首页 >出版文学> The Higher Learning in America>第9章
  CHAPTERIV
  AcademicPrestigeandtheMaterialEquipmentInthecourseoftheprecedingchapterithasappearedthattheintroductionofbusinessprinciplesintouniversitypolicyhashadtheimmediateandubiquitouseffectofgreatlyheighteningthedirectorate’ssolicitudeforadueandcreditablepublicity,aconvincingvisiblesuccess,atactfulandeffectualshowingofefficiencyreflectedinanuninterruptedgrowthinsizeandothertangiblequantitativefeatures。Thisisgoodpolicyasseenfromthepointofviewofcompetitivebusinessenterprise。Incompetitivebusinessitisofthegravestimportancetokeepuptheconcern’sprestige,or"goodwill。"A
  businessconcernsoplacedmustbepossessedofsuchprestigeaswilldrawandholdaprofitabletraffic;otherwisetheenterpriseisinaprecariouscase。Fortheobjectiveendandaimofbusinessenterpriseisprofitablesales,ortheequivalentofsuchsalesiftheconcernisnotoccupiedwithwhatwouldstrictlybecalledsales。Theendsoughtisanetgainovercosts;ineffect,tobuycheapandselldear。Thequalitiesthatcountasofprimeconsequenceinbusinessenterprise,therefore,particularlyinsuchbusinessenterpriseashastodowithmanyimpressionablecustomers,arethesalesmanlikevirtuesofeffronteryandtact。Thesearehighqualitiesinallbusiness,becausetheirdueexerciseisbelievedtobringanetreturnabovethecostofthegoodstotheseller,and,indeed,abovetheirvaluetothebuyer。Unlessthemanincompetitivebusinessisable,byforceofthesebusinesslikeaptitudes,togetsomethingmorethanhegives,itisfeltthathehasfallenshortofthehighestefficiency。Sotheefficientsalesman,andsimilarlytheefficientlymanagedbusinessconcern,areenabledtoaddtotheirmarketablegoodsanimmaterialincrementof"prestigevalue,"assomeoftheeconomistsarecallingit。A
  marginofprepossessionsorillusionsastotheirsuperior,butintangibleandinexpensive,utilityattachestoagivenlineofgoodsbecauseoftheadvertiser’sorsalesman’swork,——workspentnotsomuchonthegoodsasonthecustomer’ssensibilities。
  Incasetheseillusionsofsuperiorworthareofanenduringcharacter,theywilladdanincrementofsuchintangibleutilityalsotogoodsorothermarketableitemssubsequentlytobeofferedbythesameconcern;andtheycanbeaddedupasapresumptiveaggregateandcapitalizedasintangibleassetsofthebusinessconcerninquestion。Suchabodyofaccumulatedandmarketableillusionsconstitutewhatisknownas"good—will,"inthestrictersenseoftheterm。Theillusionsinquestionneed,ofcourse,notbedelusions;theymaybewellorillfounded;forthepurposeinhandthatisanidlequestion。
  Themostfamiliarandconvincingillustrationsofsuchgoodwillareprobablythoseaffordedbythesalesofpatentmedicines,andsimilarproprietaryarticlesofhouseholdconsumption;butintangiblevaluesofasimilarnatureareinvolvedinnearlyallcompetitivebusiness。Theyaretheproductofsalesmanship,notofworkmanship;andtheyareusefultotheseller,nottothebuyer。Theyareusefulforpurposesofcompetitivegaintothebusinessman,notforserviceabilitytothecommunityatlarge,andtheirvaluetotheirpossessorliesinthedifferentialadvantagewhichtheygivetoonesellerasagainstanother。Theyhave,onthewhole,noaggregatevalueorutility。Fromthepointofviewofthecommongood,workandexpendituresoincurredforthesecompetitivepurposesarebootlesswaste。
  Undercompulsionofsuchprecedents,drawnfromtheconductofcompetitivebusiness,publicityand"goodwill"havecometotakeaforemostplaceinthesolicitudeoftheacademicdirectorate。Notthatthisnotorietyandprestige,ortheeffortsthatgototheircultivation,conduceinanyappreciabledegreetoanyostensiblepurposeavowed,oravowable,byanyuniversity。
