The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-02-27
COLLEGE ATHLETICS.
PRESIDENT CROWeLL'S VIEW OF
THIS ABSORBING QUESTION.

from them any features that may h-vr
proved offen-ive or Objectionable 10 the
public or have been dau aging to the bes!
interests of the students He regards
college athletics as essential TO the best
moral welfare of the college, says that
the physical inactivity Of college students
Is certain to be followed quietly but GER
tainly by the Introduction of petty vices
whose growth is sure to crop out into
mischief, disorder and systematic devil
try.
There has been much talk anent the
action Of the University trustees in re-
gard to football
President Crowell is an ardent advo-
cate of college alh'e'ics
A GLOBE reporter this morning inter
viewed President CrOwell on the subject.
eve believe in them at Trinity," said
the doctor. "There are plenty Of peo~
pie who do not l haven't found any
| body who doesn't believe in college ath
letics who offers any substitute. People
who oppose athletics are those who
rarely ever participate in them
"The nerve of good government in col
leges, consists largely IL a steady promo
ton of voluntary athletic exercises
throughout the year. My experience is
that whenever the interest in athletics
Iags, the government Of college be-
comes difficult, and unsatisfactory.
There is a vitality which must assert
itself in some way-a gap Of leisure
which must be filed in by something
other than serious strain Of thought.
A college that fails TO provide rational
opportunities for diversion will always
have plenty of deviltry on hand in the
behavior Of students.
"The most disgusting refnements Of
meanness may be looked for at any time.
industrial institutions by their physi-
cal labor dispose Of part Of this problem,
and so have less need of athletic develop.
ments, but purely literary institution,
as Trinity practically is, is exposed to
enormous risks which the outside public
knows little or nothing of.
"Without athletics as a stimulant tc
exertion every phase Of college interest
loses something for the lack of better
physical conditions
"The attempt 10 argue about atn.eIjcs
to some people is waste of breath, anC
much injury to the future deyelopmenI
Of strong college character is bling
done by persons whose fund OF vanity
and ignorance impels them to decide f"G
colleges and universities what they ought
to do. But the great majority of people
, believe that the college authorizes are
capable Of and willing TO do whatever
In the long run is regarded as best fol
the colleges. 1t is neither wise nor ra
tional that the sails Of institutions should
be trimmed to every wind of prejudice
that finds expression in private conver
sation or public print. My own conyic
ton is that athletics is only one of the
many phases Of college growth tina
needs attention, and that the scare abou
, athletics is exaggerated In the publ,
r mind.
- Il believe that educators in our highe
institutions have so firm grasp on III,
main purpose for which those institu
tions exist that there Is no danger tha
athletics or any other manifestation Q
l college activity will ore these institu
,. tions out of line with their most exalted
purpose.
Nevertheless, should regard it as
surrender of principle which is essentia
to the development of colleges and uni
versities, were the management and direc
:. ton of the internal life Of these institu
n tions to be taken away from the govern
a ing powers within them and transferre,
n TO the boards Of trustees who are pri
|. marily barely more than the holders .
s property scattered throughout the state
Y and willing butt capable of realizing III
d real character and strength Of the move
ments with which they often have L
deal.
"In the long run. then, believe tbs
e less wrong will be done If the management