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

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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA received a remarkably lively shaking up. Shortly after the close of the term last June, nothing less than an earthquake astonished the dwellers within and without our little world. Suddenly, without the least warn- ing to those on the outside, at least, the Board of Regents summarily dis- missed several officers of the University. Chief among these was John LeConte, President of the University, and Professor of Physics. It is out of our province to discuss the wisdom of this step. The condition of the University demanded that something should be done, and this was ap- parently the only thing that presented itself to the Board of Regents. President John LeConte, eminent equally for his goodness and his learn- ing, was unfitted both by his studious habits and his age for the arduous administrative duties of his office. But of his fitness for the chair of Physics there could be no question, and the deep injustice done him by his removal from the department he had conducted with so much honor to himself and to the University was righted a few days later, when he was honorably reinstated in his position. Professor LeConte showed his true nobility by accepting again the office from which he had been so cruelly thrust, and gained the respect of the students more by this act than by airy other of his official life. The other positions declared vacant were the chair of Mathematics, tilled by Professor W. T. Welcker ; and the instructorships of Physics, Hebrew, and Spanish, filled by Messrs. Parker, Phillips, and Gompertz, respectively. The causes of complaint against these gentlemen were not clearly stated. Professor Welcker ' s methods were somewhat vaguely referred to as old fogy. The causes for the retirement of Mr. Parker and Mr. Phillips were well understood by all in the University, and no further reference to them is necessary. They departed ' ' unwept and unmourned. Mr. Gompertz was referred to in very high terms by the Board of Regents, and it was hinted that a want of money made it necessary to entirely abol- ish the Spanish department. In the stead of President LeConte, the Regents, after several very stormy sessions, placed Mr. W. T. Reid, a gentleman well known on the Pacific coast as the Principal of the San Francisco Boys ' High School. A strong fight was made against him by the press of the State. Only two of the San Francisco papers espoused his cause with any warmth, while the oth- ers were bitterly hostile, or balanced themselves not very gracefully on the

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THE BLUE AND GOLD INTBODCGTION. I AIL, once again ! Another year has rolled around, and once more the BLUE D GOLD appears. ' 83 follows the good old custom handed down from our ancestors in the University, and issues the ninth volume of the BLUE AND GOLD. It is substantially the same as its predecessors. The only things that have been changed are the cover and the inside pages. The new features that have been introduced are very few ; but the best ideas of former volumes have been combined. We have made some innovations in the way of omissions. No organization is represented that is not actually in exist- ence. In consequence, the melancholy fact is apparent that a number of University organizations have died an untimely death. We console our- selves with the reflection that we are not responsible for their decease. Most of them died long ago, but their epitaph was never written, and their names have descended as an inheritance from one BLUE AND GOLD to another. It is hoped that the absence of these venerable rel- ics will not be felt ; or, if felt, will be forgiven. We make no apology for this BLUE AND GOLD. The readers will find the weak spots soon enough without the assistance of the editors, and it is not necessary to go into a long disquisition to prove that we would do better if we could. Neither will we enter into a discussion on the ab- stract merits and mission of a BLUE AND GOLD. This has bsen done before in such an able manner that we feel ourselves relieved of a dis- agreeable duty. With these preliminary remarks, we proceed to discuss a few matters of interest about the University. Since the last issue of the BLUE AND GOLD, our college world has

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fit THE BLUE AND GOLD fence. In spite of all opposition, Mr. Reid was elected by a vote that was said to be closely divided by party lines, and the newspaper war ceased, after a few parting shots. A strong prejudice against the new President had been raised among the students, by the ill-considered articles of the newspapers, and Mr. Reid took the Presidential chair under the disad- vantage of having a hostile body of students opposed to him ; but if it was hostile, it was passively so, for with the characteristic fairness of stu- dents, they suspended judgment until he could show what he was made of. It is too soon, perhaps, to pass a calm judgment on President Reid and his administration. His unfamiliarity with the customs and needs of the University has placed him at a considerable disadvantage, but he has suc- ceeded in a great measure in overcoming the first prejudice against him. He has shown a much-needed energy in performing the duties of his office, and we hope great results to the University from his administration. The chair of Mathematics remains vacant. Efforts are being made to secure a man worthy of this position in a great institution, and the next issue of the BLUE AND GOLD will probably chronicle his arrival. Another Professorship has been added to the list. After the turmoil of the changes was over, Mr. D. O. Mills, a member of the Board of Re- gents, gave his check for $75,000, for the purpose of founding a chair of Mental and Moral Philosophy in the University. The chair is not yet filled. With the exception we have noted, the University has preserved its nor- mal quiet, broken only by the establishment of two new fraternities, the Phi Gamma Delta and the Theta Chi, and the reorganization of the de- funct female fraternity, the Kappa Kappa Gamma. Athletic sports have been in the depths of degradation. Foot-ball is only a name, and base-ball is scarcely better off. The number of games played has been very small. Field-Day, however, passed off successfully, and was well attended. Good records were made, as will be seen by the full account in the proper department. We are glad to chronicle the con- struction of a cinder-track on the University grounds, as a great encour- agement to athletic training. The Literary Societies have shown vigorous life this year. The exercises and debates show considerable care in preparation, and are in agreeable