TECH. UNION AGAIN EXPLAINED

At a dinner at the Harvard Club of Boston last night, President Lowell and President Maclaurin, of Technology, spoke on "The Agreement Between Harvard and Technology." About two hundred and fifty men were present.

After dinner Major Henry Lee Higginson '52, president of the club, made a brief speech on the history of the movement which culminated in the union of Harvard and Technology. In commenting on the affair Major Higginson complimented the two institutions on their "team play" and added "I have never seen a selfish thought, or a selfish thing, any time, any where, in this matter."

President Maclaurin, as first speaker of the evening, then arose and after a graceful tribute to the University began to speak on the recent agreement from the point of view of Technology. The agreement is the "greatest thing that has happened in educational circles for many a long day," in fact one of the greatest achievements of modern times inasmuch as it is the building up of an institution of unparalleled power in benefiting the community.

"Agreement Between Independents."

President Maclaurin explained that the union is "an agreement between independents." It does not involve the absorption of one corporation by another. Each is as free as ever to lay down any regulations it pleases, whether in the selection of courses or in their administration.

Harvard's work in engineering will in the future be carried on by the Institute of Technology. The giving of all instruction in engineering will be entrusted to the faculty of the Institute. In this agreement, Harvard and Technology make known to the world their belief in the combination of a practical and scientific training. As an educator of high school graduates and foreign students, Technology has always been in the front rank. Although it has also striven to benefit college graduates and all sorts of men, the combination of the two colleges will increase the cosmopolitanism and democracy of both. Technology's "research departments, splendidly equipped and splendidly endowed, will be used by men from all corners of the earth. It is an excellent thing for all work, whether elementary or advanced to be carried on at the same time, in the same place, under the same men."

Ideals of Harvard and Tech Same.

Harvard and Technology have long been ambushed with the same ideas of thoroughness and breadth. The idea will soon have its realization and the future graduate will be like the ideal engineer, endowed with a "large, general cultivation," a perfect type of a "well-rounded man."

Following President Maclaurin's speech, Professor W. C. Sabine '91, who has done much toward making the combination, commended the enthusiastic way in which the members of each faculty have accepted a change that will so effect their individual positions. After a hearty assurance of alumni support from Odin Roberts, vice-president of the Harvard Club, President Lowell was introduced amid cheers by both Harvard and Technology men.

Project Not Entirely Novel.

President Lowell avoided discussion of the technical points of the combination, confining himself to an exposition of the broader principles involved, and to answering common questions. He pointed out that the project was far from novel, tracing its history from the initial attempt, 43 years ago, and on through the failure of subsequent efforts to the successful culmination of the late plan. Of the various phases of the union, President Lowell spoke, in the main, on the way in which the two faculties will be involved. In short, the faculty of the combination will be a "Technology faculty re-inforced by Harvard." The executive head will be President Maclaurin, who will be subject to the power of both Corporations. All men, to be hired, as professors by either institution individually, will be engaged only by the common consent obtained after consultation, which will insure a faculty which will be of equal common good. Although the individualism of neither institution will be in any way affected, yet it is obvious that each will have great influence in shaping the affairs of the combination, as is further evidenced by the fact that each president will have strong voice in the other's successor. With certain special exceptions, all professors not included in the combined curriculum will give introductory courses such as mathematics, chemistry and physics, so that there will be no lost effort.

Harvard College Unchanged.

After pointing out these details, President Lowell answered several stock questions, the first of which was, "What will be the position of Harvard College?" To this he replied with emphasis that Harvard College would remain unchanged. Owing to the segregation of purely technical courses to the graduate department, the College can not be affected by the change. Another question was that as to the man who wished to be an engineer and yet wanted to go to Harvard College. The presence of about 120 college graduates at M. I. T. was the answer. Such a man will simply go to college, get his arts courses, together with the foundations of his future technical work, and after two years of graduate work at the combination, will receive the degree of an engineer, thus getting two degrees, each of great desirability.

As to the good Harvard will obtain from the union, President Lowell warned against the evils of an institutional selfishness which haggles over points of material gain, and pointed out in conclusion the far greater desirability in acquiring the proud fame of having been part to the creation of the greatest educational institution of its kind in the world, and of having given impetus to a movement which will, by its virtues of conservation, go far toward the betterment of the community and the advancement of educational methods