Stanford University - Quad Yearbook (Palo Alto, CA)

Page 18 text:

STUDENT CONTQROL HESE are the golden days of Stanford, says President Jor- dan, and he means that the day has come when ideals and manliness play so large a part of the undergraduate spirit that students can be entrusted with their own government in all matters pertaining to g'ood conduct. Such a statement is indeed optimistic and was only made possible by the enormous vote of five hundred and thirty-six to seventy-three, which was cast at the special election by which Student Control was adopted. Self-government, as adopted, does not mean a tearing down of all that has been done in past years, but means that the undergradu- ate body has taken upon itself the task of maintaining a standard which shall be at least as high as the one at present. lt does not mean a general loosening up or a letting down of the bars but a constant effort to develop men. I In the past students have often gone just as far as possible without overstepping the bounds set by the Faculty Committee on Student Affairs. They felt that anything within that scope was legitimate and few made an effort to co-operate in order to maintain a good standard. By having voted to assume responsibility each individual has now placed himself on record as being willing to do his part toward maintaining a standard of general good conduct. It is a measure which comes from within the Student ,llody itself and demands a certain pride and loyalty in the system. The matter of discipline, while playing a largeipart, will be secondary to the preventative influence upon those who might be inclined to go too far under the old system. The Faculty Student Affairs Committee has granted to the Student Council, which is the new name for the Student Advisory Committee, all the powers which they possessed in the past and now exist only in an inactive way. All cases which would have come under their jurisdiction will now be handled by the Student Coni- mittee and their judgment shall be final as long as the present plan of control is in force.

Page 17 text:

THE GOLDEN AGE OF STANFORD CCASIONALLY in reminiscent mood, we, old-timers, refer to the days from 1891 to 1895 as the Golden Age of the Univer- sity. But when we settle down to historic accuracy. we know that the Golden Age of Stanford is now. The Golden Age of any University is that time when every man and every woman who enters it is the better, morally as well as intellectually and physically for coming. We believe that this is true to-day at Stanford. We know that it was not true in the line warm-hearted youthful days when the University had no rules and was controlled by moral suasion. There may be Universities in which it is still not true. It may be that they will meet their problems in some other wayg but we shall solve ours in our own fashion. Student Control as we understand it at Stanford, seems to us, a crystallization of this Golden Age. It does not mean that moral or intellectual fashions are set by immature youth. The Faculty is here to set standards of living as well as of thinking. It does not mean merely that the students will vote on matters which concern their various activities. It does not stop at a pledge from the students that they will cut out their own delinquents and delinquen- cies. Its essence is the realizatiion that the highest ideals of student life their teachers can set before them have been understood and loyally accepted. It is a guarantee that in this golden age, and in all that has made it golden, the Student Body is an active and integral part. The students of to-day Hx the traditions of to-morrow: The students of to-day are the alumni of to-morrow. On their shoulders rests the welfare of the University. It is for them to say how long the Golden Age shall endure. DAVID STARR JORDAN.

Page 19 text:

This duty having been assumed by the undergraduate and local graduate bodies can not be evaded in any way. The method of handling eases that arise is left entirely to the committee and while there is no definite code which must be followed as regards what shall be considered a breach, the Council must consider all business that arises. C ln order that a committee might be chosen which would meet with the approval of the Student llody and that would be thoroughly conversant with existing conditions, it was decided to elect a body of five from the Students' Conference. The Conference is composed of upperclass representatives from all the departments of the Univer- sity, the representation being in the proportion of one for every forty men having fifty or more hours to their credit. ln addition to this, and in order that in eases where some departments may have several desirable men who would not be elected otherwise, five dele- gates are to be elected at large from among the eligible electors. The Conference in choosing the Student Council will do so by a secret ballot, without nominations. This eliminates the probability of politics being used in order to appoint certain men, and insures the election of those considered most desirable for the positions. Everything possible has been done to make the new system workable and efneient, but it is a foregone conclusion that there will be many times when serious faults are found. lt is hardly possible to start on any new venture with a perfect system and it is hoped that in case of mistakes, the Student llody will try to remedy the error and will strengthen the system rather than tear it down by an unreasonable attitude. lf Student Self-Government is to be a success, the students must be behind the committee that acts for them. K. L. SCI I AUl lf'.