THE UNIVERSITY COURIER.
Published weekly at the University of Kansas.
XII.
LAWRENCE, KANSAS, FEBRUARY 28, 1894.
No. 16.
C. 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, Science, Kansas.
Received at the Lawrence postoffice as second-class matter.
F. E. BUCHAN, Editor.
FRANK BOWKER, Local Editor.
E. W. PALMER, Literary and Exchange Editor.
KOLLA MITCHELL, Athletic and Amusement Editor.
E. P. LUFFER, Managing Editor.
. TROXEL, Business Manager. L. S. CHAMBERLAIN, Circulator.
THE COURIER, upon its present awaking, greets its patrons with joy and profuse apologies for its long protracted slumbers, and res its readers it will not again close its eyes before commence- t.
for many years there has been a great deal of strife between the fraternity and non-fraternity students over college politics, and college papers. But this year there has been a very marked tendency toward reconciliation. Fraternity and non-fraternity meet much more frequently in society, and little or nothing of a bitter, partizan nature has appeared in the college papers. From this a number of students who have the best interests of the University at heart argued that it would be possible for the two weekly papers to combine upon basis satisfactory to both companies; and thus a much better paper can either The Student Journal or the Courier could be published without additional expense. A committee, elected by the student body, framed a constitution for the new company which could not be accepted by the Courier Company for the following reasons. In the constitution, factions are ignored and all members of the new company are placed on the same basis. This would be well if factions did not exist, but as they do exist each would endeavor to take advantage of the other, the larger party would soon gain entire control of the paper, dissatisfaction and quarrels must ensue, and all condition must become worse than they are now. The strength of each party is well known and the constitution should have been so named that each party should receive its share of the offices and the name of the new paper should have been agreed upon. If all points over which contention might arise were settled in advance good results were to be expected from a combination; but with many of the most important questions being left unsettled only anarchy could be obtained.
The diminutive Methodist heaven down at Baldwin is in a great repro because his Satanic Majesty has kindled a desire in the hearts of some of the Baker students to play football. According to the opinions held by a portion of the brethren it is a sin to be manly, to take an active interest in athletics. A student is expected to do nothing but absorb great quantities of facts, and go to Sunday school. It is no matter if he breaks his health in study. He must not take part in vigorous games. One portion of the brethren have opposite opinions and have advocated football with more ardor than truthfulness, and are now undergoing the pleasure of a church trial for their gains.
The appointment of Lieut. E. V. Smith to the professorship of Military Science and Tactics at Baker University, at last gives us cause to congratulate our Baldwin friends. The work of similar
departments in other institutions have, as a rule, proven very successful and we hope the department at Baker will be no exception in its attainments.
Several petitions praying for the establishment of such a department at K. U. were circulated among the students last year but since the services of Dr. Cowan as Professor of Physical Culture have been secured, it is somewhat doubtful that a Military Department would receive the support of the student body, since a much better system of physical training is open to us without asking the assistance of Uncle Sam.
The efforts, on the part of a number of the Professors of the University, to establish a series of popular lectures upon the subjects most prominent in their several departments, is certainly a most commendable one and one that is imbued with a true university spirit. Every student should be eager to take advantage of the opportunity thus afforded to gain a knowledge of subjects outside their line of study, and to which they have but little time to devote.
The hearty support and due appreciation of those courses already established will certainly lead the remaining departments to offer similar courses. This system of popular lectures by the special departments prevails in all the higher institutions in the country and its introduction here is most gratifying as it shows the growth of the university idea amongst us. Let every member of the University, professors as well as students, do all in his power to promote and encourage its development.
THE Review comes out this month with the new and startling information that the system of "trading votes" in student elections is deplorable. Well, Bro. Griffin, we are glad you appreciate the situation, but we look in vain, for even a hint, at a means to remedy this atrocious evil.
There is undoubtedly something wrong but we fear the trouble is a little too deep seated to be reached through a reform of student elections. When humanity becomes so interested in their fellowbeings as to consider the promotion of the welfare of others more important than the attainment of our own ends, we may look for the abolition of scheming and trading in democratic institutions.
The English Department has recently received an invitation from the English Department of the University of Nebraska to participate in joint debate. A number of such debates have been instituted in western universities and we apprehend much good would be obtained from such a meeting with Nebraska. We hope the department will take the proper steps toward accepting the challenge.
The recent admission of a number of high schools and academies on the list, whose diplomas are received for admission to the University, increasing the total number to one hundred and twenty, shows an important development in education, throughout the State, and a growing tendency to recognize the University as the representative institution of higher learning within the State.
The prejudice and jealousy against which the University has had to labor in the past is being gradually overcome, and the people are beginning to avail themselves of the advantages offered them.
The representative high schools of the State now send their instructors to visit the University in order to gain ideas of its methods in practice here and render them more efficient in preparing students for college. This is a commendable plan, and we hope to see more of the preparatory schools adopt it.