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The University Courier.
The hearty reception given the COURIER in its new form, by students and faculty and advertisers, demonstrates beyond a doubt that the time was ripe for such a change as has been made. Forthcoming issues will be made vnee better and more attractive and no effort will be spared to make and maintain a college weekly that shall fittingly represent our University, and shall equal, if not excel, similar publications of other colleges.
The interest manifested in University affairs, by the papers and people of Kansas City, is very gratifying and we are assured that the good wishes of our friends at the mouth of the Kaw will attend any University enterprise. Our alumni are among the most prominent citizens of Kansas; from every side we hear of their success in the many avenues of business life. Not slowly but indeed surely, the West is awakening to a realization of our educational standard; the institution is recognized among the leading universities of the country, and its work furnishes an unquestioned criterion of a man's ability and industry. Some of the foremost men in the West are numbered among our alumni, and all point with pride to the rapid growth and spirit of aggressive progress which characterizes the institution on Mount Oread.
The editor of the so-called "independent" organ at the University in last week's issue indulges in an uncalled for and reprehensible attack upon Judge Thacher, that has called forth censure from students, faculty and townspeople alike. Judge Thacher is, and has always been, one of the best friends the University has, and for an organ, claiming to be a "representative University paper," to indulge in a bitter personal attack simply on account of a personal difference of opinion, is the evidence of a narrow mind and a vindictive spirit.
The people of Lawrence have been led to support this so-called "representative organ" on the plea that it sends its issue to the legislature in the interests of our University. But what must be the feelings of Judge Thacher, who is doing his utmost for our institution in
the Senate, to find upon his desk and upon that of his colleagues' a direct personal attack in the columns of a paper claiming to "represent the University."
The COURIER deplores such action and hopes the editorial in question was the result of the inexperience and rashness of youth, and not an evidence of the adoption of a sensational policy.
On Friday the tenth State oratorical contest will be held in Topeka. The University representative has the support and best wishes of the entire school, but every one who attended the local contest feels more than ever before that there is something lacking in the training of the participating orators.
We need a chair of oratory. The recent contest has fully demonstrated the fact that we are behind the times in delivery. One of the judges who has graded manuscript in the oratorical contests for several years has declared that the orations were the highest class productions he had ever examined for any of the contests held here, yet it is the opinion of all that our speakers need training.
The system of chapel rhetoricals has met with considerable opposition, but it has its benefits as well as its drawbacks. To compel all students to speak whether or no, is rank injustice. Some are naturally so diffident that no amount of training would give them confidence, or help them to speak without embarrassment, but to the great majority the system has met with general approval.
The students of the Law department all feel the necessity of training; fully one half of the collegiate students desire such training, and still we have no adequate provision for this want.
It is a question which vitally concerns our standing throughout the State. We cannot hope to compete with schools which are provided and equipped in this respect unless we are similarly prepared.
The COURIER earnestly desires that our regents take some action in this matter and that our faculty recommend the establishment of such a chair as soon as is practicable.
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