University of Wyoming - WYO Yearbook (Laramie, WY)

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-MXZ 0- o«cz»- COLLEGE SPIRIT. BY PRES. CHAS. O. MERICA. ' HERE are a few words and phrases that now and then come into rather general use that are used with indifferent meaning. Sometimes they are made to cover a multitude of vagaries. Sometimes they are used as explanation for all sorts of projects, having much force in the preparation, permanency or vitality of the project. Of these the title at the head of this article is one. Ask anyone what an average college lacks and you are nearly sure to get the answer, College spirit. Ask twenty-five people who use the expression somewhat thoughtlessly, what is college spirit and you will probably receive twenty-five answers. Now, there are some things that college spirit is not. College spirit does not necessarily consist of see- ing what class can place its initial figures in the highest position upon the tower, or play the meanest and most trying trick upon the other classes. It does not consist of seeing what class or organization can invent the newest and freshest method of trouble making to everybody outside of the organization. It does not even cons:st of seeing what organization can secure for its members the largest number of offices in college elec- tions, even though such elections are carried forward without any regard to methods employed. It does not consist of the discovery on the part of members of organizations of the highest type of ingenuity for pervert- ing standards of conduct without crossing the lines of recognized decency. Now, however, college spirit may sometimes result in a class writing its initial figures upon the tower of the building. It may result in most delicious types of practical jokes and in successful elections for its members. These things in themselves may not be condemned sweep- ingly. If a real, genuine wave of college spirit sweeps across the campus accomplishing the end that college spirit ought to accomplish perhaps few sane people would complain if in its wake it left some things topsy-turvy. Perhaps college spirit ought not to be anything very much apart from the spirit of life. Since a college has an atmosphere of its own it may manifest itself in a college in a different aspect from that which it would take in a church. But it is more than likely that it ought to be much the same thing. The spirit of anything is intelligent enthusiasm for the content of the thing. It is belief in its efficiency and in its right to be. It has such ins:stent belief in these things that it becomes promul- gation, progressive advertisement and attainment. Class spirit is confi- dence in the class, expressing itself. Fraternity spirit is fraternity sat- isfaction as to certainty of fraternity efficiency. College spirit is loyalty to college, and limitless willingness to make its attainment equal the vision of its possibilities. Community spirit is therefore the submersion of mere individual desire. It forgets itself in its joy in the community. If class, fraternty, or college spirit finds expression in attainment it finds it not in any individual satisfaction. In this kind of spirit the in- dividual asks no pay. To be specific, athletic spirit is that kind of spirit that builds bleachers, cleans up the athletic grounds, plays the game and that, not always, at least at twenty cents an hour. College spirit, being a community spirit, plays the game in social fairness. It fights and fights hard, but it uses fair weapons. It gives a shout of triumph, but does not quarrel. It knows its own rights, but also knows the rights of others. Should this kind of spirit in college, class, fraternity, etc., find a home in an institution it would exalt the institution. It would cry Ex- celsior in the institution ' s name on all the highest places. It would push for the institution, up, and up, and up. Now should this kind of spirit thus find a home and thus perform, who would care if perchance it wrote its name high on the tower or swung its flag on the flag-staff, or made a community laugh at incongruous happenings to students or fac- ulty, or even marched upon a Sunday morning. -{•(XZ O- I (xr»+

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•:-o«= o o cr o- President Chas. O. Merica. • ' r(X= o z o-i

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•:-0 = o -o r: o• THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. OFFICERS. Otto Gramm President Timothy F. Burke, LL. B Vice President Arthur C. Jones Treasurer Frank Sumner Burrage, B. A Secretary EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Otto Gramm Gibson Clark V. J. Tidball MEMBERS. term appointed expires 1895 Hon. Timothy F. Burke, LL. B ...1913 1903 Hon. A. J. Mokler 1913 1907 Hon. J. F. Crawford 1913 1895...... Hon. Otto Gramm 1915 1908 Hon. Gibson Clark..... 1915 1909... Hon. V. Jean Tidball, B. A., LL. B. 1915 191 1 ...Hon. Alexander B. Hamilton, M. D 1917 1911 Hon. Lyman H. Brooks .1917 191 1 Hon. Augustine Kendall 191 7 Hon. Rose A. Bird, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ex officio Pres. Charles O. Merica, LL. D Ex officio ' Resigned. ' 0 = Q -0 :z o -