  Thesethings,thatistosay,ratherhinderthanhelpthecauseoflearning,inthattheydivertattentionandeffortfromscholarlyworkmanshiptostatisticsandsalesmanship。Allthatisbeyondcavil。Thegainwhichsoaccruestoanyuniversityfromsuchanaccessionofpopularillusionsisadifferentialgainincompetitionwithrivalseatsoflearning,notagaintotherepublicoflearningortotheacademiccommunityatlarge;anditisagaininmarketableillusions,notinserviceabilityfortheendsoflearningorforanyotheravowedoravowableendsoughtbytheuniversities。Butascompetitorsforthegood—willoftheunletteredpatronsoflearningtheuniversitydirectoratesareconstrainedtokeepthisneedofareputablenotorietyconstantlyinmind,howeverlittleitmayallappealtotheirownscholarlytastes。
  Itisinverylargepart,ifnotchiefly,astouchestheacquirementofprestige,thattheacademicworkandequipmentareamenabletobusinessprinciples,——notoverlookingthepervasivesystemofstandardizationandaccountancythataffectsboththeworkandtheequipment,andthatservesotherpurposesaswellasthoseofpublicity;sothat"businessprinciples"inacademicpolicycomestomean,chiefly,theprinciplesofreputablepublicity。Itmeansthismorefrequentlyandmoreconsistentlythananythingelse,sofarasregardstheacademicadministration,asdistinguishedfromthefiscalmanagementofthecorporation。
  Ofcourse,thestandards,ideals,principlesandprocedureofbusinesstrafficenterintotheschemeofuniversitypolicyinotherrelationsalso,ashasalreadyappearedandaswillbeshownmoreatlargepresently;butafterallduequalificationishad,itremainstruethatthisbusinessofpublicitynecessarily,oratleastcommonly,accountsforadisproportionatelylargeshareofthebusinesstobetakencareofinconductingauniversity,ascontrastedwithsuchanenterprise,e。g。,asabank,asteelworks,orarailwaycompany,onacapitalofaboutthesamevolume。Thisfollowsfromthenatureofthecase。Thecommonrunofbusinessconcernsareoccupiedwithindustrialenterpriseofsomekind,andwithtransactionsincredit,——witharunningsequenceofbargainsfromwhichthegainsoftheconcernaretoaccrue,——anditisuponthesegainsthatattentionandeffortcenters,andtowhichthemanagementoftheconcernconstantlylooks。Suchconcernshavetomeettheircompetitorsinbuying,selling,andeffectingcontractsofallkinds,fromwhichtheirgainsaretocome。Auniversity,ontheotherhand,canlooktonosuchgainsintheworkwhichisitssoleostensibleinterestandoccupation;andthepecuniarytransactionsandarrangementswhichitentersintoonthebasisofitsaccumulatedprestigearearelativelyverytrivialmatter。
  Thereis,inshort,noappreciablepecuniarygaintobelookedforfromanytrafficrestingontheacquiredprestige,andthereforethereisnorelationofequivalenceordiscrepancybetweenanyoutlayincurredinthisbehalfandthevolumeofgainfulbusinesstobetransactedonthestrengthofit;withtheresultthattheacademicdirectorateappliesitselftothispursuitwithoutarri鑢epens閑。Sofarastheacquiredprestigeisdesignedtoserveapecuniaryenditcanonlybeusefulinthewayofimpressingpotentialdonors,ahighlyspeculativelineofenterprise,offeringasuggestiveparalleltothedrawingsofalottery。
