New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-01
COLLEGE SPORTS.
HARVARD DETERMINED TO PUT DOWN PROFESSION
AIIsM-FACULTY AND STUDENTS IN CONFER

HARVARD DETERMINED TO PUT DOWN PROFESSION
AIIsNI-FACULrY AND STUDENTS IN CONFER
ENcE.
fFaoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiRUfb'i
CAMBRIpGF, Mass, Jan. 30.--A committee
Of the Faculty consisting OF President Eliot Professors
shaer j. NJ Perce ]. W White Guerney and Preoe met
twenyour invited students arecent afternoon In inc
rooms of the Faculty confer on the subject OF college
athletics. President Eliot in opening the discussion
stated that the meeting had been called for the purpose
OF securing better common understanding on the topic
named between Faculty and students. The discussion
would be entirely informal and each member OF the
Faculty present should be construed In his remarks us OK
pressing merely his private opinion AID not as committing
the Faculty any As he had lately expressed
his views in print treferring to his annual report he
would not continue with further comment.
The debate then turned upon the question OF pro-
fessionais1n IN college athletics, which subject Pro
lessons Shaler and White expressed themselves at some
length The Faculty desired, It WAS Stated
that Harvard should be on even terms
with other colleges with which they competed
There were three alternatives open to the college
Either Il should allow the present system to he stretched
to full limit and permit professionalism to gain com
pctc sway college sports or 1t should secure inc Co
operation Of other colleges and abolish all Intercourse
with professionals; or finally the college should Will
draw completely from intercollegiate contests ITO
White expressed himself strongly in favor OF CON
tlnung such contests President Eliot said that although
some dozen years had himself in laYor OF
such move present he did not wish to commit him.
self in favor oft AS to the first alternative, that
seemed ut present to be highly Objectionable. The
second the measure which the Faculty had laiey
been earnestly striving to BRING apout 10 eHct ,is
purDose ting OF delegates from college Faculties
had recently been held in New-lOrk.
definition the Facultys idea of professionalism
brought ont during tie conference Men employed
~ trainers, who did not participate III sports Tor money
like Mr. Camp, OF YALE or Colonel Bancroft Oh liaN u
the Faculty did not FOR Its purposes regard 'a proleslo
ais The presence OF professional LII TINS sense now
even tne college grounds II man OF gOOd chhacleI
might be productive OF less harm than Intercourse VIII
technical amateurs OF lower character But this did not
affect the Facultys position. Their objection was TO the
ntrouCtioa OF professional methods and spirit into
college sports. The tTO should be totally divorced. 1t
was FOR hi, reason that the Faculty objected to employ
Ing for temporary periods even, any professional
trainer. n such trainer However, had rcnounced the
pursuit of his profession he would longer be con-
Sill red "a professional within the Faculty meaning ana
sucn u one would De employed by tue college.
President Eliot opposed to the practice INDUCED In
bv college teams of depending largely upon the receipts
from gltc-mOncy ior paying their expenses lie thougAl
tbat small ciiargs seats games might be made,
lIt the privilege OF viewing the games should DC per
ferv free 90 both students ana outsiders. lie was
strongly opposed to fence around the athletic
grounds and regretted that the circle OF benches NOW on
Jarvis field shut Oh 80 large part OF the grounds rom
one would then remain 20 pay the expenses Of inter
collegiate contests discussion did not bring 10 light
The only marked diversity OF opinion between Stuch's
and professors, eXpessed AT Tile meeting seemed 10 De
a- To- the possibility pursuing middle course mnier
the present Syston. President Eliot and Professor he
seemed to consider sucn course quite Impossible M
Coolidge president OF the Athletic Association and
others argued that by judcious oversight ny the rae
uty Committee and 10y using extreme care IN employing
professional, trainers. element Of professionalism.
need bc introduced INTO colfgt sp3riS Inc TAs, "a
college heticS coud be easily checked and things r.
duced the basis of the time not long passed whe le
crusade against prOie-SloallSih was ulhcdru o. III ~
py this President Eliot said that II was the ann OF tue
Faculty to prevent professionalism IN too iotIdiloh
OF II was almost rs bad aS ITS most aggtavu
mcn and the experience of the English universities IN
recent years would teach that nothing less tlan tOaI
abolition of all connection with the professional ana
sporting world would serve as a remedy.