more—or
at least makes us think it; that if more
opportunities for self-help could in some
way be afforded at the University, a still
larger number of young men—young Virginians
especially—would come to help
themselves. This is why the President
has appointed a committee of six members
of the faculty to take counsel and
measures toward ways and means for
student self-help; and this is why the
question is one of vital interest to every
thinking man in the State.
Lawson and Dethier.
Two of the numbers announced for the
artists' music course for the session of
1907-8 have already been given, one on
October 17, the other on November 19,
by Dr. Franklin Lawson, the tenor soloist,
and by Edouard Dethier, the Belgian
violinist, respectively. Each rendered a
program of unusually high character.
All who heard them look forward with
eagerness to the two remaining entertainments
of the series; one on January 13,
by Angelo Patricolo, the Italian pianist;
the other on February 10, by Madame
Maconda, the distinguished soprano.
Secretary R. M. Price, who was recently
obliged to spend some time in the hospital,
is so far improved as to be able to
resume the duties of his office.
The University and Virginia.
With a school of education recently
established in the University; with the
President and several members of the
faculty making specialties of subjects
and questions that relate to the public
schools of the State; with a member of
the faculty on the State Board of Education;
and with an indefinite number of
other good men in all quarters giving all
possible aid and influence toward the
co-operation of all educational forces in
the State, it would indeed be surprising
if the University and Virginia as a whole
were not continually profiting more and
more fully one from the other. To be
brief and more particular, Profs. W. H.
Heck and Bruce R. Payne are this session
making a special and systematic
effort to reach every part of Virginia
they possibly can. Prof. Payne, giving
his attention especially to the interests of
academies, high schools, and colleges,
goes out as frequently as his lectures will
permit to confer with superintendents,
principals, and the various officials of
secondary schools. During the past
month or two he has visited schools in
Northampton, Southampton, and Albemarle
counties, as well as others outside
of Virginia. Since the middle of October,
Prof. Heck, head of the Curry Memorial
School of Education in the University,
has made addresses in some of
the leading towns and cities of Pittsylvania,
Loudoun, Fauquier, Augusta,
Orange, Appomattox, Albemarle, Nelson,
Fairfax, and Roanoke. At present he is
giving special consideration, in his addresses
and conferences, to hygiene in
the public schools. For want of time
they cannot respond to all the invitations
they receive; but they are nevertheless
doing a telling work.
Dr. Coles' Gift.
Mention was made in the October Record
of the gift of a Jefferson bronze
bust to the University by Dr. J. Ackerman
Coles of New York City. The bust, which
is the work of H. Dan. Webster, a nephew
of the orator, has just been received, and
has been placed on the main floor of the
Rotunda. The bronze, which is a striking
piece of work, rests on a pedestal of
dark green or black granite, constructed
in the form of a modified Doric column,
about four and a half feet high. The
top of the bust rises to a height of about
six and a fourth feet. In material, proportion,
and general outlines this bust of
Jefferson is similar to the bust of Cicero
given to the University a few years ago
by Dr. Coles. The two handsome pieces
of art occupy related positions among
the other works of statuary and painting
in the library.
The new dining hall, which has been
made possible for the University through
the wisdom of our State legislators, is
going to be one of the handsomest buildings
on the campas. It will afford accommodations
for 250 men at one time,
and will strengthen the democratic spirit
among the students, while giving substantial
protection to their bank accounts.
It has long been needed, and it
will satisfy many wants.
University Teaching Staff.
From statistics in the hands of the Secretary,
it has been ascertained that the
whole number of men at present on the
teaching staff of the University of Virginia
is 87, classified as follows: 30 professors,
one associate professor, 11 adjunct
professors, 30 instructors, and 15
assistants. This enumeration does not
include the officers of administration,—
the President, Secretary, Registrar, and
Bursar,—the two professors emeriti, the
librarians and their assistants, or the
licentiates in the several departments.
Honors for Prof. Noah K. Davis.
On October 10, 1907, the Atlanta alumni
of Mercer University held a banquet
in honor of our Emeritus Professor Noah
Knowles Davis, whom they were properly
pleased to call Mercer's most distinguished
stirring song for the occasion was written.
Dr. Davis was a member of the class of
1849. After serving some years as president
of Bethel College, Ky., he accepted
the chair of moral philosophy at the University
of Virginia, where he taught men
and inspired whom he taught; at the
same time producing a series of textbooks
in logic, psychology, and ethics
that has probably never been excelled by
any other produced in America. His
last book, and the one he prizes most, is
a life of Christ—"The Story of the Nazarene."
At the banquet in his honor Dr.
Davis made a speech, as did also ex-Governor
W. J. Northen, class of 1853; Justice
Beverly D. Evans, class of 1881; ex-Governor
Joseph M. Terrell; R. J. Massey,
class of 1848; and President S. Y. Jameson
of Mercer. Benediction was pronounced
by Rev. A. T. Spalding, class of
1851.
The University Magazine.
The University of Virginia Magazine,
for the months of the session already
past, has appeared in appropriate
and tasteful cover, with contents well in
keeping with its long established standards
of excellence. Verse, fiction, essays,
essays at drama, reviews, and easy-chair
chats contribute information and
entertainment in a pleasing variety. A
series of articles of special value this year
appears under the general title, "Some
Charming Southern Towns." The first
article of the series, a sketch of Charleston,
South Carolina, appeared in October;
and one after reading it is made to wonder
whether the related sketches to follow
can possibly surpass it. If they but
measure up to equal merit with it, one
should be well satisfied. Such articles as
this, and such subjects as this, have right
to belong to the permanent literature of
our country, and entitle the magazine in
which they have place to a high rank
among our current periodicals. It is not
difficult to understand therefore why persons
outside of and away from the University
find the University magazine
worth their attention.
While the University has no Department
of Theology, nor any denominational
affiliation, over five hundred of its
alumni (over three per cent. of its total
enrollment) have entered the ministry,
chiefly of the Episcopal, Presbyterian,
Baptist and Methodist churches; a large
number of these have served or are serving
as missionaries in all parts of the
world. Eleven alumni have been made
bishops of the Protestant Episcopal
Church; one of the Methodist Episcopal
Church; and one of the Reformed Episcopal
Church. The recently established
chair of Biblical History and Literature
will afford opportunities for work that
will doubtless by appreciated by a constantly
increasing number.
Calendar for December and January.
December, 1907.
Thursday, 12—Beginning of First Intermediate
Examinations.
Monday, 23—End of Examinations.
Tuesday, 24—Beginning of Christmas
Recess.
January, 1908.
Thursday, 2—End of Recess.
Friday, 3—Resumption of Lectures.
The Annual Report of the religious
work of the University for the session of
1906-7 has just been received from the
printer. The neat pamphlet contains a
cut of Madison Hall, lists of officers and
committees, reports of the Endowment
Fund, the Chapel services, etc. Copies
may be obtained by enclosing stamp for
postage to Dr. H. M. McIlhany.
On the evening of November 14 President
and Mrs. Alderman gave a reception
at their residence to the professors,
instructors, and assistants of the University,
with their wives, as well as to a
number of other persons of the University
community and the city of Charlottesville.
| The University of Virginia record December, 1907 | |