  Outlayforthepurposeofpublicityisnotconfinedtotheemploymentoffield—agentsandthecirculationofcreditablegossipandreassuringprintedmatter。Thegreatershareofitcomesinasincidentaltotheinstallationofplantandequipmentandtheroutineofacademiclifeandceremony。Asregardsthematerialequipment,thedemandsofacreditableappearancearepervadingandrigorous;andtheirconsequencesinthewayofelaborateandpremeditatedincidentalsare,perhaps,hereseenattheirbest。Tothelaitya"university"hascometomean,inthefirstplaceandindispensably,anaggregationofbuildingsandotherimprovedreal—estate。Thismaterialequipmentstrikesthelayattentiondirectlyandconvincingly;whilethepursuitoflearningisarelativelyobscurematter,themotionsofwhichcannotwellbefollowedbytheunlettered,evenwiththehelpofthenewspapersandthecircularliteraturethatissuesfromtheuniversity’spublicitybureau。Theacademicworkis,afterall,unseen,anditstaysinthebackground。Currentexpenditurefortheprosecutionofthiswork,therefore,offerstheenterpriseinadvertisementalessadvantageousfieldfortheconvincinguseoffundsthanthematerialequipment,especiallythelargeritems,——laboratoryandlibrarybuildings,assemblyhalls,curiousmuseumexhibits,groundsforathleticcontests,andthelike。
  Thereisconsequentlyasteadydriftofprovocationtowardsexpenditureonconspicuousextensionsofthe"plant,"andacorrelativeconstanttemptationtoparsimonyinthemoreobscurematterofnecessarysuppliesandservice,andsimilarrunning—expenseswithoutwhichtheplantcannoteffectuallybeturnedtoaccountforitsostensibleuse;withtheresult,notinfrequently,thattheusefulnessofanimposingplantisseriouslyimpairedforwantofwhatmaybecalled"workingcapital。"(1*)
  Indeed,instancesmightbecitedwherefundsthatweremuchneededtohelpoutinmeetingrunningexpenseshavebeenturnedtouseforconspicuousextensionsoftheplantinthewayofbuildings,inexcessnotonlyofwhatwasneededfortheirallegedpurposebutinexcessofwhatcouldconvenientlybemadeuseof。Moreparticularlyisthereamarkedproclivitytoextendtheplantandtheschoolorganizationintonewfieldsofscholasticenterprise,oftenirrelevantorquiteforeigntotheprovinceoftheuniversityasaseminaryoflearning;andtopushthesealienramifications,totheneglectoftheurgentneedsoftheacademicworkalreadyinhand,inthewayofequipment,maintenance,supplies,serviceandinstruction。
  Therunning—expensesarealwaysthemosturgentitemsofthebudget,asseenfromthestandpointoftheacademicwork;andtheyareordinarilytheitemthatismostparsimoniouslyprovidedfor。Ascantyprovisionatthispointunequivocallymeansadisproportionatecurtailmentoftheusefulnessoftheequipmentaswellasofthepersonnel,——as,e。g。,theextremelycommonandextremelyunfortunatepracticeofkeepingtheallowanceformaintenanceandserviceintheuniversitylibrariessolowasseriouslytoimpairtheirserviceability。Buttheexigenciesofprestigewilleasilymakeitseemmoretothepoint,intheeyesofabusinesslikeexecutive,toprojectanewextensionoftheplant;whichwillthenbehalf—employed,onascantyallowance,inworkwhichliesontheouterfringeorbeyondtheuniversity’slegitimateprovince。(2*)
  Insodiscriminatingagainsttheworkingcapacityoftheuniversity,andinfavourofitsreal—estate,thispursuitofreputablepublicityfurtherdecidesthattheexteriorofthebuildingsandthegroundsshouldhavethefirstandlargestattention。Itistrue,theinitialpurposeofthismaterialequipment,itisostensiblybelieved,istoserveashousingandappliancesfortheworkofinquiryandinstruction。Such,ofcourse,continuestobeavoweditsmainpurpose,inaperfunctorilyostensibleway。Thismeansaprovisionoflibraries,laboratories,andlecturerooms。Thelastoftheseistheleastexacting,anditistheonemostcommonlywellsupplied。Itisalso,onthewhole,themoreconspicuousinproportiontotheoutlay。Butallthesearematterschieflyofinteriorarrangement,appliancesandmaterials,andtheyareallofarelativelyinconspicuouscharacter。Exceptasdetailedinprintedstatisticstheydonotordinarilylendthemselveswithappreciableeffecttotheartofadvertising。Inmeetingallthesematerialrequirementsoftheworkinhandaverylargeexpenditureoffundsmightadvantageouslybemade——
