University of Chicago - Cap and Gown Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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tific Congress at Santiago, Chile, they traveled some twenty thousand miles. They brought back much matter of importanceifor a proper understanding of South American conditions. The greatest extra-mural undertaking has been the Oriental investigation: Professor Burton and his Secretary, Dr. Reed, left Chicago July 1, 1908. Pro- fessor Chamberlin and his assistant,Dr. Rollin Chamberlin, left America January 1, 1909. Professor Burton has studied educational conditions in India and other Oriental countries. Together Professors Chamberlin and Burton Will study conditions in China, With the intention of learning in What way America, and particularly the University of Chicago, can be of assistance to China, and What the Flowery Kingdom can offer America. Early reports indicate that results of the expedition Will be of great importance. , The Universityowes to the public, not merely that its doors be open for instruc- tion, and that its faculty and advanced students be engaged in active scientiiie investigation, but alse that any members of the University should be ready to give the public the benefit of any special knowledge Which may be able in any way to render a public service. This has been done not infrequently. During the last Winter the Chicago Harbor Commission, appointed by the hiayor 0f the City, has made an elaborate report, Which Will have much to do. dciubtless, with the future economic development of Chicago. This report has been made under the direction of Associate Professor C. E. IVIerriaIn, Secretary of the Commission. Assistant Professor J . Paul Goode, 0f the Department of Geography, was appointed by the Commission as Special Expert, and in that capacity has made a study of harbor conditions in the principal European and American cities. His valuable report on this head has recently been published. The selection of Associate Professor lVIerriaIn at the recent primary elections in the Seventh Ward as candidate for membership in the Common Council of the cityea selection that has been recently ratified at the pOHSewill give the city the benefit of his thorough scientific knowledge of municipal affairs, Which few men can render. The Board of Trustees of the University, as well as the City of Chicago, are honored by the choice of one of the Trustees, Mr. Franklin MacVeagh, as Secretary of the Treasury in President Taftts Cabe inet, and it is confidently believed that his large abilities and ripe experience in business will in turn be of great service to the nation. 9

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The University Abroad The conferring of the Degree of Doctor of Laws upon Walthier Johann Wever at the Sixty-ninth Convocation marked the Universitfs appreciation of Dr. Weverts long-continued efforts to bring about a better mutual understanding among German and American scholars. Through the diplomacy of Dr. VVever, Professors from Germany have given occasional lectures under the auspices of the Germanistic Society of this city. So, too, occasionally Visitors from the University of Chicago have delivered short lecture courses in Berlin. Professor Laughlin and Professor Henderson have so served. The autumn of 1908 witnessed the first interchange of Professors delivering full courses. Professor Ernst Daenell, 0f the University of Kiel, delivered a course of lectures. From our own institution Professor Manly went to the University of G6ttingen, Where during the period between Christmas and Easter he lectured on it The Early History of the Drama? ,In addition to the formal exchange of Professors, German friendliness in' scholarship has been advanced by the presence of Professor Carl Clemen, of the University of Bonn, Who during the Autumn Quarter offered a course in the Department of New Testament literature. In Palestine Professor R. F. Harper conducted the iiAmerican School for Oriental Study and Research? Several students of the University have been With Professor Harper during this year. The Director.reports much interesting progress in its study of Palestinian monuments. V Professor Coulter, when on his way to pursue investigations at Naples and in Java, met With the now famous experienceon the wrecked ttRepublicP The loss of much scientific material changed Professor Coulterts plans. He will, however, represent the University at the Darwin celebration in June at the University of Cambridge, England. Professor Barnes and Doctor Land, of the same Depart- ment, during the closing months of 1908, studied and collected material from the scientifically little known regions of Mexico. Professor VVilliston, of the Depart- ment of Paleontology, conducted excavations in the Permian red-beds of northern Texas. Abundant and valuable material will be brought to Walker Museum. The University during the Autumn and Winter quarters sent Professor A. A. Michaelson and Professor J . L. Laughlin to investigate the South American educational conditions. To meet their appointment at the Pan American Scien- 8

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The New Marking System The widely recognized need of a more scholarly type of undergraduate life led to the adoption of the new marking system. There is no magic in a method; the standard of scholarship depends ultimately on public opinion in the institu- tion, but a system was desired more conducive to the end in View. The old sys- tem uSed the letters A, B, C, D, E, the values based on percentages, each letter covering a certain range. C, from 75 to 61, was the passing mark, D a condition, and E a failure. The new system uses A, A-, B, B-, C, C-, D, E, F, with tthonor- pointst, for each major taken, corresponding to the grades, from six to minus two. D is the bare passing mark. A bachelofs degree requires 36 majors and '72 honor-points. The object sought is to be attained by dismissing shiftless and incompetent students and increasing the value of a degree. To accomplish these two things a stdeadlineh was established and the requirements for a degree increased. T o retain in college students unable or unwilling to do fair work injures both the students themselves and the general tone of scholarship. It is recognized that in college a student encounters a type of work quite different from that in high school. He may need some time in which to find himself and learn how to do it. Therefore, the plan gives mu'ch leeway in the first year. A student who can get his majors of credit, even with the average of D, has a year in which to learn how to study. After that, if his record is ten honor-points below the standard ttwo per major takeny he is dismissed for poor work. The plan, however, is not a mere piece of heartless machinery; extenuating circumstances will always be considered. The higher requirement for a degree means not only a minimum amount of credit, but also a minimum standard of quality. The new system went into effect this year, and it is too early to state definite results. Only those who entered since the Spring Quarter come entirely under it; it is not retroactive. The summer is not a typical quarter. The great body of students enter in the autumn, and that is the only typical quarter whose results can now be studied. Last autumn there were in the Junior Colleges 406 new and 464 former students. Of the former, 92, 01' 22.670. made so poor an average that if they have not already withdrawn they will be liable to dismissal for poor work at the end of the Spring Quarter. Of the latter, 53, or 11.4KZJ, made a similarly low record. Some of the expressions from students have shown resentment toward the system. Now students may look upon it as a hardship or as a help. Are they working for a degree or for a liberal education, of which a degree is the token? If for the hrst, the high standard is a hardship; if for the last, why resent it? Every i 10