New-York tribune., 1891-12-20
THE HARVARD ATHLETIC COMMITTEE.
THE STORY OF ITS INTERFERING HISTORY TOLD
AN ESCAPE FROM DANGEROUS EXcEsss.

THE STORY OF ITS INTERFERING HISTORY TOLD
AN EsCAPD FROM DANGEROUS EXcEsS'
Cambridge Mass, Dec. 13.-The relation OF the
facult to athletics and the relation OF athletics 10 te
regular COLLEGIATE work are subjects which are daily
commanding more and attention from the out
side world and from students all over the country
The general public has for years believed that dls-
proportionate amount OF time Is given to ahetlcs at
college, and II Is at Harvard that this voice OF ue
public and its echo among the "old logies Oh t"e
faculty were FIRST hearkened to. 1t was ~ harVard
that the first step was taken to give the faculty. or s
representatives some kind Of control over the athletic
sports OF the students And the first step was taken
by the appointment OF the Harvard Athletic Committee
whose interesting history in its entirety has never
before been made public. All college men VIII pe
glad 10 know the inner story OF an organization "hch
In recent years has played important figure In
Harvards athletic history
The story OF the origin is rather curious oh lhe
night OF May 90 1852, I'm faculty meeting an
Instructor OF the college claimed the moor and SAID
"Gentemen hold in my hands document OF
grave import 20 the college
Upon investigation this proved TO be a scheduie
of the baseball games to be played that splhg Nhe
teen were to be played away from Cambnase' heoes-
stating the almost continual absence Of the members
of the nine Such state of affairs called fof acuo
so Thought the faculty-aId committee OF hVc
was sppolnted To investigate athletics This committee
recommended the formation OF permanent
committee OF three. The original members were
Professors White and Norton and Dr. sargent Vi
the gymnasium. II will thus be seen tha' Professor
White has been associated with the Athletic Commlttee
from the very first. This committee acied as sor.
of bufer between the faculty and the Students ana
from the first had most friendly relations with the
latter
After three wears the committee recommended
and these recommendations were seconded by John
Ouincy Adams and NJ. A. AgassH, VINO sat WIN
them in many OF their meetings-changes III iuS cosu
tution of which the chief was the addluoh oi WV
undergradusre members. These changes were auop'e'
in 1856 and from the first the undergraduate hie'
hers were a success Ihe new committee did much
yo,rabls work especially In revision Of the playing
rules Of football It remained unchanged Tor thlee
years but trouble was brewing LII al
upexpected quarter The number OF men engaged III
athletics and the number of contests had UecA oon
stantly increasing ance 1880. From ory-nm men IN
1890 who were engaged In athletic concsS "n
college team OF some Sort the number ilad hceaseu
10 log I'm 1887 And in the gymnasium, whiH III
1850 there were 474 lockers. In 1883 there were
,116 The Athletic Committee had looked upon ehis
ne a subject for congatulstiOn, but many oiu srSou-
ates who could remember the days wheh tie r"0o
with Yale WIS the sole Undergraduate coh'es'' pos'
In take ALARM Their fears for the future Vi Inc
college resulted In the spring OF Se, In the aPpot
ment OF committee Of the Overseers 'hat '1'
intercollegiate contests for the future be forbidden
what the result OF such action by the faculty
IN accordance with the majority report would nave
been everybody can guess 1t would nave meanV
min 10 all branches OF nthleucs, ana there "o"u
naturally have been fewer men attracted 10 lir'au
had athletics been so permitted TO die. but happn'
for Harvard sherc minority report vi on0 "
the effect that the remedy lay in ehechN coh'io'
rather than prohibition. 1t was In accordance WEN
voted ON Nav 2 1888, not 10 accept the majority
report and further: ,...,ou,,,
That in the opinion of this Board, intercollegiate
contests should take place only In Cambridge, Ne"-
Haven or such other New England dV or Town "'
the Committee on Athletes may from time 10 ume
designate that University teams alone should be per
mitted 10 take part in intercollegiate contests ana
,h.. students should be prohibited from taking part
IN contests with organizations not belonging 10 tho
University except Saturdays and holidays
,rhe poard also recommended changes T. the consl-
tstion OF the Athletic Committee Ihese chiseS Ner0
oaon.ed and As nj present constituted the committee
consists OF three graduate and tlTee faculty meinoes'
sppolned BY tho corporation with the consent oi 'e
Oyerseers and three undergraduate members. eleced
,v ,bo majority vote of the following students
the presden,s OF the senior. junior and sophomore
classes and representative from each OF the following
athletic ORGANIZATIONS: the Boat Club. the Ci1cAet
CIub and the Athletic, Baseball, Football, Lacrosse
and Tennis Associations.
The Harvard Athletic Committee now mas ehtre
supervision and control OF all athletic exercises
within and without the precincts of the University
Tho control ~ athletics 4 thus taken entirely away
from the faculty. The committee reports once
year 10 the corporation but has never rcceiVcn
any instructions from them except those accompany
ing the vote which constituted it. These were con-
Vioa m at The faculty and committee be informed
that the Corporation and Board OF oyerseers are o.
opinion that further restrictions should pe pI1, pece,
upon Intercollegiate confess IN regard 10 tne PnoS'
whore and the days when they should be Played
the teams that shall tale p part aT t1 the recon-
mendaons of May Q, 1883, and the Athletic Committee
felt bound to follow We'll as soIs.na Il eSd M inc scrnns
and no less important duty the fostering OF the sports
rnn Illustrations viii show in what spirit the
mittee has discharged its two duties a..
The E1ga.Rd .tr RSl omm,or A It's aSyd Tsy mrs. n,
football management TO arrange games for the future
in England as far as possible yeaT ana a
the rule since known as the New England Rule de-
feing to the known wish OF the r0roFaom ana
insisted upon the letter Of The rule but rather on It's
spirit. u ,oea ,.oomronded that
university teams alone should be allowed to take part
in the Intercollegiate contests int the Auleuc Com
mlttee has considered that freshman games are nee
cesednr ciass bey have therefore allowed them
First ali arrangements made BY freshman teams must
be approved by the university management OF mo
sport secondly freshmen are defined as trstyear men
In the academic and scentnc derai tmefts, regular or
specials. <.-..,,,,o, ,r,,,. ,o,o,,,oo ., ,,o
ovenseers has continually consulted the Interests OF
athletics at the same time lis history has been on,
Wv t6a outsee public for imaginary dictatorship, 1t has
oiwsys existed for the true good Of Harvard athletics
and the good of the college
CAUsTICs FOR CANCERs.-serious objection IS