  advantageouslytotheacademicusewhichtheyaretoserve——
  withoutmuchvisibleeffectasseeninperspectivefromtheoutside。Andsofarasbearsonthisacademicuse,theexteriorofthebuildingsisamatterofaltogetherminorconsequence,asarealsothedecorativeappointmentsoftheinterior。
  Inpractice,undercompulsionofthebusinessprinciplesofpublicity,itwillbefound,however,thattheexteriorandthedecorativeappointmentsarethechiefobjectofthedesigner’sattention;theinteriorarrangementandworkingappointmentswillnotinfrequentlybecomeamatterofrudeapproximationtotherequirementsofthework,carebeingfirsttakenthatthesearrangementsshallnotinterferewiththedecorativeorspectacularintentoftheoutside。Butevenwiththebest—advisedmanagementofitspublicityvalue,itisalwaysappreciablymoredifficulttosecureappropriationsforthematerialequipmentofalaboratoryorlibrarythanfortheshelloftheedifice,andstillmoresoforthemaintenanceofanadequatecorpsofcaretakersandattendants。
  Aswillbefoundtrueofotherlinesofthisuniversityenterpriseinpublicity,soalsoastothispresentationofareputableexterior;itisdesignedtoimpressnottheacademicpersonnel,orthescholarlyelementatlarge,butthelaity。Theacademicfolkandscholarsarecommonlylesssusceptibletotheappealofcuriousfacadesandperplexingfeatsofarchitecture;
  andthen,suchanappealwouldhavenoparticularmotiveintheircase;itisnotnecessarytoimpressthem。Itisintheeyesoftheunlettered,particularlythebusinesscommunity,thatitisdesirablefortheuniversitytopresentanimposingfront;thatbeingthefeatureofacademicinstallationwhichtheywillreadilyappreciate。Tocarryinstantconvictionofahighacademicworthtothislargeelementofthepopulace,theuniversitybuildingsshouldbulklargeinthelandscape,shouldbewastefullyexpensive,andshouldconformtothearchitecturalmannerismsinpresentvogue。Inafewyearsthestyleofarchitecturalaffectationswillchange,ofcourse,asfashionsnecessarilychangeinanycommunitywhosetastesaregovernedbypecuniarystandards;andanyparticulararchitecturalcontrivancewillthereforepresentlylosemuchofitsprestigevalue;butbythetimeitsoisovertakenbyobsolescence,thestructureswhichembodytheparticularaffectationinquestionwillhavemadetheappealforwhichtheyweredesigned,andsowillhaveservedtheirpurposeofpublicity。Andthen,too,edificescreatedwithathriftyviewtoalargespectaculareffectatalowcostarealsoliabletosorapidaphysicaldecayastobereadyforremovalandreplacementbeforetheyhavegreatlyoutlivedtheirusefulnessinthisrespect。
  Inrecentscholasticedificesoneisnotsurprisedtofindlectureroomsacousticallyilldesigned,andwithanannoyingdistributionoflight,duetotherequirementsofexteriorsymmetryandthedecorativedistributionofwindows;andthelikeholdstrueeveninahigherdegreeforlibrariesandlaboratories,sincefortheseusesthedemandsintheserespectsareevenmoreexacting。Norisitunusualtofindwasteofspaceandweaknessofstructure,due,e。g。,toafictitiouswindingstair,thrownintothedesigntopermitsuchafacadeaswillsimulatethedefensivedetailsofamediaevalkeep,tobesurmountedwithembrasuredbattlementsanda(make—believe)
