University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

Page 21 text:

CM NIMETEEN-TEN MICHICA.MENSIA.M m appointed a committee of twenty-one representative alumni with Professor James R. Angell as chairman, and the progress of this body, fraught, as it is, with consider- ation of such tremendous importance, will be observed with interest. A new institution which intimately involves the whole stratum of under- graduate organization is the Board in Control of Student Activities. This body requires each student society to file articles of incorporation as a condition prece- dent to its existence and has the power to dissolve such organizations as it considers unnecessary or deleterious adjuncts of University life. Some have been inclined to criticise this innovation because it smacks of paternalism and red tape : but, nevertheless, it is certain to exert a most salutary influence on student life. Al- though the university with its one-hundred, seventy-six student organizations is probably not over-organized, and although, according to statistics, only one-tenth of the undergraduates are identified with organization life, yet there is a strong tendency for mushroom societies of doubtful merit to spring up overnight and this tendency senate supervision should, effectually curb. Moreover, such regulation lends greater dignity to those organizations which have passed the scrutiny of the university authorities and been presented with a clean bill of health. Worthy student organizations should welcome the change. Another faculty institution, which has been initiated in recognition of the lack of personal relation between the faculty and undergraduates, is the freshman advisory system. At the beginning of the school year, the entire Freshman literary class was entertained at Harbour Gymnasium where the first year students became acquainted with their advisors and with each other. The distinct aid which the advisory board aims to furnish these students is: First, counsel in the election of their studies; Second, to advise delinquent students, and, if possible, ascertain the cause of their inability to do satisfactory work; Third, in general, to break down the divergence between students and faculty, and to make the faculty appear less a teaching machine and more a body of co-workers in the interest of thestudents ' social as well as intellectual development. The advisory system, if its influence be aggressively exerted, will come to be a valuable asset both to the faculty and undergraduates. In that department of student life which President Woodrow Wilson calls the side-shows, the past year has been one of distinct advancement. The Mich- igan Union has lent a degree of solidarity to student and alumni life even greater than would appear at first glance. Commensurate in its own sphere with the influence of the Michigan Union is that of the Women ' s League. This organization has officers on the first floor of Barbour Gymnasium and furnishes Club House privileges in two parlors supplied with comfortable furniture and a reading room. During the past year, the League has given several dances and an ice carnival to reduce the indebtedness on the Women ' s Athletic Field, the property recently acquired near the observatory. It is the intention of the League to devote this field to tennis, basketball and other sports as soon as the field is free from debt and properly equipped. The Student Council during the past year has vindicated itself in the estima- tion of its critics, particularly by the thoroughness with which it conducted the investigation in the Miller controversy. By its failure to cope with the Star Theatre situation a year ago last fall, the Council had been severely criticised and it is par- ticularly fortunate that its members have this year so adequately demonstrated the efficiency of the Council in dealing with great campus problems. In the field of inter-collegiate activity, Michigan ' s record during the past year has been extremely creditable. The baseball squad, under the tutelage of Coach McAllister, made an enviable record in the South, at home and among the Eastern institutions. After a successful southern trip, the team played several games in the Middle West and concluded the season abroad with an Eastern trip III t

Page 20 text:

I- W NINttXRKN-TEN MICHIGANENSIA.M The Past Year By ARTHUR J. ABBOTT, ' 09- ' ll L. R. EDWARD E. SLOSSON in his treatises on American Universities speaks of the situation at Michigan. Harvard and Minnesota as, in a certain sense, critical, owing to the significant changes in the administration of these univer- sities during past year. However this may be, it is certain that from a Michigan stand- point at least, nineteen hundred nine has been pre-eminently a year of transition in all departments of University activity. A general awakening of alumni interest leading to the appointment of a permanent alumni improvement committee ; a well defined extension of faculty influence in the direction of more adequate control of under- graduate activities; a general progressive spirit in the administrative councils of the university; and, lastly, the initation of great projects for the betterment of undergraduate life the enumeration of these is but to indicate the general trend of events in a year re- plete with change. By far the most significant change in American Universities during the past year, was the retirement of the three oldest and most experienced University presi- dents, Eliot of Harvard at the age of seventy -five after twenty-five years of service; Northrup of Minnesota at the age of seventy-five after twenty-five years of service; and Dr. Angell at the age of eighty-one years after thirty-eight years as President of the University of Michigan. During Dr. Angell ' s administration, Michigan has grown to be the greatest commonwealth university and at the present time has more undergraduate students in its regular session than any educational institution in the United States. Its alumni body numbering approximately thirty thousand, is the largest in the country and has representatives in the United States Supreme O ' ourt, in the highest state tribunals, in the chairs of great universities and in places of high responsibility in every walk of life throughout the world. The alumni arc the back bone of a university and it is therefore of extra- ordinary significance to chronicle the fact that a definite plan of alumni organiza- tion has been evolved during the past year, along lines such as were discussed by Professor James R. Angell at the Michigan Union Banquet of last fall. The scope of this article does not permit of an extended survey of the service which may inure to the University from the organization of Michigan Alumni; but among the benefits which may and should readily flow from such an effort are: First, the formation of public opinion leading to more favorable appreciation of the needs of the univer- sity in the legislature; Second, the awakening of alumni to the need for gifts and endowments from wealthy graduates: Third, suggestions for improvement in the organization, administration and instruction of the University; Eourth, the insur- ance of alumni aid in great student enterprises, such as the raising of funds for the proposed Union CMub House. President Lane of the Alumni Association has m m m i [161

