Indiana University - Arbutus Yearbook (Bloomington, IN)

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PREFACE: Contrary to the custom of college annuals, the Arbutus of 1895 makes its bow to the public without an apology. The best possible adaptation of ability to exist- ing conditions having been made, the Board may, without asking it, be justly granted pardon for all the errors and deficiencies of their work. We trust that our efforts have resulted in a faithful reflection of at least a part of the spirit aud life of our Alma Mater. Our labors to this end have not been unattended by vexations and delays. The early troubles of the Annual created a distrust of the sincerity and ultimate success of our efforts, which has been injuriously persistent. It is by no means to be expected that a university which supports its foot-ball team in a lukewarm, discouraging manner, and which sends a paltry fifty to the State oratorical contest, would be very enthusiastic concerning the college annual, nor has it been so. The Arbutus has felt keenly this indifference to all but personal interests. Lack of college spirit is increased by factional jealousies. Every effort at Indiana University, even if prompted by an anxious desire for justice to all classes, factions and organizations alike, is looked upon as being in some way partisan. Every movement and enterprise has the tendency to resolve itself into a matter of opposi- tion between factions. Consequently, the editors of the Annual must be extremely cautious to preserve a precise balance among the organizations, of jokes, roasts, and small honors. Any other course means opposition, boycott, and vanity of effort. There is, no doubt, a dislike among the students for this condition of affairs, but it has not been sufficiently strong to save the Arbutus many vexations and delays. Neither has the Annual been entirely delivered from that ever-present, but, for- tunately, small class who kick at everything merely for the sake of kicking, and whose first impulse toward any project is unreasoning opposition. O n the whole, hearty cooperation in any effort at Indiana University, and the late financial stringency seem to have one cause in common — general lack of con- fidence. Happily, there is another and brighter side to this review of our efforts. We have been encouraged and aided in carrying out our plans by many acts of