Which Way Cambridge?

As any middle-aged Cantabrigian might remember it from his student days, Britain's great Cambridge University was a mellow place with a flavor of its own. But today, all that is historic Cambridge seems threatened. As one student put it: "The university of Byron is being overshadowed by Newton's and Darwin's."

The big change began during World War II. With its long record of achievement in the natural sciences, Cambridge found itself taking on every sort of wartime research project that the government and industry wanted. Peace brought no relief. The atom and the cold war made even heavier demands on technical and scientific research. Alongside Cambridge's 21 tradition-bound colleges, new shiny laboratories sprang up, and an army of efficient, white-coated researchers invaded the ancient city. Most of them did not seem to care one whit for college traditions. Of the ten new departments founded since the war, seven are scientific. The number of research students has jumped from 246 to 620.

Last fall the general board of the university recommended that no additions be made to any scientific staff, that research be curtailed, that in the interests of preserving the traditional, residential character of Cambridge, "further expansion in the teaching of applied science and technology might best be left to other universities." Last fortnight 600 of the university's dons met in their marble Senate House to hear the opponents of the proposal state their case. Last week it was the turn of the supporters. When the arguments are all in, the senate will have to vote on just what sort of university Cambridge is to be. In view of Britain's technological needs, it will be quite a decision to make. Said one physicist: "I'm scared to death. This place can't live unless it can expand." Countered a history don: "At the discussion, we heard a chorus of scientists yelling 'More, more,' holding up national needs to justify expansion. They don't seem to realize that this is Cambridge."

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