The University Courier.
Vol. 11. FEBRUARY 11, 1884. No. 11.
THE FORTNIGHT.
The lack of college spirit among the students of this University is often commented upon by visitors from other schools. Perhaps it is because we are yet too young to develop this feeling, or, perhaps, as most students come here and are not sent, their minds are so engaged in more serious matters as to have no thoughts in a lighter vein. We have no college cheer, no college songs, no legends, none of the time honored observances common in other schools. We do not seem to have a real "college spirit." Most of our students seem to regard their alma mater as merely a place where they acquired so much knowledge, or ground through such an amount of work. Very few seem to have that regard and affection for their college that we find in other places. We are so very dead in earnest and so exceedingly utilitarian that we can not waste our valuable time on little pleasant observances that we will remember when we have forgotten all our grades and the number of our studies.
The ordering of these affairs is the business of the Junior class, and we think '85 had better set about the work at once. First, we need a college cheer. There is a ring and effect to a good, hearty, concerted shout that can never be equaled by any
amount of hoodlum yelling and cat-calling. Then, we want some songs. Let our versifiers set themselves to work and give us some good, singable pieces. Plenty of good and new music can be obtained, but we need words to it that are the especial property of this University. The Courier will gladly publish any good songs that may be sent in, and when a sufficient number can be collected, these, with some translations of foreign students' songs, may make up a small volume of both music and words. It will take considerable work, but it seems to us worth trying. Let us see what can be done.
Among the noticeable things of this year in student life, is the decadence of the literary societies Whatever may be the cause, there is certainly less interest taken in them than two or three years ago. Some say that this loss of interest is due to the fraternities; that the latter take the place of the societies and do so much more for their members that they cease to care about the societies. But comparatively few students belong to fraternities, while there are great numbers who belong to neither fraternity nor society. Perhaps the true cause of this decadence may be found in the fights