THE HESPERIAN.
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There is a great deal of original work on special
topics being performed by students in nearly all the
departments of the University. As a rule, there are
but few persons that receive much benefit from them.
Hardly ever does any one outside of the class, for
which they are prepared, have the opportunity of
reading them. Most of these themes are interesting
to the student body. They are desirable articles to
have in a form in which they may be 'utilized.
Bearing these facts in mind and believing also
that by publishing the better ones the themes may
be made lo be of a higher quality, we desire to pub
lish one such theme in each issue of The Hesperian.
We, therefore, ask the co-operation of the students
doing such work and of the professors who have the
work in charge in order that this plan may be made
feasible.
The U. of N. is determined to keep pace with
the advancement of educational ideas. It is des
tined to become the leading university of the coun
try. Backed by the unlimited resourses of Nebraska,
patronized by most liberal students, represented by
its graduates in the greatest universities in this coun
try and in Europe, it is bound to come to the front.
All over the State in every profession and occupation
of life the university graduates are found. They
exercise no small influence throughout the state. By
the good word they have for their alma mater they
cause the citizens of Nebraska to look with pride
towards the state university. The university is no
longer the "old log cabin on the hill," but has
grown until it has become one of the foremost educa
tional institutions in the west.
Last spring a summer school, designed especially
to accommodate teachers, was opened. The method
pursued displays the germ of what will soon become
more general university extension. The idea seems
to have favorably impressed members of the faculty
and will, it is hoped, be cairicd further.
For several years the faculty have been contem
plating a revision of the course of instruction in the
university. The plans of the most noted institutions
have been thoroughly investigated. After deliberate
consideration they voted, at a recent meeting, to
adopt the Michigan plan. This means a much more
liberal elective system than is now in vogue. There
will not, however, be such a radical change as one
might at first expect.
Committees are busy formulating courses and
organizing the work of the university. They hope
to have a new curriculum prepared soon. Their idea
seems to be somewhat of a radical departure from the
present one, but at the same time, it is tolerably
conservative.
At the present writing nothing more than a mere
outline of the proposed change can be given. The
committee has not yet reported to the faculty, so
nothing official regarding the details has been
obtained, but they have agreed upon certain things
which in .ill probability will be adopted. The
school year will be divided into two semesters, the
first beginning in September and ending on some
Friday in February, the second beginning on the
Monday following and ending in June. Five hours
study during one semester will constitute one course.
Twenty-six courses will be required to graduate, if
the student is regularly admitted to the college. This
change will, of course, do away with class organiza
tion. A new course leading to the degree B. Ph. will
be established. About one half of the courses will be
prescribed, the other half, elective.
The standard of admission will also be raised. A
person entering any of the colleges will be required
to have had what is equivalent to two courses of
modern languages in addition to the present require
ments. Admisbion to the classical course will also
require a knowledge of Virgil and Anabasis. If a
person has not had these he may enter and take them
in the preparatory department, but will be required
to take twenty-eight instead of twenty-nix courses in
order to graduate.
There are other changes, of which we are not
aware, that will be made. It is the intention of the
committee to prepare a schedule that will compare
equally with the course of instruction at Ann Arbor.
Let the progressive spirit ever be with the univer
sity. Let the advanced educational ideas be incor
porated in its course of instruction.
'I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the young
men and young woir.cn ot Nebraska upon the facilities they
have of obtaining a good modem education. The more I am
thrown in contact with students from other colleges and uni
versities (and among them the best universities in our land)
the more honest pride I have in my alma mater and the more
honor and respect for her faculty. Nebraska has a univers
ity to take pride in."
The above extract is the concluding paragraph of
Mr. F. F. Almy's letter in our last issue, and it is re
published with the object of impressing it upon every
student, and of every friend of the U. of N. To
those who are prone to misrepresent our institution
either through jealousy, or through ignorance of its
standing, and to those who underestimate it because
it is a western institution, this paragraph is a surprise,
for they read in it the honest confession of a thor
oughly wide awake student who fully understands the
merits of our own school, and who appreciates the
advantages of others. The author of this letter is a
student in one of the greatest ofNAmerican universi
ties, and is in a position to make such a comparison.
Generally speaking, comparisons are odius, though
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