THE STUDENTS JOURNAL:
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
By the
Students Journal Pub. Go.
Frank H. Moore! ...Editor-in-Chief
Rollin E. Blackman! ...Local Editor
Arthur L Corbin! ...Literary Editor
BORN AND MARRIED
CHAS. H. DANSE
WARREN EDWARDS.
ASSOCIATES
Jno. H, Henderson . Litterary
W. C. Atchison . Local
Frank E. House . Exchanges
O. H. Parker . The Halls
O. A. Alfife . Alfife
H. C. Riggs . Snow Hall
Mayo Thomas . Law School
The stock of the STUDENT'S JOURNAL company consists of non-transferable one dollar shares. Any student instructor or employee of the University may hold one and only one share.
This paper is on file at the editorial rooms of the University Review, 238 Fifth avenue. New York, where all men are given a hearty welcome.
THE semi-annual election of officers of the STUDENT'S JOURNAL will be held Tuesday, May 15th.
An address was lately delivered by President Quayle at Baker on "Abuses of a Free Press." We think we can see some improvement in the Baker Beacon as a result.
--men." Prof. Hopkins favors such a plan.
PROFESSORS who have classes immediately following the chapel exercises are complaining because the exercises are frequently prolonged beyond the time allotted to them, thus cutting very short the 9 to 10 o'clock class time.
We publish this week an article on the University fee system. We believe that it is a subject of sufficient importance to be discussed, and we hereby tender the use of our-columns to anyone wishing to continue the discussion.
As has already been noticed in The Quill columns, the coming catalogue will announce a new feature of the curriculum—a debating course. By inquiry among the students, we find that the course seems to be in great favor, and the classes organized for it will undoubtedly be filled to their utmost capacity. The plan followed is similar to that in use at the Harvard University; two hours instruction per week will be given, and as the membership of the classes is to be limited, each individual member will no doubt receive much good.
Our literary societies, while indispensable in their way, have the serious defect of not being systematic; add to that the incompetence of the average student to discipline himself, and it will be seen that the debating course will take the place of a guide, while the literary societies will be valuable supplements.—S. U. I. Quill.
Such items as the above show that the paramount importance to the student of the ability to debate is being more and more fully appreciated. The increase of interest in K. U. in this work has been very high this year, as is evidenced by the arrangement of a commencement debating contest between the members of the two debating societies. K. U. can not afford to allow interest in this work again to decline.
The Joint Debate With Nebraska.
Prof. Hopkins has received a letter from Prof. Adams of the English Department of Nebraska University in regard to the proposed joint debate. Prof. Adams writes that a meeting of the students and Faculty was called, at which about one hundred and fifty were present and that the unanimous sentiment was in favor of the joint debate. He will send propositions for such a joint debate as soon as possible.
The custom of Harvard and Princeton in their joint debate system has been to choose the question as soon as the debaters are chosen, but not to assign sides to the debaters until twenty-four hours before the debate is to take place. This gives the debaters a chance to look up both sides of the question in order to have information on hand for every emergency. This plan also makes the debates more original and encourages quickness of thought and readiness of reply—in fact it develops "all-around
It seems that Prof. Adams is a Cornell man, and that their system of joint debate is to assign the debaters sides as soon as the question is chosen, and to give them the side of the question with which they are in sympathy as far as possible. Prof. Adams favors this plan.
It will certainly be the better course in our opinion to choose the sides for debate by lot, and as shortly as possible before the debate comes off, as that will be the means of promoting fresh, original speaking among the students, and will do away with the "cut-and dried" system which is proposed.
Our University Fee System.
Our University must advance Students, professors, and other citizens of Kansas denounce anyone who would thwart its progress. We would consider him an enemy not only to the State, but also to himself. We are so firm in such convictions, so zealous in our endeavors to further educational interests that loyalty to our institution often leads us in wrong paths to secure that degree of proficiency we insist upon having.
It sounds very well to hear that our faculty comprises fifty-one members, that our library contains over twenty thousand volumes, that our laboratory facilities are unparalleled in the state, that our museums are full, overflowing, containing many rare specimens unknown to our rival institutions. But does this constitute the true university? To a casual observer, perhaps so; but to the person accustomed to such appearing things as these they are merely working tools.
If library, laboratories, museums be not the true signs of a University's progress, what are? A large body of energetic, enthusiastic students whose whole lives are centered in their work; who recognize that the time to perform the purpose for which they are here, is limited, whose great aim is to fit themselves for the higher duties of life—these students are just as essential to any University as any building, these the ones whom the state proudly expects to take soon a prominent position in the affairs of society, these the ones who will sally the fair name of our institution if they do not do so. The more of such men we get within the walls of our University the greater will be her progress, the more extended her influence, the larger her appropriations.
The intention of our generous legislators is to provide free education for all the ambitions and intelligent youths of our state, capable of availing themselves of the advantages offered. Liberal appropriations are made every session of our legislature, and as the needs of the University increase, appropriations grow larger. Even during the last session of our legislature when some of us believed the state was on the verge of war, and every politician of the opposite belief was denounced in the most scathing terms imaginable, our state educational institutions fared as well if not better than ever before. Our own university has had or soon will have three new buildings. The appropriation for the library was doubled over the preceding session, the appropriations for our different laboratories and different departments were also increased; in short, we fared exceedingly well.