  loopholedturret。So,again,spacewill,onthesameground,bewastedinheavy—ceiled,ill—lightedlobbies;whichmightoncehaveservedasamusteringplaceforabodyofunrulymen—at—arms,butwhichmeannothingmoretothepointtoday,andinthesepremises,thansomanyinconvenientflagstonestobecrossedincomingandgoing。
  Theseprinciplesofspectacularpublicitydemandaniceadjustmentoftheconspicuousfeaturesoftheplanttothecurrentvagariesindecorativeartandmagnificence,thatistosay,conformitytothesophisticationscurrentonthatlevelofcultureonwhichtheseunletteredmenofsubstanceliveandmoveandhavetheirbeing。Astouchesthecaseoftheseatsoflearning,thesecurrentlaysophisticationsdrawonseveralmoreorlessdiverse,andnotaltogethercongruous,linesofconventionallyapprovedmanifestationoftheabilitytopay。Outofthepastcomestheconventionalpreconceptionthatthesescholasticedificesshouldshowsomethingofthereveredtraitsofecclesiasticalandmonasticreal—estate;whileoutofthepresentcomesaningrainedpredilectionforthemoresprightlyandexuberanteffectsofdecorationandmagnificencetowhichthemodernconcert—hall,themoreexpensivecafesandclubrooms,andthePullmancoacheshavegivenadegreeofauthentication。Anyonegiventocuriousinquirymightfindcongenialemploymentintracingoutthemannerandproportioninwhichthese,andthelike,strainsofaestheticindoctrinationareblendedintheedificesandgroundsofawell—advisedmodernuniversity。
  Itisnotnecessaryheretooffermanyspeculationsontheenduringartisticmeritofthesecostlystagepropertiesoftheseatsoflearning,sincetheirpermanentvalueinthatrespectisscarcelytoberatedasasubstantialmotiveintheirconstruction。Butthereis,e。g。,noobviousreasonwhy,withthenextchangeinthetideofmannerism,thedisjointedgrotesqueriesofaneclecticandmodifiedGothicshouldnotpresentlypassintothesamecategoryofapologeticneglect,withthearchitecturalevilswroughtbythemid—Victoriangeneration。
  Butthereisanothersidetothisarchitectureofnotoriety,thatmeritssomeslightfurtherremark。Itisconsistentlyandunavoidablymeretricious。Justatpresenttheenjoinedvogueissomeformofbastardantique。Thearchaicformswhichitostensiblypreservesarestructurallyoutofdate,illadaptedtothemodernmaterialsandthemodernbuilder’suseofmaterials。
  Modernbuilding,onalargescaleanddesignedfordurableresults,isframeworkbuilding。Themodernrequirementsoflight,heating,ventilationandaccessrequireittobesuch;andthematerialsusedlendthemselvestothatmannerofconstruction。
  Thestrainsinvolvedinmodernstructuresareframe—workstrains;
  whereastheformswhichtheseedificesarerequiredtosimulatearemasonryforms。Theoutwardconformationandostensiblestructureofthebuildings,therefore,arecommonlymeaningless,exceptasanarchitecturalprevarication。Theyhavetobeadapted,simulated,deranged,becauseinmodernusetheyareimpracticableintheshape,proportionandcombinationthatofrightbelongedtothemunderthecircumstancesofmaterialsandusesunderwhichtheywereonceworkedout。Sothereresultsameaninglessjuxtapositionofdetails,thatprovenothingindetailandcontradictoneanotherinassemblage。Allofwhichmaysuggestreflectionsonthefitnessofhousingthequestoftruthinanedificeoffalsepretences。
  Thesearchitecturalvagariesservenousefulendinacademiclife。Asanobjectlessontheyconduce,intheirmeasure,toinculcateinthestudentsaspiritofdisingenuousness。Buttheyspreadabroadtheprestigeoftheuniversityasanornateandspendthriftestablishment;whichisbelievedtobringincreasedenrolmentofstudentsand,whatisevenmoretothepoint,toconciliatethegood—willoftheopulentpatronsoflearning。Thattheseedificesaregoodforthispurpose,andthatthispolicyofarchitecturalmiseensceneiswise,appearsfromthegreaterreadinesswithwhichfundsareprocuredforsuchornateconstructionsthanforanyotheracademicuse。Itappearsthatthesuccessfulmenofaffairstowhomtheappealforfundsisdirected,findthesewasteful,ornateandmeretriciousedificesacompetentexpressionoftheirculturalhopesandambitions。
