Carrie M. Watson .
THE UNIVERSITY COURIER.
Published weekly at the University of Kansas.
Vol. XII.
LAWRENCE, KANSAS, MARCH 8, 1894.
The Courier is published every Thursday during collegiate year by the University Courier Publishing Co. Subscription $1.00 per year in advance, single copies 5 cents. Address all communications and contributions to the editor-in-chief; all business communications to the business manager, and subscriptions to the circulator. Lawrence, Kansas. Entered at the Lawrence postoffice as second-class matter. F. E. BUCHAN, Editor. FRANK BOWKER, Local Editor. E. W. PALMER, Literary and Exchange Editor. ROLLA MITCHELL, Athletic and Amusement Editor.
E. P. LUPFER, Managing Editor.
C. R. TROXEL, Business Manager.
L. S. CHAMBERLAIN, Circulator.
WHAT has become of the literary talent of the University? Students seem to forget the Courier is always ready to publish any worthy articles prepared by members of the University. Send your contributions to the editor.
If there is sufficient proof, and it seems there is, to substantiate the charges of plagiarism against the winner of the State Oratorical contest and the markings of the judges published in the State Journal giving Sears second place are correct, K. U. wins the contest. Why don't the local association take steps to secure the place that justly belongs to our representative?
THE COURIER wishes to extend to Mr. Cowan a hearty welcome, and its best wishes for success in his work with us. Let all members of the University give him their coöperation and hasten to take advantage of the opportunity afforded them to secure a thorough course in physical training. This department is not for the foot-ball and base-ball players alone, but for all members of the University. Because you do not wish to take an active part in athletics is no reason why you should not take physical culture. There is not a student in the "U." who will not be benefited by such training as Mr. Cowan will direct, and we hope to see every student enrolled in his classes.
No.17.
The sheet from the diminutive institution at Baldwin comes out with a long tirade upon the conduct of the K. U. students at the State Oratorical contest. It accuses them among other things of drunkenness. This, the Beacon knows as well as we, is wholly false, and why it should stoop to print what they know to be a malicious lie we are unable to understand. Just criticism we are ready and willing to take, but when it comes to "throwing mud" we beg to be excused. However, we would respectfully advise the Beacon to look over the history of Baker University, perhaps they may find something to divert their attention from the malicious practice of "mud throwing." Reform as well charity begins at home.
We notice among other pleasing things in the Sequoia of Leland Stanford Jr. University a plea for the inauguration of some class social event at Standford. Is it not about time some such custom as a Sophomore cotillion or a Junior promenade was established at K. U.? The lack of class spirit and enthusiasm is entirely too prominent for an institution as old and as far advanced as K. U., and while we do not wish to see class spirit carried to rowdyism or brutality, we think a certain amount of good natured rivalry would add much to student life and give us many pleasant episodes to look back upon after we have left the university. Now, '95, have some energy about you and let's have a Junior promenade that will be the socia event of the season.
The new catalogue will contain the outline of a two or three years' course leading to the degree of Ph. D. It is intended the course shall compare favorably with similar courses of the leading universities of the country, and it will be based almost entirely upon original investigation in special lines of work. The degree will be conferred only upon such students as shall present a thesis showing superior ability in original work. The department hopes to be in readiness to receive students at the beginning of the fall term, and while the course will be at least two years, it will not be necessary for students to complete the entire work here. The establishment of this course marks a large step in advance and will doubtless add much to the already high standing of the University of Kansas.
We have noticed of late a marked dissatisfaction among the Senior Engineers on account of the requirement of the course in advanced English composition. Their argument against the requirement is based upon the following reasons: That it is requiring work of them for which they have not had the proper training or preparation which renders it exceedingly difficult for them and keeps them below the standard of Art students in the course. This is both humiliating to them and in a measure unfair to other students whose progress it tends to retard; that it is work which does not meet their need and to which they are not at all adapted. When we consider the fact that, with the exception of one term of English in their Freshman year, their attention has been directed towards work wholly remote from the languages, we must admit that it seems unfair to place them along side of students who have followed language work throughout their entire course. Recognizing the necessity of English work of some kind we see no reason why more good could not be gained by the establishment of a special course which could be made more suited to the needs and ability of the Engineering students.
THE following is the program arranged for commencement week:
Sunday, June 3, 8 p. m., Baccalaureate Sermon, Bishop Vincent.
Monday, June 4, 10 a. m., Commencement School of Engineering, address by prominent speaker.
Monday, June 4, 2 p. m., Commencement School of Pharmacy, address by Mr. Britton.
Tuesday, June 5, 10 a. m., Commencement Law School.
Wednesday, June 6, 10 a. m., Commencement Exercises School of Arts. Orations by five n embers of '94.
Wednesday, June 5, 8 p. m., Annual Comencement Address. Benj. I. Wheeler, Cornell University.
We notice upon the program several very prominent men. Bishop Vincent is one of the ablest and most eloquent speakers in the west, while Benj. I. Wheeler is one of the two most prominent men connected with Cornell University, and was at one time a prominent candidate for the presidency of that institution. Kansas University is certainly fortunate in securing such men as these for the commencement program. But why the faculty should persistently adhere to the old wearisome and wornout custom of having a number of students orate on commencement day, against the unanimous wish of the graduates, we are unable to understand. Why the desire of those in whose honor the exercises are held should be totally ignored, without so much as a hint in the way of an explanation, seems to us exceedingly arbitrary. Almost at the beginning of the present school year a petition was sent to the faculty by the Senior class praying that in place of the customary speakers from the class, an address by a prominent speaker be substituted upon the commencement program. This is in accordance with the custom at all institutions of our standing in the country, and if we are to call our institution a university it is about time we get out of the high school rut in small things as well as the all important ones. But what has become of the above mentioned petition, and the committee in whose charge it was placed, no one seems to know; not even the president of the class has heard any news of its fate.