Why is this generosity? It has been proven again and again that our representative government must have an intelligent body of citizens, men who, given the privilege of voting for the safety and perpetuity of the state, know how to exercise it safely. To secure such a body of citizens our common school system was instituted. The pioneers of our state incorporated it as a fundamental principle into our state constitution. Succeeding legislatures have given as large appropriations for the State University as graduates of our institution could reasonably be asked to do, until the head of our common school system has collected upon Mt. Oread eight or nine of the largest school buildings in the state of Kansas.
Still we are not satisfied. We are tinged with the grasping spirit of the Kansas farmer. Our endeavors to grow have become so great that even now when we ought to rejoice over the generosity of the state, apparently we become indignant that our appropriations were not doubled or trebled, and we are going contrary to the letter and spirit of our laws. Our grasping nature has led our authorities to adopt a plan which in time will deprive a vast number of self-supporting students of the advantages of our state university
of Kansas. Read further the specific appropriations made each session of the legislature to the different departments of our institution, remember that these appropriations are made with the express or implied understanding that no fees shall be charged to the students of the State University. Consider that the generosity of the legislators shows plainly what their intention was when they framed our laws. Is there, then, one reasonable man who will say that our system of fees is legal?
What is that plan? Look at the statutes of Kansas. Read there that no admission fee to the State University shall be charged to any students
We believe that the stability of our institution depends upon the number of thorough students enrolled. That a large faculty, a well stored library, well equipped laboratories, and full museums are worthless unless used. Let fees grow as they have grown, let us legalize at the next session of our legislature what every person who has given the subject a moment's thought, recognizes as illegal; let us deprive one-half or the whole of our present self-supporting students, fifty per cent of our whole number, of the advantages offered by the State; let us use the character of the student body from a large class of earnest students to a small body of fashionable, society-loving men and women, and I again ask in all the simplicity of a Kansas is there another reasonable man who will say that this fee system is for the best interests of our schools?
The Pharmacy student need not ask, what is the fee system? Forty dollars before you register in your classes. Nor the music student. One hundred dollars a year if you please. Nor those students whose whole lives would be shaped differently if they had funds to pay the regular illegal fees. Nor those students who perhaps work all day in the laboratories and are required to pay the library fee. Most assuredly students are acquainted with the fee system.
It is said that the fees are small. Yet they are continually increasing. Not long ago the Pharmacy student paid ten dollars a year, now he pays more than forty. Fees for which there is no legal or moral justification such as the library fee, are now levied apparently with no more forethought than that we have a treasurer who ought to be employed in collecting the fees, or perhaps that many of those students able to come to school for only one year shall be debarred from any of the advantages intended to be free to all. It is the principle of the fee system that we oppose.
When we speak in this strain our loyalty is immediately questioned. It is presumed that this is a family affair; that we ought to pay increased and illegal fees without a murmur and hush this complaint which has been so common this year as to resemble almost an open rebellion. But what is loyalty to our institution? Is keeping quiet and allowing matters to go from bad to worse loyalty? Does loyalty mean that we shall allow ourselves to be deprived of the educational advantages of our state without a word of complaint? Is he a truly loyal student who would remove fifty per cent of our hardest working students or our self-supporting student body? Is it not apparent that when this class of students who attend the University of Kansas one year and teach school the next will be deprived of the advantages of higher education now apparently offered by the state, the person advocating the fee system is a thousand and times more disloyal than the opposer of the fee system?
We are also told by our professors that students do not appreciate the advantages offered by the state hence levying fees upon the students will make them appreciate such advantages. Who does not appreciate the generosity of the state? Is it the student who is doing his utmost to get by honest means, the money with which to pay his necessarily high expenses in Lawrence? Can it be the student, who during vacation goes to work in the harvest field or the coal mine? I doubt it very much. If there are any who do not appreciate the advantages offered, it is the class whose money is furnished by others able to pay such a student's expenses without inquiring whither goes it? When we are told that we do not appreciate the advantages of our school we do not like to be presumptuous but we do feel like asking when we are deprived of such advantages, can we then appreciate them?
That is not the only sophistry which we are compelled to meet. It is said that our fee system will keep out many of the society girls of Lawrence, who register as students merely to get into society cliques. If there are any such students our professors are flagrantly insulting their students from other parts of the state but the persons uttering such statements evidently forgot that if we have such students, fifty or one
hundred dollars tuition—cloak it in whatever form you wish—would not prevent their attaining their object's. Nay, such a fee would rather increase their number, for our self-supporting student's removed, our body of s'udens' would soon become a small, fashionable society, in o which the "uppers" of Lawrence would pay any sum to get.