  NOTES:
  1。Asingleillustrativeinstancemayservetoshowhowthelandliesinthisrespect,eventhoughitmayseemtotheuninitiatedtobeanextremeifnotanexaggeratedcase;whileitmayperhapsstrikethosefamiliarwiththesemattersasatediouscommonplace。Afewyearsago,inoneofthelarger,youngerandmoreenterprisinguniversities,acommodiouslaboratory,wellappointedandadequatelydecorated,wasdedicatedtooneofthebranchesofbiologicalscience。Tomeettheneedsofscientificworksuchalaboratoryrequirestheservicesofacorpsofexperiencedandintelligentassistantsandcaretakers,particularlywheretheestablishmentisequippedwithmodernappliancesforheating,ventilationandthelike,aswasthecaseinthisinstance。Inthislaboratorythenecessarywarmthwassuppliedbywhatissometimescalledthemethodofindirectsteamheat;thatistosay,theprovisionforheatandforventilationwerecombinedinonesetofappliances,bybringingtheneededairfromtheopenthroughanoutdoor"intake,"passingitoversteam—heatedcoils(inthebasementofthebuilding),andsodistributingtheairnecessaryforventilation,atthepropertemperature,throughoutthebuildingbymeansofasuitablearrangementofair—shafts。Suchwasthedesign。Butintelligentservicecomeshigh,andignorantjanitorsarewillingtoundertakewhatmaybeaskedofthem。Andsufficientwarmthcanbehadinaninclementclimateandthroughalongwinterseasononlyatanappreciableexpense。So,withaviewtoeconomy,andwithouttheknowledgeofthescientificstaffwhomadeuseofthelaboratory,theexpedientwashituponbytheacademicexecutive,inconsultationwithasuitablejanitor,thattheoutdoorintakebeboardeduptightly。sothattheairwhichpassedovertheheatingcoilsandthroughtheair—shaftstothelaboratoryroomswasthenceforthdrawnnotfromtheextremelycoldatmosphereofoutdoorsbutfromthemoretemperatesupplythatfilledthebasementandhadalreadyhadthebenefitofcirculatingoverthesteamcoilsandthroughtheventilatingshafts。Bythismeansanobvioussavinginfuelwouldbeeffected,correspondingtotheheatdifferentialbetweentheoutdoorair,atsome0*to—20*andthatalreadyconfinedinthebuilding,atsome60*。Howlongthisfuel—savingexpedientwasinforcecannotwellbeascertained,butitisknowntohavelastedatleastformorethanoneseason。
  Themembersofthescientificstaffmeantimemysteriouslybutpersistentlyfellsickafterafewweeksofworkinthelaboratory,recurrentlyaftereachreturnfromenforcedvacations。Until,intheend,movedbypersistentsuspicionsofsewer—gas——which,bytheway,hadinthemeantimecostsomefutileinconvenienceandexpenseoccasionedbyunnecessaryoverhaulingoftheplumbing——oneofthestaffpriedintothejanitor’sdomaininthebasement;wherehefoundnearthechamberofthesteamcoilsalooselyclosedman—holeleadingintothesewers,fromwhichapparentlysuchairwasdrawnaswouldnecessarilygotooffsetthecurrentleakagefromthisclosedsystemofventilation。
