University of California Berkeley - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA subjects for debate has been more judicious. In former times questions of great weight were decided in a single evening. The debaters often showed they had not given due consideration to the subject under discussion. Now, instead of mighty political questions, we have debates on matters of immediate interest to the students. We are pleased to chronicle that since the publication of the last BLUE AND GOLD a chapter of a young ladies ' fraternity, the Kappa Kappa Gamma, has been established and is now in a prosperous condition. A chapter of the Theta Nu Epsilon, a Sophomore society for the purpose of promoting the welfare of the Freshmen, has been founded. Many dark and mysterous deeds which have taken place about Berkeley have been laid at the door of this fraternity. With just pride we can turn to the achievements of our athletes. The last Field-Day which took place was eminently successful. The best high- jump record on this coast was made by one of our students. Also the best hop-step-jump was accomplished. Much interest has been shown in base- ball, and the games between the classes have been closely contested. The championship of the University is not yet decided, but in all probability rests between ' 82 and ' 83. The two literary and social events of the year, Junior-Ex, and Charter- Day, were conducted so as to meet with marked success. And now we will close. Financially the BLUE AND GOLD is a success ; whether the book itself will meet with approbation remains to be seen. But, when the merciless critic, with a sour smile, takes up his pen, dripping with cutting words, and commences his work of havoc on the results of our toil, we will wrap ourselves up in the one virtue which we can safely say we possess, and this virtue is that we have conscientiously done our work.

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lanterns, and laying for the unsuspecting reveller as he wanders towards home. ) Once more we beheld the weird scene of students dancing madly in a circle around the blazing fire, singing their old songs and enjoying themselves generally. Once more we beheld this, but we think for the last time. It is the class of ' 82 which has done more, perhaps, to bring about this spirit of reform than any other class. ' 83 followed in our footsteps. For a time it was thought ' 84 would go back to the old customs ; but soon she, too, followed in the wake of the two former classes. Berkeley will never again, we think, be startled with the pomp and pageant of a Bourdon Burial. Now may the hens sleep in safety on their roosts. They need not fear the sudden invasion of their quarters, the capture, the quick death, . and the quicker cooking. The peaceful denizens of Berkeley are not now roused from their slumbers by the midnight and discordant serenade. Instead of all this, he who wanders about our streets at midnight beholds the ever-shining light of the hard student as he dives deep into the springs of knowledge. What other classes have believed to be law as unchangeable as the law which bids the instructor place the unfortunate youth, who has failed to obtain the requisite sixty -five per cent, among the chosen few of the fourth section, we have shown to be merely an arbitrary matter which can be changed without serious injury to our Alma Mater. The last year has been one of many improvements about our University. The grounds have been made much more attractive ; and a new building to be used as a library and as a repository for collections of art has been erected. Mr. H. D. Bacon gave twenty-five thousand dollars ; the rest of the money necessary for its completion was granted by an Act of Legislature. Mr. Bacon also contributed a collection of art, sculpture and paintings, and a library of several thousand volumes. During the past year one of the club-houses has been re-arranged and neatly fitted up for the two literary societies, the Durant and the Neoliean. This seems to have given a new and a better life to the societies. Meeting as they did before in a basement room, furnished with a few benches and chairs and a solitary lamp, was hardly conducive to an active interest in their work. Now that they have good rooms their audience is larger, and this acts as an incentive to the participators in the exercises. The debates now are well conducted and the papers read interesting and instructive. We have noticed, too, that lately the choice of

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THE BLUE AND GOLD EX-OFFICIO REGENTS. His EXCELLENCY GEORGE C. PERKINS SACRAMENTO Governor, ex-qfficio President of the Board. His HONOR JOHN MANSFIELD Los ANGELES Lieutenant-Governor. HON. WILLIAM H. PARKS MARYSVILLE Speaker of the Assembly. HON. FREDERICK M. CAMPBELL OAKLAND State Superintendent of Public Instruction. HON. J. McM. SHAFTER. . . OLEMA President of the State Agricultural Society. P. B. CORNWALL. SAN FRANCISCO President of the Mechanics ' Institute. PROFESSOR JOHN LsCONTE BERKELEY President of the University. APPOINTED REGENTS. REV. HORATIO STEBBINS, D. D SAN FRANCISCO Hoy. J. WEST MARTIN OAKLAND HON. J. F. SWIFT SAN FRANCISCO HON. SAMUEL B. McKEE OAKLAND HON. JOSEPH W. WINANS SAN FRANCISCO HON. N. GREENE CURTIS SACRAMENTO JOHN L. BEARD, ESQ MISSION OF SAN JOSE D. O. MILLS, ESQ MILBRAE A. S. HALLIDIE, ESQ SAN FRANCISCO HON. WILLIAM T. WALLACE SAN FRANCISCO HON. T. GUY PHELPS BELMONT HON. JOHN S. HAGER SAN FRANCISCO HON. A. L. RHODES SAN JOSE PROFESSOR GEORGE DAVIDSON SAN FRANCISCO PROFESSOR WILLIAM ASHBURNER SAN FRANCISCO HON. B. B. REDDING. . . .SAN FRANCISCO