St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-22
UNIVERSITY OBSERVATIONS.

Even before a student arrives at the uni
versity his mind is filled with tales of billy
goats with long horns and fiery eyes, which
breath flame and birthstone. He has heard
with awe OF the mystic rites OF secret sOcie-
ties, and he pictures to himself the trials
which await the initiate. He finally comes
into such Il state thar the mere sight of u fra
ternity badge causes him to shudder. His
parents at home have probably warned him
To avoid AL such things Us one of the evils OF
college life, which must be stunned. The
boys views change somewhat when he has
been here while. and he recognizes that
there are many mistaken ideas about these
institutions. We have four fruteruities here,
the Chi Psi, Theta Phi, Phi Delta Theta and
Delta Tau Delta, given in the order of their
founding. Tue hourishing conditions OF
these societies atteStS the growth and pros
perity of our university. A student soon
finds the set of boys with whom he wishes TO
associate, and he joins the fraternities OF
which they are members. This is one of the
uses OF fraternitics. When a student comes
ana oftentimeS not even acquaint-
ances. His chances of becoming ac-
quainted with the men in higher classes
is not very great. All this the fraternities
supply. As soon as Il man becomes Il mem
Der OF a society he Is aided in all undertake
ingS by his fellow members aud he becomes
acquainted with older men who can give him
good advice derived fIom their greater eX-
perieuce in college affairs. Where frGtern-
titles are most prosperous we can see decline
OF hazing and similar sports, especially when
the fraternities have members i'm all classes.
Glass spirit cannot be dominant over fra
teruity feeling. 1t is owing in a measure 10
the secret societies that there are no class
nights. haZing, etc, in our university. Last
spring the freshmen showed their teeth
little and published a saucy manifesto, but
even this could not provoke the other stu
dents To- depart from their habits of dignitied
order which is and has been one of the chief
features of this school. The fraternities
have a good deal of influence in college
affairs, as is natural, for they are the only
organizations of students for mutual help
and benefit.
Besides this, in a social way, a student is
aided much by being a fraternity man. All
OF the secret societies are more or less active
In society, and the best entertainments are
always given under their auspices. The best
men in a school are generally fraternity men,
and parents may feel satisfied when their
sons join secret societF, if it is a good one,
that they are lettering themselves. The tend
ency of college life is selfish. 4 student
comes up here 10 help himself and look out
for No. L" is too often the motto. When he
becomes member OF fraternity. he, so to
speak, steps into q family OF brothers, whose
duty IL is TO help one another.
The ladies' have two sorOrities, the Kappa
Kappa 50 NINA and Delta Gamma, which are
the same in principle a. the fraterniJieS. It
is u fact worth noting aud worthy of the at
tentlOn OF the governors or colleges, that
schools rank is easily told by the fraternities
which are represented. Ii is necessary for
the welfare of a national society that it's
chapters are only placed in the best institu-
tons, where there will be abundant material
to furnish themselves with new men as the
Old ones graduate. There can be no objec-
ton to the fraierniics as conducted here.
The management of the university is so uni
yersally popular that what might be a power
full organism to combat authorities, is now
exercised in seeing that the rules and regula-
tons of the school, unwritren as well as writ
ten, are carried out, both in the spirit and the
letter.
-
Our program of studies is arranged in an
entirely original plan. never attempted in any
OtL e. college. Our recitatiOnS begin at sis
and continue until 10 o'clock, this time being
divided into five periods with fifteen minutes
for chapel. Some laboratory work comes in
the afternoon, but all that is possible which
is great deal too much, is crowded into the
morning session. This crowding OF work
often creates great Inconvenience. Those
seniors who elect biology must be present the
first and last hour, and those who elect chem
istry UeSides must be N the labOraTO Y grOm2
till 4. This is very successful in breaking
up the day. Often in the scientific course a
student must recite ana perform laboratory
work for the whole morning session. Work.
ing so long is a very severe mental strain and
it is well known that studies recited the fifth
hour are UninterestIng and seem very diff
cult. This is aggravated by the bad ventila-
ton in the old wing of the main building.
The only way of sufficiently airing the rooms
is by opening the windows, which is not pos
sible in our severe winters. Thus headache
and similar maladies are produced and the
student is entirely untitled for studying in
the afternoon.
The university buildings are very much
crowded. This will be somewhat relieved
when the new building now in the course of
erection is completed; but still more room /,
neeCed for a chemical laboratory. Also a
laboratory is needed in the department of
biology. The class noT uses small rooms
with poor light, lacking water, sink and all
the accommodations necessary. During GER
tain hours it Is not possible TO get a seat in
the reading-rOom. The university is full to
overfiowing at present aud more room is
needed.
The Dime Muscum.