University of California Berkeley - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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Progress HE year 1903 finds California well among the first universities of the country. Such is the record of a little more than a quarter of a century. It would seem ill-advised to enter into a wordy discussion of California ' s relative standing, for such would involve comparisions of a kind generally unsatisfactory. Better that the facts speak for themselves. To say, however. that no other university in America has made a greater relative progress, would be well within the mark. l!y progress, however, something more is meant than the fact that California ranks second among American universities in the number of undergraduates, and fifth in total number of students, or that her standards are unexcelled by those of the leading Eastern universities. Progress, as applied to a university, has a more significant meaning. It implies advance toward the standing of a world university advance toward the l. ' nirt-rsily Idea, and if such infers an impartial reception and scrutiny of all views, then California may certainly lay claims to considerable advance. An expansion of the College of Commerce and Department of Oriental languages, the founding of a Department of Antropology and Chair in Russian, wider relations with the Orient, and the practical work of Professors Moses and Plehn in the Philippines, indicate the line of advance. While much of the University ' s growth has extended in this direction, the needs of the State have not been forgotten. Irrigation and Dairying have been added to the older departments of Mining and Agriculture, while the latter two have been further expanded. Much has been done, besides, towards regulating the .State school system. In all of this development, the Alumni are beginning to play an important part. California ' s graduates are doing world work. There is more than a local demand for her students. Many hold positions in the Philippines, Japan, China. iuam. Hawaii, Alaska, .South America. South Africa. Australia and elsewhere. The power of the Alumni must increase with each succeeding year. California ' s progress will receive fresh impetus. What has been taken from the University will be returned manifold. Another indication of growth may be found in the fact that there is an increasing influx of students from all pans of the world. China and Japan, (ler- many and England are sending their quotas; and while climate and no tuition fees may have something to do with this, the fact remains that California is building up a reputation beyond the seas. The year 1903 finds California better equipped for the future. Untrammelled by outworn precept of outworn land. entrenched in the love of the State, strong in the loyalty of the Alumni, and blessed with open-hearted, and open-handed friends, she is pluming her wings for higher flight.