Conant Asks Freedom Of Discussion, Inquiry for U. S. Universities

President Conant, speaking at the inauguration of Irvin Stewart as president of West Virginia University on Saturday, declared that "absolute freedom of discussion and absolutely unmolested inquiry is essential" in the nation's universities, if man's present knowledge is to he applied in solving problems of our times.

University Guidance Necessary

"I believe that the nation and different groups within the nation-geographic, social, and economic groups-must look to the university scholars for guidance in handling basic social and economic problems," he said.

Recounting the important contributions of universities to the life of their times in the past, President Conant declared that "the idea that a university is some kind of an ivory tower seems to me a pure myth that has grown up only in recent times."