  2。ThisisanearlyuniversalinfirmityofAmericanuniversitypolicy,butitisdoubtlessnottobesetdownsolelytotheaccountofthepenchantforalargepublicityonthepartoftheseveralacademicexecutives。Itisinalllikelihooddueasmuchtotheequallyubiquitousinabilityofthegoverningboardstoappreciateortoperceivewhatthecurrentneedsoftheacademicworkare,orevenwhattheyarelike。Mentrainedintheconductofbusinessenterprise,asthegoverningboardsare,willhavegreatdifficultyinpersuadingthemselvesthatexpenditureswhichyieldneitherincreaseddividendsnorsuchadurablephysicalproductascanbeinvoicedandaddedtothecapitalization,canbeotherthanafrivolouswasteofgoodmoney;sothatwhatiswithheldfromcurrentacademicexpenditureisfelttobesaved,whilethatexpenditurewhichleavesatangibleresidueof(perhapsuseless)realestateis,byforceofingrainedhabit,ratedasnewinvestment。
  CHAPTERV
  TheAcademicPersonnelAsregardsthepersonneloftheacademicstaffthecontrolenforcedbytheprinciplesofcompetitivebusinessismoresubtle,complexandfar—reaching,andshouldmeritmoreparticularattention。Thestaffistheuniversity,oritshouldsobeiftheuniversityistodeservetheplaceassigneditintheschemeofcivilization。Thereforethecentralandgravestquestiontouchingcurrentacademicpolicyisthequestionofitsbearingonthepersonnelandtheworkwhichthereisforthemtodo。Intheapprehensionofmanycriticsthewholequestionofuniversitycontroliscomprisedinthedealingsoftheexecutivewiththestaff。
  Whetherthepowerofappointmentvestsformallyinonemanorinaboard,inAmericanpracticeitcommonlyvests,ineffect,intheacademicexecutive。Inpractice,thepowerofremoval,aswellasthatofadvancement,restsinthesamehands。Thebusinesslikerequirementsofthecasebringittothisoutcomedefacto,whateverformalitiesofproceduremayintervenedejure。
  Itliesinthenatureofthecasethatthisappointingpowerwilltendtocreateafacultyafteritsownkind。Itwillbequicktorecognizeefficiencywithinthelinesofitsowninterests,andslowertoseefitnessinthoselinesthatlieoutsideofitshorizon,whereitmustnecessarilyactonoutsidesolicitationandhearsayevidence。
  Theselectiveeffectofsuchabias,guidedasonemightsay,bya"consciousnessofkind,"maybeseeninthoseestablishmentsthathaveremainedunderclericaltutelage;where,notoriously,thefirstqualificationlookedtoinanapplicantforworkasateacherishisreligiousbias。Butthebiasofthesegoverningboardsandexecutivesthatareunderclericalcontrolhasafterallbeenabletoeffectonlyapartial,thoughfar—reaching,conformitytoclericalidealsoffitnessinthefacultiessoselected;moreespeciallyinthelargerandmodernizedschoolsofthisclass。Inpracticeitisfoundnecessarysomewhattowinkatdevotionalshortcomingsamongtheirteachers;clerical,orpronouncedlydevout,scientiststhatarepassablycompetentintheirscience,areofveryrareoccurrence;andyetsomethingpresentableinthewayofmodernscienceisconventionallyrequiredbytheseschools,inordertolive,andsotoeffectanypartoftheirpurpose。Halfaloafisbetterthannobread。Nonebuttheprecariousclassofschoolsmadeupofthelowergradeandsmallerofthesecolleges,suchasarecontenttosavetheirsoulsalivewithoutexertinganyeffectonthecurrentofcivilization,areabletogetalongwithfacultiesmadeupexclusivelyofGod—fearingmen。
  Somethingofthesamekind,andinsomewhatthesamedegree,istruefortheschoolsunderthetutelageofbusinessmen。Whilethebusinesslikeidealmaybeafacultywhollymadeupofmenhighlygiftedwithbusinesssense,itisnotpracticabletoassemblesuchafacultywhichshallatthesametimebeplausiblycompetentinscienceandscholarship。Scientistsandscholarsgivenovertothepursuitofknowledgeareconventionallyindispensabletoauniversity,andsucharecommonlynotlargelygiftedwithbusinesssense,eitherbyhabitorbynativegift。
