PREPAREDNESS
Prepareaness Enlist For The University IF THERE is any public institution in America that should be bulwarked and safeguarded against ignorant or covert attack, it is the University of Wisconsin....
...This association has lagged far behind the progress of the University...
...Here is an opportunity for real service to the people of Wisconsin...
...The step already taken by the alumni is reassuring...
...Such a live progressive Alumni army always in the field will be ever ready to stand a tower of strength between the University and these business and political interests that attempt to censor and degrade its work...
...A conference was held at Madison, November 20, to consider means of maintaining the high standard of the University and of keeping unsullied its academic freedom against these plottings...
...Let every loyal alumnus rally to this call to high service...
...Indeed, it has become little more than a name...
...As Governor Philipp—mouthpiece of this combination—expressed it in a recent speech: " I do not believe it wise to permit the teaching of half-baked theories of government that never have been demonstrated to be a success, that INTIMIDATE CAPITAL, and that close factory doors...
...But the times demand more than that...
...This plunder-bund promptly turned its weapons against the people's university...
...This university is famed throughout the world as "The Greatest State University...
...A WORKING and DEMOCRATICALLY ORGANIZED association would be a medium through which the people who support the University, could be kept constantly informed regarding the REAL services it performs, the REAL spirit of its teaching and investigation, exactly what it costs the state to maintain it, and the millions of money which it annually pays back to the taxpayers in better methods of farming, bigger crops, higher standards in the mechanic arts—and a graduate body trained for the best service which the enlightened citizen can tender the state...
...So reorganized, and re-vitalized the Alumni of the University will furnish the most intelligent body of criticism whenever honest, constructive criticism is necessary, and a powerfully organized defense whenever the best interests of the University are threatened...
...hence it has developed no effective armor to shield it from the highly organised assaults of small but rich and powerful groups of interests who fear the Truth—the truth, for instance, concerning the manner in which predatory business is systematically and unscrupulously exploiting the people...
...A program of abject academic slavery...
...In devoting itself to this high and proper public service, it has kept strictly out of "politics...
...Organized enemies must be met by ORGANIZED friends...
...The program laid down by the Special Interest Combination is, to permit no investigation, no research nor teaching that has not first been censored by "capital...
...Individual alumni have been doing great service in maintaining the integrity of their Alma Mater and protecting it from unscrupulous attacks...
...But intelligent alumni, irrespective of political affiliation, have come to the rescue...
...That question will be answered by a special committee composed of three members of the executive committee of the Alumni Association and four others...
...Organized and sordid spreading of falsehood must be met by organized and unselfish spreading of the truth...
...How...
...They sought to throttle academic freedom and turn the university into a propagandist and special pleader for THEIR OWN "theories...
...During the past year the railroad-water power-insurance combination came temporarily into control in this state...
...Back in 1894, an enlightened, progressive Board of Regents issued this Declaration of Academic Freedom: "Whatever may be the limitations which trammel enquiry elsewhere, we believe that the great State University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found...
...The task of this committee is to work out a plan of reorganization Of the Alumni Association so it may be made truly effective and influential as an organization...
...It has earned this distinction primarily because it has become truly THE PEOPLE'S University—because it has "served the time without yielding to it"—because it stoops not to propagate the "theories" of any clique, class or interest, but ever explores the wide fields of knowledge and turns over, disinterestedly, to the people who maintain it, the fruits of its research...
...If this committee succeeds in working out a plan of reorganization that will enable Wisconsin alumni in every community quickly and effectively to register their convictions and influence, a notable chapter will have been added to the annals of educational freedom...
...The need for this is urgent...
Vol. 7 • November 1915 • No. 11