Page 22 text:

m m BBi!lll!eilHeH!!lil!i!HI!!ll!ll!lH@! r, ,. NIMETEEN-TEN MICHIGANENSI AM in which Cornell, Brown and Syracuse were defeated. These performances estab- lished for Michigan a rank among the best universities in the country. The ' varsity track team was fifth in the Intercollegiate at Cambridge, secur- ing fourteen points, thus finishing behind Harvard, Yale, Pennsylvania and Cornell and ahead of Princeton, Columbia, Syracuse and other prominent Eastern univer- sities. In the intercollegiate relays, Michigan, the six-time champion, was de- feated by Pennsylvania, thus breaking a long series of victories in this event. The football season of nineteen hundred nine reminded one of the halcyon days of 1902-3-4. Around a small and uncertain nucleus of veteran players, Coach Yost was able to develop a team which exhibited true championship form in defeating Michigan ' s greatest gridiron rivals, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. The unfortunate Miller episode, which placed a quietus on Michigan ' s claims to the formal championship of the West, was characterized by unusually effective and adequate treatment by the University authorities. It is, on princ iple, unfortunate that the university senate has been divested of the general control of Michigan ' s athletic policy. Until there is a return to the former system of faculty control of athletics, such as now quite universally prevails in other large universities, there is scant hope that the athletic affairs of the university will be placed upon a basis whereby Michigan can resume relations with her hereditary rivals of the West. The performances of Michigan ' s debaters and orators, past and present, must be a great source of gratification to all who are interested in this branch of inter-collegiate activity. In the Michigan-Chicago-Northwestern debates this year, Michigan won from Northwestern and was defeated by Chicago. Of the last twenty-two debates in the Central Debating League, Michigan has won sixteen and lost but six. In the Northern Oratorical League, with seven contesting univer- sities, Michigan has won nine first honors during the last eighteen years. This establishes a record, and in a recently published book entitled, Intercollegiate Debating , by Professor Pearson of Swarthmore College, Michigan is awarded first place in debating among American Universities. The social, literary and musical organizations have furnished speakers, artists and functions in great diversity. Among the attractions presented by the Students ' Lecture Association were Senator La Follette. Hon. Champ Clark, Lorado Taft, and the Donald Robertson Players: also an interesting vaudeville skit by the late Dr. Cook. The Choral Union numbers have included Mine. Schumann- Heinck, Yolanda Mero, Cecil Fanning, The Kneisel Quartet and Fritz Kreisler. For the May Festival are promised Sig. Campanari, Mine. Jomelli, Witherspoon and other prominent artists. The student press during the past year has exercised a tremendous influence in fostering worthy student enterprises. THE MICHIGAN DAILY has been aggressive and eminently fair in treating questions affecting the student interest. THE MICHIGAN ALUMNUS which is the only tangible connection between the old grads and the University, is a powerful agency in keeping alive the interest of Alumni. The Alumnus is the largest college-graduate magazine in existence and its field is continually broadening. THE UNIVERSITY NEWS LETTER has been effective in disseminating news among the newspapers of the state, thus afford- ing a much needed publicity concerning the aims and needs of the institution. THE MICHIGAN LAW REVIEW and MICHIGAN TECHNIC rank high among the professional journals of American Universities. THE GARGOYLE, while new, shows great possibilities in its field and deserves to become permanently estab- lished as a university publication. The recent action of the University Senate in recommending that credit be given in the literary department for services rendered on student publications, if made effective, will be an incentive for greater interest in college journalism and is bound to elevate the student publications to a still higher plane of influence and usefulness. D 11 ! H H il H [18] I