Our opponent must surely be desperate when they ask: How shall we get money otherwise than by fees? Has the State not always been more than a generous father, for it is always able to pay the expense while loving fathers might like to do so yet would not be able. Allow me to ask: How will you get money this way? The supporters of our University are the middle class tax-payers. These men are not able to send their sons and daughters to a school where expenses are too high. Make them feel that the statement we have all heard so often that our University is becoming a school for the rich man's children, is true and soon their representatives will go to the legislature with instructions to reduce or abolish our appropriations.
Our school, if it is to exist, must be advertised. Our foot ball team may do something in this line; our base ball team may help the matter along somewhat; our university extension lectures certainly do no harm in bringing the university before the public, even if they are injurious to resident students; yet the only real lasting advertisement is that which the student himself gives. As students we are expected to convert our lungs into trumpets and stand in crowded places to sound the praises of our University. But when a student leaves school with the impression that he is not wanted; that there is a concerted movement on foot to remove him, the feeble advertisement that the average student will give, and the vigorous denunciation of a few, bodies no good for our university. Citizens consider student's informed upon such topics as the university fee sys'em and when the students denounce the action of the authorities of our school, citizen are apt to pay attention to the report and act accordingly.
It is strange that we should be denounced as "cranks" on this subject, especially when higher education in our state is in danger of passing from the hands of poorer students, when it is not an uncommon report that this fee system question will come before the next legislature for legalizing or for entire abolition. The time has come when you must show your position. If you believe that state educational institutions should be frequented by all classes of students then stand for a free school. If you believe that a fee system such as we are gradually having brought upon us, will raise the standard of our school, fight it out in your way. Yet be broad-minded enough to respect others holding a different opinion, o hers who have petitioned our regents, and are told our petitions are generally unrecognized, to say nothing of being answered. Is there more to be done? The next meeting place must be before a higher tribunal—before the Kansas courts or the Kansas legislature. ELI CANN.
The Land of the Sky
Is not quite sky high, but is just far enough up from the sea to have a bracing climate. New Mexico is meant. And it offers something for the wealth-seeker as well as for the health-seeker, Beautiful apples, grapes and other fruits are grown in the lower Rio Grande valley, and in the Maxwell grant there are varied attractions for the general farmer. If you ask Nicholson, of the Santa Fe Route, Topeka, he will send you a New Mexico folder, which tells most of the story.
The Juniors Eat Humble Pic
The May pole contest Tuesday gave the Juniors an opportunity to cat humble plee with apparently great relish. The Freshman flag floated high above that of the Juniors—a feature entirely contrary to all precedent. Indeed, former Junior classes would never have permitted such a slight to their dignity.
The contest had two other novel features, the first being that the pole was planted outside the campus. Here the Freshmen found an open ditch in which they placed their flag pole thus having an almost impregnable position defended on two sides by the ditch six feet deep.
The second innovation was that when one o'clock came, the flags were taken down without molestation from the opposing parties. This feature cannot be too highly spoken of, and it is hoped that it will establish a precedent for future classes to observe. It is easily seen that the last hour's fighting is the one which causes the Worst after effects, and is also the fearest. Hence this unnecessary fight will be abolished.
SNOW HALL.
Prof. Haworth has obtained about six hundred pounds of specimens of lead ores from south-eastern Kansas. We have already one of the best collections of lead ores in the world.
Within the last year the three best authorities on geology in America have visited our institution for the purpose of examining the specimens in the museum.
The fourth grade pupils from Haskell Institute visited the University in a body Wednesday. They were accompanied by their teacher, Mrs. Wood.
Prof. Dyche went to the lake fishing the fore part of the week. He caught several very fine bass.
Messrs. Eams and Wyland were out in the country Tuesday and Wednesday, collecting material with which to finish off the natural ground work in the zoological museum.
O. P. Davis is collecting botany specimens most of the time.
Several copies of a book entitled "Kansas at the World's Fair" have been received by people connected with the University. This book contains cuts of all the Kansas exhibits and is in general a neat piece of work.
Prof. Workman of the American Museum at New York is soon to be here to examine the collection of vertebrate fossils in our geological museum.
The Science Club meets Friday evening at eight o'clock in the chemistry lecture room. On account of this meeting the seminaries of the different departments do not meet this week.
The museums in Snow Hall are to be provided with new railings.
Prof. Haworth has returned from a trip into the southeast corner of this state, where he has been engaged in geological work.
Prof. Dyche hopes to have the ground work for the World's Fair collection completed before commencement.
I. H. JOHNSON.
BAKERY Next to Central Hotel.
Spring Styles
Soft and Stiff
HATS,
are on display
by
W. Bromelsick,
THE HATTER.
FOR
New Goods,
FOR
New Styles.
IN
Fine Shoes,
Oxfords,
OR
SLIPPERS.
GO TO
HUME'S,
829 MASS. ST. PRICES RIGHT.
It's as Cheap
To get your clothes made to order—to have them fit well look well, wear well,—as it is to get the ordinary ill-fitting, ready-made. We sel
SUITS
AT
$20
That are cut and tailored as well as those of the highest priced tailors in Kansas City. If you want perfect satisfaction in your clothing come to us as we guarantee it.
ROYAL TAILORS.
ROYAL TRILOGY.
S. W. Cor, 7th and Main St.
Kansas City, Mo.
---