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COMMENT

The Logical Solution?

A happy solution (the most logical one, but probably the most remote from actual accomplishment) for the over-crowding of universities, and especially of colleges of liberal arts in which individual work and personal contact with instructors is so essential, was proposed by President Murlin of Boston University recently.

President Murlin's proposal is that when a liberal arts college has reached an enrollment of 500 a new college unit ought to be organized, with a separate faculty and an independent dean. Perhaps is is something akin to the Oxford system which he had in mind, a group of separate colleges with the same general administration, yet each an entity within itself, having its-own faculty and buildings.

This is the simplest and by far the most rational plan of dealing with increased enrollment, theoretically at least. But there are several obstacles one of them particularly embarassing. Where is the money to come from for the establishment of these new college units? Legislative appropriations for institutions of higher learning are being cut down all over the country. There are too may war debts to be paid to spend much money for education.

But business establishments are everywhere being expanded. Whenever a warehouse for automobiles, or foreign silks or any other luxury becomes over-crowded, immediately a now one is built or an addition made! There is no hesitation here. When it becomes as apparent that an educated citizenry is worth as much to the community as luxuries in a wholesale warehouse. President Murlin's scheme may be taken into serious consideration. --University of Washington Daily

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