European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 4, 1959, Darmstadt, Hesse                                V Stanford University s Experiment in giving students a Chance to broaden their educational backgrounds by studying abroad has proved an unqualified Success so much so that Many want to stay beyond the terms by Henry b. Kraft staff writers a photos by Guenter Schuettler a group of students takes lunch with the Dean. Informality is the prevailing atmosphere. Of " t \ Stanford s overseas Branch talks with q group of students on the Campus in the Hills of Western Germany. Prof. F. W. Strothmann leaned Back in his chair and looked out of the window at a Broad expanse of Lush vineyards Green Hills and pastures. Down below at the base of the Hill was Bettels teach a Placid Little German Community of neat Homes and gardens about a half hour s drive from Stuttgart. It was a Little More than a year ago injure 1958, that California s Stanford University opened its overseas Campus in former private Sanatorium in the Hills above Beut Elsbach. The idea for it originated with Strothmann a Stanford pro Fessor for 30 years who is in the depart ment 6f modern european languages and literature. Strothmann Felt that sending student overseas for six months of study and some travel would broaden their perspective an give them a wider knowledge of the world and its affairs. He was taking satisfaction out of the fact that the overseas stud plan beginning its second year had proven an unqualified Success. From the window Strothmann could also see a few of the half dozen Small buildings which make up the  have been converted into classrooms dormitories dining Hall Reading room and Library a Small Community within itself. The first study group came Over in june1958. That unit went Back to Stanford in California in january 1959 and the second group then came Over. This body left this june and was replaced by the third group which is there now. Each group is  for six months and consists prof. Strothmann founder of of 63 students. The present unit includes30 girls and 33-Young men. Turning from the window Strothmann asked prof. Hubert r. Mar s h a 11, who leaches political science How he considered the overseas study plan to be shaping up. Now Marshall came Over with the third group but in time to ask a few in the departing second group How they Felt about the program. He had already found morale extremely High and some of the students were Loath to go Home and make Way for the new group. We virtually had to Force them to go he  the first study group went Back last january they told Strothmann that it was a most valuable educational sex  Marshall on his arrival was astonished by student reaction to study in Germany. Instead of returning to Cali fornia some members of the second group went travelling about Europe and a number elected to return to t he . Quite a few who came Back brought sleeping bags with them to sleep on the floors of dormitories or other buildings said Marshall wryly. We were not hard hearted enough to bar  but Marshall gauged the Success of the Progi am on another basis. This was the fact that Many have gained enough language facility Over Here and gotten to know German families quite  outstanding has been the Beut Elsbach program that there Are now plans to Opena second study Center in Florence Italy in september of 1960. Strothmann said Many More Stanford students would like to come to Germany than can be accommodated. When the Center in Florence is opened according to Marshall there will be Al most 20 per cent of All Stanford under graduates who will have been abroad six months or  students for overseas Are picked basically according to their academic records. Stroth Mann said that no student at Bettels Bachas less than a a average. The faculty wants students to do anythings for themselves and on their own. The students make trips and have Persona contacts with the German people. How Ever there Are organized Field trips and each group goes to Berlin for a week. During weekends said Strothmann we want the students to be on their  a political scientist Marshall is inter ested in the prospects for the future of democratic institutions in Germany. He has met German political scientists an journalists and each week experts in Polit ical and economic science Are invited a speakers. Some Bonn leaders As Well As German University professors have already lectured at the Beut Elsbach study Center. What do the handful of professors an instructors do in their spare time we Don t have any Strothmann  program keeps us Busy 14 hours a  the student faculty Contact is closer  than at the California Campus said Marshall. Although not a part of the faculty program the professors play hand Ball with the students make occasional hikes things we would never do at Home said Marshall. Frequently the professors go with the students to concerts in Stuttgart. I makes it easy for the students to attend them because the Price of tickets is Only fraction of what it is stateside Marshall explained. Any scholarship applicable at Home inapplicable on the German Campus. The student pays the same tuition and the same for room and Board As at Home. The University digs into its gift fund to Fly students to Germany on chartered planes but the student must pay his own Way Back. That is his Only extra Cost. Half of the students in Beut Elsbach have scholar shop Aid. Resident director of the Center is  Boerner who used to be with the Goethe museum in tub Ingen. Besides Boerner Strothmann and Marshall there Are two German instructors on the faculty. Girl students have quarters in the Mai building a fairly spacious Structure with Lawn and Terrace. The boys room in other buildings nearby wherever it was possible to set up dormitories for them. Students and faculty have their meal sin a Large dining room neatly Laid out and with table service. Nearly every student has what he Calls my  these Are German neighbors whom the students visit sometime on free weekends or during vacation. There were some students in the first two groups who when their terms were up went to live with those families for a while. Prof. Marshall is a newcomer to overseas project Calls it a valuable i7iiw the stars and stripes of 59 the stars and stripes Page 13,