21742
Nobby Cutaway and Sack Suits at Steinberg's Clothing House.
The Weekly University Courier.
The Largest College Journa Circulation in the United States.
Published Every Friday Morning by the COURIER COMPANY For Kansas University Students.
OHAS. LYONS,
President.
O. B. TAYLOR,
Secretary
EDITORIAL STAFF:
FRANK G. CROWELL, EDITOR-IN-CHIKE
WOLCYATNS.
JOHN PERSCOTT
F. C. KEYS,
L. A. STRBIRNS,
H. F. M. BEAR,
W. R. ARMSTRONG,
NAN. LOVE,
NAVYER,
LILLIE FIREMAN,
GENTER HUNUICNTI
BUSINESS MANAGERS:
EARLE L. SWOFE. | WILL A. JACKSON.
From the Press of P. T. FOLEY.
Entered at the post-office at Lawrence, Kansas,
as second-class matter.
The students of Washburn College seem to have a great interest in the students of the University of Kansas. In one of their debating societies they discussed the great and grave question: Should fraternities be tolerated in the University? Thanks for your interest but this question is being very fully and warmly discussed here at present.
Ar last the report is being circulated and on good authority, that the next improvement made in the University will be the establishment of a gymnasium. The regents have consented to appropriate a certain sum of money to bring about this end, and by next year that which has been desired and coveted so much and so long by the students and "chestnutted" again and again by the college papers will be a reality. Heretofore there has been no means provided the students for exercise except those provided for by nature. No student can do justice to his health, strength and studies without exercise. "A weak body tends to weaken the mind, and an enfeebled mind brings with it a blemished moral sense."
Dr. Rhodes, president of Midland college, in speaking of educational institutions uses the following language: "A school where the young are trained is a most sacred place, and of all places should be freest from irreligion.
The Christian college must have a Christian code, a Christian atmosphere, a Christian example and a Christian aim, and this destruction must never be compromised for any other consideration."
Christian codes, aims and results will be the outcome of all teaching, of all learning, if the same is toward good government.
Education is the friend and not the enemy of religion, and although we believe that the moral and spiritual development should not be neglected during the intellectual, yet we do not believe that the former is enhanced by sectarian institutions, with religious creeds thrust upon the student contrary to his will and beliefs.
The present Senior class seems to be the foot-ball of the faculty to "kick" in and out of the established circumat its pleasure. Ever since its first appearance in the University in '84, studies have been added to the various courses, others thrown back from one year to another changes in the manner and mode of work have taken place, study hours broken up by all day sessions and finally they are to be deprived of their Senior vacation which has always been an established precedent.
In the December Forum is an article on "College Disturbances" by S. C. Bartlett. While K. S. U. is not troubled with the disturbances to which Mr. Bartlett refers to yet the University is troubled with college disturbances. It may not come amiss to quote here and there from the article referred to, even if for no other reason than to call attention to the article in hopes that it may be generally read by the students of K. S. U. For to our mind it clearly states the evils that exist in some colleges, and also suggests means by which they may be rectified.
college have accustomed themselves to a standard and a code that cannot be tolerated in the community at large, and they themselves are obliged to renounce the moment they leave the college walls and come into the presence of the common law and common morals. * *
With the opening of the year came the customary announcement of college disturbances. The press duly and annually condemns the folly, but the folly does not die. In much fewer instances and in far less aggregated modes than formerly, it still lives. In considering the subject two things should be premised and emphasized. First, these things originate with the few, and not with the many. In our best colleges nineteen out of every twenty are manly and honorable. From the twentieth man, through influences soon to be mentioned, comes the trouble and ill repute. The students as a body are the choice young men of the country and the supposed temptations of college life, though peculiar, are less than among any other equal miscellaneous collection of young men; Their aims are higher, the sympathies finer and more responsvie, and the average of character nobler. The more the pity, therefore, for the remaining anomalies of college life. Secondly, these things are mostly magnified by the ambitious reporter. For example, during the currant year a widely circulated journal contained a detailed account of conferences and conversationstations, in connection with such an affair, which was an adulterated make up throughout. *
"This traditional notion of miss rule is re-enforced by another traditional notion—that a different code of honor, morals, duty, and conduct belongs to college life from that which attends a common life, and that a college community is to some degree exempt from ordinary obligations and responsibilities. Here is, perhaps, the proton preadus." It may be a far off relic of the ancient benefit of the clericus." dim traces of which are still seen in the organization and workings of foreign universities. But, but that as it may, the notion practically prevails in American colleges. * * *
Thus it has come about that in certain lines of conduct young men in
"In other communities it is the acknowledged rule that the whole population is banded together to detect and punish wrong doing. In college communities the case is reversed; the combination is to prevent detection. It is seldom the case that one student will give information concerning another that might lead to his reformation. * *
When young men enter college let their parents warn them, as the indispensable condition of a college course, to keep clear of participation so-operation, or accessoriness in such proceedings as would not be tolerated at home. And let them do what so seldom is done, sustain the faculty when they find it necessary to enforce good order by discipline. *
from his neighbor, every accessory and equipment should be given him that he may the more readily and perfectly enfold whatever may be lying latent of power, imagination or originality with him.
AN URGENT DEMAND.
