Ohio State University - Makio Yearbook (Columbus, OH)

Page 13 text:

THE MAKIO. 9 would be simply to repeat the old, old story, of its con- tinued failure for the last three years. We have no expla- nation to offer. Something is radically wrong. TheiUni- versity opened originally under favorable auspiCes, and its growth was steady ahd rapid, but suddenly there was a change, and the decline has been equally rapid. This has been attributed to several causes. The Legislature has failed to provide properly for its best interests. Where thousands should have been appropriated a few mean hun- dreds were begrudgingly bestowed. Our lawmakers hesi- tate not to freely bestow the State's money upon subjects whose need is far less urgent. The attempt has been made all along to manage our institution in the same manner as the Penitentiary and the other State institutions. Politics must be entirely eliminated. Furthermore, there is a screw loose in the College itself. It is palpably unjust that two or three professors have not to exceed Eve hours of recitations a week, While others, and especially zizgtrzzdors, have any where from sixteen to twenty hours. It has been insinuated that the time of the election of Our present incumbent of the Presidency, was the begin- ning of its decline. We are not prepared to accept this statement, but it certainly will bear investigation. The solution of this vexed question seems to be beyond the reach of all, but it must be found, and speedily too, ' else What once bid fair to be an honor to the State Will cause only ridicule, and the title of uColumbus High School ,, will be well applied. Let the remedy be :found and applied z'Izsl'anter. , After much solicitation, the Faculty at last took action and. partially removed the odious demerit system. The petition prayed that it be completely removed from the

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Petitemt e IKE a comet do we now come, shedding about us a. 1' lurid glare which renders visible everything before Ethe MIRROR. The images must necessarily be 7?? truthful, but some may surpass in vividness. We have endeavored, as far as possible, to cast our light upon new subjects, although occasionally we are compelled to behold some antiquated subject, notably our worthy Presi- dent. We were peculiarly fortunate in being the first to portray the characteristics of the new members of our Faculty. The subject is a difficult one and requires ability greater than that of our own feeble pen to do it justice. But we think that, without any infringement on modesty, we have succeeded remarkably well. To render a faithful account of the achievements of our mathematician, or of the manly beauty of the dude, whose high collars and blood- shot moustache are the envy of all ; and finally of him who has labored so unceasingly to elevate the morals of the college in the conduct. of its examinations, is beyond the scope as well as the power of this book. Our greatest difflculty has been to overcome the almost irremediable loss of reputation occasioned by our predeces- sor. No one doubts that it has hurt us, and many have been so audacious as to assert that it was the cause of the decline of the University. 50 our office is twofold, to dis- sipate these shadows and also to restore the MAKIO to its former glory. To relate the history of the college during the past year A't

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10 THE MAKIO. four college classes, but the Faculty, with their usual cone servatism, decreed that only Seniors and Juniors should be released, and furthermore, that only such Juniors as were perfectly regular should receive the advantage. This con- cession was better than nothing, and was hailed. with de- light by the students as a forerunner of deliverance from so unjust and puerile a method of compelling attendance at recitations. The Critic has been reissued and attempts to fill an aching void, and whether it has succeeded or not, we leave to its readers. . The Laiztrriz still struggles on in the same old way. Pretending, as it does, to devote itself to the interests of the students at large, it has received much due criticism for having narrowed itself to the interests of one class to such an extent as to misrepresent facts and create wrong im- pressions. In other lines, it has done some good work. We wish to extend particular thanks to Messrs. Morrey and Oviatt, historians, of the Freshman and Second Prepara- tory classes, for able class histories. Their promptness and thoroughness is most praiseworthy, and we commend them to other historians. They are honors to their classes and country. The business men of the city and elsewhere, who have favored us with their support, should receive the complete patronage of the students and other readers. We can rec- ommend them all as reliable houses, which have thus shown their desire for the welfare of the College and every- thing connected with it. Others Who have received a large share of College custom have persistently refused to adver- tise, thinking to receive as much without it. We ask you to show them their mistake by withdrawing your trade from them.