  Thetwolinesofinterest——businessandscience——donotpulltogether;acompetentscientistorscholarwellendowedwithbusinesssenseisasrareasadevoutscientist——almostasrareasawhiteblackbird。Yettheinclusionofmenofscientificgiftsandattainmentsamongitsfacultyisindispensabletotheuniversity,ifitistoavoidinstantandpalpablestultification。
  Sothatthemostthatcanpracticallybeaccomplishedbyabusinesslikeselectionandsurveillanceoftheacademicpersonnelwillbeacompromise;wherebyagoodlynumberofthefacultywillbeselectedongroundsofbusinesslikefitness,moreorlesspronounced,whileaworkingminoritymustcontinuetobemadeupofmenwithoutmuchbusinessproficiencyandwithoutpronouncedloyaltytocommercialprinciples。
  Thisfluctuatingmarginoflimitationhasapparentlynotyetbeenreached,perhapsnoteveninthemostenterprisingofouruniversities。Suchshouldbethemeaningofthefactthatacontinuedcommercializationoftheacademicstaffappearsstilltobeinprogress,inthesensethatbusinesslikefitnesscountsprogressivelyformoreinappointmentsandpromotions。Thesebusinesslikequalificationsdonotcomprisemerelyfacilityintheconductofpecuniaryaffairs,evenifsuchfacilitybeconceivedtoincludethespecialaptitudesandproficiencythatgotothemakingofasuccessfuladvertiser。Inacademiccirclesaselsewherebusinesslikefitnessincludessolvencyaswellascommercialgenius。Bothofthesequalificationsareusefulinthecompetitivemanoeuvresinwhichtheacademicbodyisengaged。Butwhilethetwoareapparentlygivenincreasingweightintheselectionandgradingoftheacademicpersonnel,theprecedentsandspecificationsforastandardratingofmeritinthisbearinghavehithertonotbeenworkedouttosuchanicetyastoallowmuchmorethanamoreorlesscloseapproachtoaconsistentapplicationoftheprincipleintheaveragecase。Andthereliesalwaystheinfirmityinthebackgroundofthesystemthatifthestaffwereselectedconsistentlywithaneyesingletobusinesscapacityandbusinessanimustheuniversitywouldpresentlybefunctaofficio,andthecaptainoferuditionwouldfindhisoccupationgone。
  Auniversityisanendowedinstitutionofculture;whethertheendowmenttaketheformofassignedincome,asinthestateestablishments,oroffundedwealth,aswithmostotheruniversities。Suchfractionoftheincomeasisassignedtothesalaryroll,andwhichthereforecomesinquestionhere,isapportionedamongthestaffforworkwhichhasnodeterminatemarketvalue。Itisnotamatterofquidproquo;sinceonememberoftheexchange,thestipendorsalary,ismeasurableinpecuniarytermsandtheotherisnot。Thisworkhasnobusinessvalue,insofarasitisworkproperlyincludedamongthedutiesoftheacademicmen。Indeed,itisafairlysafetest;workthathasacommercialvaluedoesnotbelongintheuniversity。Suchservicesoftheacademicstaffashaveabusinessvaluearethoseportionsoftheirworkthatserveotherendsthanthehigherlearning;as,e。g。,theprestigeandpecuniarygainoftheinstitutionatlarge,thepecuniaryadvantageofagivencliqueorfactionwithintheuniversity,ortheprofitandrenownofthedirectivehead。Gainsthataccrueforservicesofthisgeneralcharacterarenot,properlyspeaking,salaryorstipendpayabletoward"theincreaseanddiffusionofknowledgeamongmen,"eveniftheyarecurrentlysodesignated,intheabsenceofsuitabledistinctions。Instancesofsuchadiversionofcorporatefundstoprivateendshaveinthepastoccurredincertainmonasticandpriestlyorders,aswellasinsomemodernpoliticalorganizations。Organizedmalversationofthischaracterhaslatterlybeencalled"graft。"Thelong—termcommonsenseofthecommunitywouldpresentlydisavowanycorporationoflearningovertlypursuingsuchacourse,asbeingfaithlesstoitstrust,andtheconservationoflearningwouldsopassintootherhands。