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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1889)
THE HESPERIAN. One of the questions that the present legislature will decide is of vital importance to the University. This institution has labored long under the dis advantage of depending upon uncertain appropriations for its financial support. The aim of the regents and the officials connected with the University, has always been to keep the demands of the University within the provisions made by congress and the state. The people have not been asked to give a dollar more than has already been provided. Cer tain sums are constantly set aside for the use of the University, and they can not be directed to other purposes. In order to obtain the use of these funds, biennial appropriations are necessary. Two years ago, the legislature established the precedent of appropriating the entire amount of funds of the University, to its support and use. The question is Will the present legislature follow the example set by the legislature of two years ago? It is necessary for .he welfare of the institution that some fixed custom be followed in regard to the appropriations. If the appropriations vary in amount according to the whim or prejudice of different legis latures, every move made by the regents will be un certain. No plan can be pursued with any degree of certainty, for a longer period than two years. If the present legislature shall aid in establishing the precedent, that the entire University revenue during two years, shall be set aside for the use and mainten ance of the University through its proper officials, then all uncertainty and doubt in regard to manage ment will be removed. With a definite knowlede of the amounts which the University will receive, the regents will be un trammelled. That the University appropriation will be diminished when the need is greatest for every available dollar, is a risk too great to be borne. Now is a critical period in the history of the Univer sity. Never before had it such a chance for devel opment. It is rapidly taking a high place among the great educational institutions. With ample revenue accumulating for its support, why should the Univer sity fail to receive the entire benefit of its funds? Now is the time when every dollar is needed. Let not prejudice of county or district stunt the growth of a state institution, the doors of which are open to all alike. Let the present legislature aid in establish ing the precedent that the University shall have the use of all the funds to which it is justly entitled. The University claims only that which is its own, nothing more. In their biennial report the regents make this demand. The justness of their request is evident. The future greatness of the University, its standing as an institution of learning, its further development, all depend upon the answer given to the request of the regents. MISCELLAMY. A NEW degree It has been duly and officially an nounced that Harvard has secured the services of Mr. John Clarkson, pitcher of the 13ostons, for the professorship of base ball. The Graphic happily remarks: This distin guished pundit has had wise and extended experience in al most every department oi the science which he adores, and is well qualified to teach "the young ideas how to shoot" base balls according to every parabola known to mathemati cal science and a few others besides. This elective study may not agree with the old fashioned notions of a college curriculum, but of course the college authorities know what they are about, and if they choose to provide a special de partment of athletics to enable the college nine to whip the Yale team, it is no one else's business. A new degree of B. 13, C. (base ball champion) would be about the right thing to create to celebrate this new departure of the oldest and most famous of American colleges." We were all aware that our Nebraska University was sadly deficient in one re spect, and now we know just what is needed. A professor of base ball would no doubt be a great attraction, and ma terially increase the number of students. Decimal classification There is certainly a great, need of improvement in a better system of classification' in the various public libraries in our country. Mr. Melville Dewey, formerly of Amherst, but at present professor of library economy in Columbia college, can be said to have in vented one of the great conveniences of the age. His method of classification, known as the decimal system, is at the came time so simple and so comprehensive that it is equally suited to a library ol fifty volumes or to a library of several hundred thousand volumes. A library which is con stantly enlarging, needs just such a system of classification. I would like to suggest, for the benefit of all concerned, that this system bi employed in our University library. Why not have every thing done in the most improved and ap proved method possible. Speaking of Melville Dewey, I am reminded of the course in library economy provided for in Columbia college. It takes a wide range of knowlege to be a good librarian; to -have a knowlege of books and their classification, which can be acquired through a study of the subject, or from a wide experience in a large library. Co lumbia, realizing the need of a special course of instruction in this line, came to the rescue, and provided a post graduate course for students who wish to fit themselves for this pro fession. The first three months of this course are spent in the library where one obtains some acquaintance at least with the backs of books. Much of the remaining time is devoted to the study of the classification it self from a practical stand point. One year of close study entitles the student to the degree of M. A. The positions in state and college libraries will be filled from the ranks of those who have made special preparation for this kind of work. ANNEX. The girls have promised to get up a base ball nine, when the chair in base ball instruction is established provided they will be allowed to take the course in scientific curving. At present the military dcpaitment does not exclude the co-eds from the classes in military science, and where one young lady is willing to study tactics now, a dozen will be glad to study the science of correct pitching then.