University of Rhode Island - Renaissance / Grist Yearbook (Kingston, RI)

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Editorial In issuing this, the eighth volume of the Grist, we deem a few explanatory words not only appropriate, but necessary. The Grist is primarily a class book and as such should contain nothing in the literary department but the work of the Junior Class, all other contributions being put in separate departments. At least this has been our ideal, but our class is small and we have been unable to live up to it. Now we realize that this is nothing uncommon when one camps on the trail of an ideal, but at the same time we feel certain that, with the larger classes so soon to be graduated here, this ideal will be realized and the Grist will become more truly representa- tive of the Junior Class. Under the circumstances in which we find ourselves we have felt obliged to ask for con- tributions, both literary and artistic, from some not members of ’05, and we here wish to express our appreciation of the hearty good-will with which such requests have been met. We ask you to be charitable in judging our work and not to search too critically for plagiarisms. We have tried to make our book worthy of the class and a credit to our college, and in doing so we have left no good th ing out simply because someone else said it first. As far as possible we have indicated such passages, but it is quite likely that we have missed some of them. Above all, if you chance to find your name immortalized in our grinds, please take it in the spirit intended, just fun, and not feel that we have been getting funny at your expense. Among the most important problems that arise in publishing a Grist, is the financial one. In fact, with the present size of the classes it is the vital question and will continue to be until the Junior Class is large enough to pay the bills. As that happy day is yet some distance in the future, it becomes imperative that the manage- ment be conducted each year on a sound basis, one that will not handicap later classes. This year the manager was confronted at the start with the unfortunate fact that for the last few years the advertising has been let out by contract to an advertising agency. This is very easy for the manager and may

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Board of Editors Business Manager. cAaIAjL OAAyO ■ Literary Editor. Artist and Social Editor. ifUaJ-cOL- U Local Editor.

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seem good economy, but the result declares otherwise, for it was found that the rates had been cut continually in order to secure an advertisement that might not otherwise have been obtained. This practice is eminently vicious, for it pays no heed to the future, caring only for present needs, and a business conducted on such a basis cannot endure. This year, we are happy to say, every man has paid the same price, and offers to take space at a cut rate have been refused. This has not always been easy, for every cent counts; but in order to build for the future, the principle has been rigidly adhered to. The present manager has tried to do nothing that would embarrass his successor. It is up to you who are coming to see that this policy is maintained.