Indiana State University - Sycamore Yearbook (Terre Haute, IN)

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2 THE NORMALADVANCE The True College Spirit To the Freshman, college was a pleasant dream. It was a place where one,s chief pur- pose should be to enjoy oneis self. No other thought than that of pleasure possessed his mind. From the days of his childhood until he was ready to enter college he had been entertained by his fathers tales of college life, tales in which only joyful things were related. He had been told of the big football games in which one of our men, amid wild cheering by his sup- porters, made a touchdown, and won the game; of the times the boys skipped class to carry out some prearranged good time. He had heard all about hazing in its many aspects. The details of the class scraps had been firmly instilled in his mind and the bold and daring deeds perpe- trated by the brave college men in defiance of the police force appealed to him. The advan- tages of being a fraternity man and the disad- vantages of not being one had been carefully explained to him. Not only from his father had he heard these wonderful fairy tales of that glorious college life, but all these things had been impressed upon him recently by his older brother who had just finished college. The desire to attend college and to partici- pate in these enjoyable affairs had been greatly strengthened and so it was with great anxiety that he matriculated 0n the opening day. He chose a college where there was much college spirit as he thought. That is, he Chose a college where all these visions he had dreamed would be realized. He was mentally prepared to enter into all the athletic sports and expected to indulge in all the good times and to participate in all the daring deeds. He was imbued with what he called college spirit. But how sad was the disillusionment of this poor Freshman! He wasnlt heavy enough to play on the football team, nor quick enough to play on the basket-ball team. A ban was at once put upon skipping classes by a grave pro- fessor who threatened to expel anyone guilty of a second offense. He was hazed by the Sophomores and was injured t0 the extent that he was unable to attend Classes for some time. The Freshmen lost the class scrap and were taunted by all the upper classmen and consid- ered as being possessed of little spirit- so that it was an unpleasant thing to be identified as a Freshman. His hope of joining a fraternity also vanished. He had lost the college spirit he possessed upon entering. Those stories, to him, began to seem untrue. He thought he had been mis- ' taken in the choosing of his college and firmly resolved to enter another the following year. While in this state of mind, he chanced to observe a happy Senior, and noticed that this particular student possessed a loyalty and love for his Alma Mater that were permanent. His college meant everything to the dignified Senior. In a confidential talk, the Freshman learned from the Senior the secret of his love and loy- alty. The Senior had come to college with the dominant thought in his mind being that of working. It was his purpose to get all out of college that it was possible for an individual, who rightly applied himself, to get. Although he enjoyed having a good time, yet that came second in his life. He adapted himself to the conditions of the college and accepted the various rules enforced as rules made for his benefit, and not his restriction. The profes- sors, to him, were men of honor and of great- learning. The truths they uttered he consid- ered worthy of thought and were not lightly passed by. The idea of personal aggrandizement was lost in the desire to win fame for his school. Every task he undertook he attacked with a

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THE NQRMAL ADVANCE VOLUME XVII. TERRE HAUTE, IND, OCTOBER, 1911. NUMBER 1. IS glory, by Whose might all things are moved, E55576? Pierces the universe, and in one part 12159.94 Sheds more resplendence, elsewhere less. In heaven, That largeliest of his light partakes, was I, .Witness of things, Which, to relate again, Surpasseth power of him Who comes from thence; For that, so near approaching its desire, Our intellect is to such depth absorb7d, That memory cannot follow. Nathless all That in my thoughts I of that sacred realm Could store, shall now be matter of my song. The way I pass, N661 yet was run: Minerva breathes the gale; Apollo guides me; and another Nine, To my rapt Sight, the Arctic beams reveal. Looking into his first-born With the love, Which breathes from both eternal, the first Might Ineffable, Wherever eye or mind Can roam, hath in such order all disposed, As none may see and fail to enjoy. hDa'ntehDiwine Comedy.

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THE NORMALADVANCE 3 determination to Win and to bring glory to his school. He realized the truth that he had a part- to perform, in making his college rank among the best in the land. The honor of his school depended upon his honor and he dared not defile that honor by unworthy conduct. The scholarship of his college was measured by his own scholarship and in order to have his college rank first in that respect he had to make his own of the highest standard. Honest, conscientious work, a Willingness to co-operate with his school in all worthy undertakings, a keen interest in all affairs pertaining to school and a strong desire to promote the welfare of his chosen college had filled his soul With a permanent joy and had endeared the name of his Alma Mater forever. Thus, the F reshnian fOund the true college spirit. AT THE PAETING OF THE WAYS. Day dawns, and just before my eye TWO pathways fork the valley. One turns to Where late dreamers lie, And one where soldiers rally. One slips by easy stages down; One climbs hights Wild and steril. One ends in luxuries of the town; And one in pain and peril. WVhich make I mine? You sluggard dreams His music of sweet slumber To drum-beats of invading schemes Whose feet no man can number. Despoiling good, enriching ill These work Where none suspect them, And make mere slaves of thought and Will That wake not to detect them. Wlhich make I mine? lIn yonder hight Full 0ft, all ease denying, , Oneis only gain is conscious right, Onels rest comes but from dying. But once a prince here died to give His own good spirit to us; And good for Which we, too, would live May work less in than through us. Oh, Who would welcome not a strife Where worth Wins all its glory? Nor waive the roles of mortal life For an immortal story? The bugle calls the hill to storm. 31y body thrills! I use it As due a spiritis uniform Used best by those Who lose it. eRaymondls ttDcmte and Collected Verse.