University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

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University of Arkansas—Main Building

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University of Arkansas 7 T IS NOT my province to deal with statistics and comparisons, to show that the University, though young, is the leading college of the Southwest, and that in progress she yields to none. Her history would be too long, and she needs no encomium. Enough, then, if the true impressions of a student, one brought up within her hallowed halls and imbued with the sacredness of her mission, be given. No comparison is to be made with the small denominational colleges scattered through the State. We do not oppose them. Eet them flourish. But why their opposition to everything that does not bear their stamp? The training here is equal to the best colleges of the Union, and with them only will we compare. Establishment and Purpose of the University The University was established by virtue of an act of Congress donating public lands for educational purposes, and in accordance with an act of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas. Her purpose is to promote the higher educational interests of the State ; to enable students to interpret broad and liberally, questions of state and religion; to give careful, accurate knowledge of the various sciences; to make skilled, practical engineers. The college is an extension of the home. The purpose of both is to make the character beautiful, strong, noble, pure. The U. of A. realizes the significance of her purpose, the responsibility of her trust, and while she gives due prominence to the intellectual world, she never fails to magnify the virtues, to teach the excellence of justice, the beaut} 7 of truth, the grandeur of honor. Faculty and Officers There is a faculty of thirty-six instructors, not including those of the schools of law and medicine and the branch normal. No university of equal size has more efficient professors. Many of our instructors have a Ph. D. degree from the best universities of Europe and America. All have more than a local reputation. Then there is a Board of Trustees, and, Tod und Teufel , a Classification Committee, a—n—d a D—o—u—b—t— f—u—1 Case Committee, and merhercule a Discipline Committee. Situation Fayetteville sits on eleven hills, (Rome sat on only seven), and on the highest, most picturesque one of them sits the University. The location is high and healthful ; the atmosphere is pure and invigorating. While we are free from the lethargy common to a Southern clime, we are not usually chilled by blizzards. Yet we have at times great climatic changes, ranging from gentle zephyrs to 26° below zero. It was even so cold once that school was suspended for a week—the greatest event in our history, save the visit of the General Assembly. The picturesqueness of the scenery is unsurpassable in our own land, and we doubt that the Alps can excel it. It is in 10

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the foot-hills of the Ozarks, where crystal streams murmur over rock)’ beds, and there are even waterfalls by which ambitious orators can practice, and doubtless develop into greater speakers than Demosthenes. The wild flowers grow luxuriantly in every dell; the soil is as fertile as that of the Nile; the women fair as Helen of Troy. It is the land of the “big red apple and the clover blossom.” However beautiful a place may be, there is no place like home; and it is not to be wondered at that the boys from beyond the mountains begin, as vacation approaches, to long for the land of the cotton and the cane. To those residing in the northern part of the State, no beauty is comparable to the dark-eyed, passionate darlings of the mountain ; but men’s aesthetic tastes differ ; others’ thoughts revert to the dreamy-eyed belles of the plain. System of Government It is the aim of the faculty to give as much freedom to the students as is compatible with the best interests of the University. To teach one to govern himself is the best instruction that can be given. The honor system in class-room and on examinations is relied upon, and in most cases is very satisfactory. Trust begets trust, and it is safe to say that those professors who believe in the honor of their students never have their confidence abused. The regulations are few and simple, but are like the law of the Medes and Persians. A student is required to attend his classes and lectures, chapel and drill regularly ; further, his time is his own. Examinations tell whether he has used it well. Woe! if he has not. There is a half-flunk law now. Thou shalt not break ancient Reg. 50. The sceptic who transgresses this commandment many times will surely be “fired.” The honor system breeds a high-toned and manly sentiment. Courage and honor are universally esteemed ; meanness is despised and made contemptible ; an unwritten code of honor deals equitably with all. Student Life Seven hundred students from as many homes and localities have necessarily various characteristics. Here there are, roughly, three distinct classes, intellectually and morally. First, there is the “grind,” who lives for himself and to himself, has no sociability, buries himself in a book and never peeps out to ask a friend if his vaccination took; too absorbed to indulge in a little innocent flirtation in the corridor (when no professor is to be seen). Such a fellow never “cuts” a class. He goes through college generally with honors, but has little appreciation of what it means. He has never had time to make a friend, never has known what good fellows his associates were. He enters life, if not a mental wreck, at least with a morose disposition. He does not inspire others to enter college; they will rather shun a place that makes such disagreeable citizens. Secondly, there is the “happy-go-lucky” class, who never dreamed of a purpose or a responsibility in life. They are devout believers that the Lord knows His own and will take care of them. They let each day take care of itself, and have no thought of the morrow. They are bubbles on the stream of time, and just as useless. Fortunately both classes mentioned are small. The third class, and it is numerous, is a happy medium between the above. In this class are all those jolly fellows who support the college publications, athletics, etc. They have “a voice of gladness and a mild and healing sympathy” for the new student who is homesick a pleasant greeting for everyone, are 13