New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-09-05
SPORTS IN THE COLLEGES.
VIEWS OF PRESIDENT ROBINSON.
A STRONG PRESENTATION OF TIE ABUSES AND
EVILS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM.

A STRONG PRESENTATION of HE ABUSES hND
EVILS OF The PRESENT SYSTEM.
lrRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBrNr
PROVIDENCE, r. l.. Sept. AT the annual meet
ing of the Corporation of Brown University yestcI-
day, President Robinson gave large part of his
annual report to a consideration of the questions
come ted with college sports. He said
The subject OF college athletics has within the past
year. attracted TO Itself unusual attention. Among
the question has arisen and been earnestly discussed
whether the time has not now come Tor the adoption n
uniform regulations that shall control the contests
50 frequently recurring between the athletic clubs OF the
different colleges. one OF these games football Ii IA
charged ma. egeneracd into methods bordering the
barbarous and brutal while others have engrossed 20
much OF the attention Of the players rs seriously TO inter
feIe with the higher and real work for which colleges
exist one Of the games also has sometimes brought
professional paycrs and their following a. 10 awaken
apprehcnsions Of serious decentralization. Attempts
have been made among the faculties OF the colleges I'M
ne lately concerned In these intercollegiate contests to
unite on uniform regulations that shall control
them, but thus far without success.
In some OF these contests particularly those OF loot
ball and boatracng. the students OF this university
am glad 10 say. have not, I'm recent years been parc
pants Football and boating, however bOth nave thelr
votarles with ia. but matches I'm these occur only be
tween the classes Of our own college, or at most Win
athletic games especially I'm BASEBALL students have
participated extent that has proved neither profit
able to those participating nor conducive 10 inc Oc'
work on the part ~ the rest OF the college. ,
That some intelligent and systematic attention ought
70 be given IN all our colleges To phIsca culture Sy
he regarded universally accepted truth mat dle
provision. however. has not hitherto heh made TOT ts
part of education. IN many OF our colleges our own
among others. cannot be denied WITHIN most OF tlc
colleges athletic sports ana games nave ad sprt vi
spontaneous growth among the students thehlse'leS
Out ~ the games have naturally sprung Inc INTERIOR
lcgiate contests; a' the contests, 10y natural fcAcuoh
have greatly siren med ana Wldeucl, among the con
testing colleges. an interest IN All xmas OF annette Hpol
This interest uniformly eliminates IN the CLOSING io
Of the college year and too often intericres with eS
mate college WORK.
The places at which the base bau contests arc no"
held. extend from Hanover y H. ana Amherst Mass
to Princeton, y j. The lue therefore, necessarily re-
quircd in travelling 10 ANA ifO u VIII ncon-cIN'I 'ihHuu
DE mc0n-iderabc Tho attendance oI al cd't Ten men
on side being required 81 each game the number oi hp
sencc. from COLLEGE duties when Tie contests occur can
not TAIL I'm q small college. 10 he observed by all Nhch
the coutcstng not far away, furthermore he
termination certain other students 10 Co. uneFcu~ru
from college work Witnesses Of tine sport, sometimes
becomes too strong for them 10 resist Ana the admin
fsra0u of corrective discipline Tor such uncNcl~rd an
-cnccs an the unpleasant from the TACT
that one of the colleges participating 100 the coute~7 al
low. its student. 10 absent tucu.clNc- from college
duties iu Attendance 'hc games, without ca .ius
them To account for their o. .cucc.
Tic atfefuuf- q maIr among tho colleges 10