DePauw University - Mirage Yearbook (Greencastle, IN)

Page 13 text:

E D I T O R I A L On the other hand there are some faults to he found on the side of the University. We cannot say much in praise of the gymnasium anti the working apparatus that it has provicled. Especially is this true for the girlst ancl we holJ it a clisgrace that a. school of this size and standing should otter no hetter conveniences than are to he found in its aarh and dingy rooms. Let the ruling powers awake to the fact that their cluty hes in the physical as well as the mental welfare of its students. and that they must provide welI-equippecl and attractive apartments in order to arouse spirit and good work. Such would have a direct hearing on the University name. for is it not an old saying that we cannot develop the mind at the expense of the body. and shall not DePauW hend every egort to send forth into the world men 311:1 women fitted in every way for their work 7 For the past year or two there has been great agitation in the social life of DePauw. It is a problem that confronts hath college authorities and stuclents. what social customs shall stand. what must he the limitations? The deplorable tendency of events to run into an excess of gayety and idle Waste oi: time and nerve energy has aroused the Faculty to a realization that some action is necessary. As a result stringent mles are passed. unAer which stuclents chafe-and. which is more to he regretted. rules that they break. Is there any arivantage in a rule that cannot he enforcecl? Shall the majority suffer for the sins of a few? And yet, What is that happy merlium in which the stuclent life shall he Wisely spentt though with its proper proportion of pleasure and recreation? We wonder whether a reform might not he hrought ahout hy Faculty ancl students drawing closer together. learning to unclerstaml each other and to appreciate the question from each view point. Fort after all. is it not the only story of ignorance rebelling against its own good. another case in Which arbitration might work to advantage? We can hut mourn over the Aying out of the 01d. hearty fellowship and comradeshipt where the student honly atom; united in common interests and pleasures, where all felt themselves a vital part of the Whole. Compare the lukewarm enthusiasm of. our red-letter days With that of ten years agot when the air rang with the clamor and all the world knew that Depauw Was hh out:n Social life has congealed into private groupst each competing against the other; inthviclual interest has taken the place of the love and zeal for the University. There are few college functions to-day in which all may partake. drawing together With the feeling of one hoay With one purpose. The Faculty has seen fit to ' check and Wipe out so many estahlished ancl excellent customst in the hope. no douht, of doing away with many evils that grew up along With the gooa. that society is stagnant broken up into circles of selfish pride and show. What is the result? Life holcls just as much gayety anJ distraction. but it is for the select aml their efforts are miserahle mocheries. stereotyped formalities. contrihuting little to the goocl of the indiviciual, working harm to the school. For we hold that there is something wrong somewhere when the common life of the University is seconrlary to that of its constituent groups.

Page 12 text:

ED'ITO R IA L QWe submit the Mirage to the public trusting that it will he receivecl in the spirit in. am! for Which, the hook was compoundea. True to established custom, the Junior class has been the means of its edition; as the college Annual it stands a survey of the yearst work. gathering into itself all the elements that go to make up the life of the school. We have endeavorexl to show truly and impartially the advantages and the strength of the University. yet have not closed our eyes to the faults. Upon all has been peured the acid of hantering fun and kindly satire With the hope to precipitate a closer feeling of union among the stuaents1 and between them 311a the University hocly. With this year DePauw enters upon a new epoch in her history. She has given the control of affairs into the hands of Edwin Hughes believing him to he a man of ability and with qualities that peculiarly Ht him for the place; alrearly he manifests an energy anti a grasp of conditions that is very satisfying. We hope for him success in these new duties. May he infuse into the University management the activity and progressiveness of the younger generation. steer- ing out into the hroacl open current of prosperity. Let him hear in mincl. however. that the twill of the student hocly is a potent force in affairs. He will have accomplished much. it: in his administrationt he gains the respect and love which has ever been tenclered the man now going out. whose wise guidance of the University through a time of trouble and clepression has Won for him a lasting place in our hearts. Two members have been added to the faculty this year. Miss Kimball. of Mariam has been given the French cle- partment. thus relieving the too heavy duties of Miss Kern. who has had to combine French with her German work. This addition places French on a higher plane. by giving room for advancerl classes. A similar division of labor has been macle in the department of ABihlical Literature; Professor Howland, of New York University. has been elected. assistant to Dr. Gohin. aml also assumes the duties of the rhetoric classes. giving opportunity to Professor Brumhaugh to suhstttute in their stead. some classes in Psychology. a department which has sugered neglect in the past few years. Professor Howland is proving an all around man. and Wins the favor of the students by his interest in all college enterprises. His enthusiasm for athletics should stancl a reproof as well as example to many of our college lads, for we believe it largely clue to lack of interest and active support that Depauw Aces not stand at the head. With our ex- cellent manager. Athletic Board, and the systematic method of support that has been lately instituted. we shoulcl have winning teams. But What can he accomplished when students will not come out to support them? We regret the tendency towards skepticism that induces our students to remain indigerently at home. only to ritlicule and criticise when V they hear of a defeat.

Page 14 text:

E D I T O R I A L But the reaction must come, and is coming. We already see the beginnings of reform in the revived interest in our Oratory. DePaqu old prestige can still he maintained, if her students will but remain loyal. and for the past few years she has had able and competent representatives. who brought praise upon themselves and upon the University. We think more stress should he laid upon our Dehating society. Depauw now has a team of which she may well he prowl, It has added much to her standard in the State. anti shoulcl he given the support and merit Which it deserves. These enterprises are helpful, instructive, anti withal cnjoyahle, anti give to the University that atmosphere of broad culture for which she stands. Dr. tHughes is making a step in advance when he organizes a Depauw Literary Society. This W111 hring all students in closer touch. It is just such organizations that we neecl to develop and eatahlish a common loyalty. These are questions, we believeH that have an important hearing on our school life. They need to he openly discussed and . commentea upon in order to he fully unclerstood. Ami the above modest remarks are offerea in humble spirit and a desire to help anal further the name and fame of the University. The editors of the 05 Mirage have a strong belief and perfect faith in the possihilities of their Alma Mater. To them she is already the best and clearest. and they predict she Will continue in the upward course until she stands the focus of all intellectual movements. the loavistar ot the Midclle West, The Mirage. dear readers, comes to you with your schoolts life on its pages. Will you read it, and learn to value and to love even more thelhroacl interests amt the culture which the hotly of wise men here have placed to your benefit? We want this hook to stand an outer symhol of your affection for DePauw. Be it good or had. will you accept it, remembering that we are just one of you, with like capabilities and powers. anti we have clone the heat that we can? Ana so We give you Godt speed. EDITORS. . AMMeZbJ