This reformation of sentiment must also extend to the students themselves and especially all the better portion of them. The time is coming, and ought to have come, when the solid body of moral and christian young men in colleges will stand solid for the right. They will say to their associates, "we are with you in all innocent sports, harmless, fun, common interest and laudable enterprises. But in proceedences condemned by the law, public sentiment and our own consciences, count us out. We will not be, either directly or indirectly, accessory or privy to them. We will not be driven into a wrong thing by a general pressure or class vote. In all grave outrages we will take the same ground here as in after life and we will facilitate the discovery of the wrong-doer. We will go for law and order every time. So leus have a fair understanding, and fair play." If Young Men's Christian Associations in colleges are practically good for anything, it would seem that they should be good to that extent."
It is in these days as it has ever been in the past, that most of the sweetest and rarest conceptions of the human brain are buried in, the grave of those who conceived them, and the children of men lose out of their midst many of the finest fruits of intelligence, since they refuse to the germ, the sunshine and rain of their encouragement and aid. That these may be preserved to us, and that no beautiful or useful idea should escape its fulfillment and practical result we need two things; a finer and more spiritual quality in ourselves, and universal culture. There should be an opportunity for every thought of the brain to express itself. Schools and methods should be multiplied, by which the general principles of color and form may be taught as soon as the infant can well articulate. Instead of the hindrances which are put in the way of everyone who is a little different
It is the duty of parents to find out the natural tendencies of their children, and to foster those which are good. In making the true man or woman as nature intended them to be, circumvention of desires and forced direction of tastes are fatal. That their lives should stand alone and perfect in themselves as unique specimens of manhood or womanhood, they should be saved from any government of their capacities, any more than to further them in their true development. It is by these methods that we may be blessed by all the riches of which human minds are capable.
The demand thus tactily made for newer ideas and rarer workmanship, for purer fancies and more delicate expressions of them, for more spiritual imaginings, and more God-like revelations of them, shall surely be met. The recognition and approval of one performance shall lead to a better and higher achievement still. In the atmosphere of clear, sweet intelligent appreciation, all that is lovely and useful, novel or peculiar in humanity shall begin to open itself to the sunshine; even as the rase in the genyl breezes of a Kansas summer, slowly unfolds her delicate and perfumed petals, until from her fragrant heart she sends forth through all the air the whole wealth of her existence.
—Champion.
EDITOR UNIVERSITY COURIER:
Some time ago I was the recipient of a copy of the "Tribune" containing an article on secret societies in the University. I read it and threw it aside, never for an instant supposing that it would create the stir that it has. Still more recently I had the pleasure of reading another article from the pen of the same writer, and I beg the privilege of giving my views on this question through the Courier's columns.
Both articles by Mrs. Rice are well written and to one who was unacquainted with secret society life in K. S. U. they would seem a fair statement of the truth.-Unfortunately I have not the first letter at hand, and if in trying to refute any of its arguments I should misconstrue any thought or statement of Mrs. Rice I will be glad to correct myself.
The second letter shows that Mrs. Rice is prepared for war, and as, by her attack on fraternities she has invited criticism, I hope that this letter of mine will be taken as an honestly intended criticism on Mrs. Rice's production not as the attempt to sheild any evils of organizations, one of which I am proud to be a member.
I have had six years experience as a member of a fraternity, and eight years have gone by since I first entered Kansas University. I have had the opportunity of knowing something of these "iniquitous" organizations, and shall try to tell the truth concerning them. That they are not wholly beneficial I will admit; that
they have destroyed SOME literary societies, (notably Oread and Orophilian,) I will admit; that there are perhaps too many parties and too much social life, (detrimental in a degree to class-room work,) I will admit. That students have learned habits of drunkenness, debauchery, gaming, in fraternity halls I deny. That parties where both ladies and gentlemen have been in attendance have ever, in any fraternity in K. S. U., been characterized by any thing but the most proper and innocent conduct I deny, and I further may say here that all statements to that effect, made by one who has never been inside of a fraternity hall, are untrue and maliciously false. Had any man made such rash statements and inferences, I think the sentiment of the class of people who know would have kicked him out of town. As it is these insults offered to the young ladies and gentlemen who are well enough known in Lawrence to need no reference, can only be regarded as the harmless vaporings of a lunatic or as the unproven and unsupported statements of one who has been grossly misinformed. The latter is evidently the case, for no lady could write such an article unless she was terribly mistaken.
First as to the literary societies, may they rest in peace, now that they are dead. Will Mrs. Rice or anyone demonstrate what earthly good such an organization as Oread or Orophillian ever was to any student? A constant struggle for "June orator," a place to get up and "shoot off," a second-hand fifty-year-old oration or a Sophomore nothing of an essay, that was all—No such beneficial results were obtained from such a society as can be obtained from the Science Club, the Pharmaceutical Club, the Kent Club. Those clubs were never hurt by fraternities for there the students meet and discuss matters of importance and practical benefit to themselves, there they learn to speak as fluently, to write as easily and as elegantly and to think as focibly as ever they did in the literary society. It is not the country lyceum, but the special club for special investigation that the University needs. The Science Club has done more good than a hundred such societies as Mrs. Rice mourns over. To Greeks and Barbs alike belong the honor of founding and supporting this, the best literary society K. S. U. ever had.
In regard to the matter of expense Mrs. Rice is very "nearly" correct. Two dollars a month is probably about the average spent by a frat man on his societies. This, however, includes all the parties "jamborees" etc. That money would be spent some way. Better in a frat, than in a billiard hall. I don't regret one cent I spent. I don't think Mrs. Rice can find one in ten of the Greek Alumni who will not say the same. I was talking to-day to two frat, men, one a member of a rival frat, and one of the most prominent young newspaper men of North-Western Missouri. He smiled as he said, "Got a dun from my old chapter at Lawrence to day." He further added that he would "re-
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Best girl: hou
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