New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-25

GENERALLY INDORsED BY NEW-IORk
EDUCATORS
CHANCELLOR MACCRACKEN AND orii1"' ''iNN
HIS IDEAS GOOD - SOME EN'hl lio''"
TAKEN BY DIR. WHITE.

BY DIR WHILE
rxnress,ons Of opinon regarding President Ello;s
renort on college athletics. which has awaN"hei
,,y, discussion among college graduates and stu
dents I'm this city have been obtained by a Irlpuhc
reporter from the Rev DR. Henry NJ MacCracken,
choncellor of the University Of the CITY OF
Now-york Dr. John S. White, head master
of tho Herkeiey School : General Alexander
& Webb president Of tho College OF the
city OF New-York. and President CharicS H.
Knox Of the Board of Education Presldehl or''
Low Of Columbia College. who was also visited 10y
the reporter said that he had not read President
Ellots report. and that even had ne done 80 "e
would prefer to make no comment regarding II.
Chancellor Mace acren said: Just now am TAX
ing an active practical interest in college alhi'''S'
have spent a good part OF to-day '"aS''"''' ~"
nir.hdavc in looking after the athletic grounds az
our new site above Mount Morris. am very nuc"
in favor of careful and systematic provisions for
regulating college athletics. In reading over the
ru,cs suggested by President Eliot have thought
that most Of them would be good for our faculty 10
adopt. We shall occupy our new buildings next
October when our athletic field VIII also DE rr''F'
We are making plans for a large ana thoroighiy
equipped gymnasium. which will likewise he opened
in October SO that have especial interest III 'n
subject M this tine President Eliots suggested
Rule 40 T. that there should be no freshman IL
tercolleglate matches or races, would Z" u'ie''S-
sarv with MS as there Is no likelihood that We shall
have n distinctivey freshman class 10 dehl WIN
Rule No . that no games intercollegiate or other
should be played on any but college fields. belong
ing to one Of the competitors. in college towns
believe in Rule No g. that M ofcsslonal student
should take part In any intercollegiate contests
should hardly favor see no reason why our large
body Of law and medical students should not be per
mlttod to take part In such contests. presume
that pr EllorS aim IL - maintain greater even
ness AS 10 age and physical strength. believe VI
that principle and think that professional student,
should have their associations separate as far ~
practicable but do not think they should be
altogether ruled ont from participation In college
contests Rule 80 {. that no student should be
member Of n university team or crew I'm more than
one sport in the same year, IS a good one II
would prevent students from giving inor'l.nate at
tcnton 10 athletics AMI would tend - prevent them
from being bur'lenci with too much expense. Rule
80 3 that no football should b" played until the
rules are - amended a. - diminish the number
AMI the violence 90 The collisions between the play
crs' would believe ~ most heartily. this game "a
now PLAYED being exceedingly dangerous to life ana
limb Rule 80 g. that intercollegiate contests In
any one srort should not take place o'tener than
every other scar | should hardly favor.
THE MONEY MAKING FEATURE CONSIDERED
Il would suggest that In addition TO the four OF
President Eo;'s six rules which have nlorsei
rule be- adopted providing that in no con;cs, shall
there he p"cunlIry object - the students or COL
leg" ns~Jci1t ms, ana tntt IN" cpli'S" h1iH''lt'S
shall have charge Of The finances Of the exhibitions
The authorities might. as IS done at commence
Inents admit spectators only by invitation. without
charge or II they preferred. make n charge for
admission but I would release the students from
the aspect ~ money making My observations have
taught that when students star, out 10 give "x-
hibltIons FOR a money consideration they receive
more harm than good. as those who are pu; In
charge drawn away from their studies. and as
they are generally inexperienced In money matters
MISUNDERSTANDING AMI difficulties very often arise
I have been called upon an average once I'm every
twelve months 20 take part IN strengthening ont
financial troubles I'm which students have become
involved from the mere fact that they were not
business, persons would prefer that intercollegiate
exhibitions should be witnessed only ~ such per
sons "A are Invited. and without any Zee being
charged for admission. think that plan would ~
very far townrl putting intercollegiate contests on
"A much higher plane
Il would also adj rule providing against the
taking OF Thanksgiving Day FOR contests as that IA
contrary to the purpose for which that day is pro-
claimed by the President OF the Nliion. Thanks
giving Day IS intended TO be observed "a Il home
festival. and all students VINO - home should
do 50 instead or perverting the proper use OF the
day. do not object 10 rowing. and We have bllk-
head fronting hfty feet the Harlem River
which We shall have II bon;house. Ny own cf-
forts az 10 our athletic facilities. however. are di-
recei more toward providing Large AMI thorough
~ equipped gymnasium whore our students may
have systematic and symmetrical training and exer-
else. believe In track athletics rather than foot
ball etc in fact. agree with that parent who said:
Other things being equal would prefer for my
son that college which has the most complete physl
cal training and the poorest record In intercollegiate
contests would not cultivate intercollegiate con-
tests but II they must come. they should be placed
under "A code OF rules which should contain at least
four OF President Eiots rules. and the two which
games only college grounds would draw the stu
dents away from the hearts OF great cities ana /
thereby have a tendency - discourage and diminish
carouslls and exercises The dissipation. disorder |
and almost riot which attend and follow nicrco !
lc,,iatc contests cannot certainly be- prevented by
these rules though they would be discouraged and |
greatly lcssened.
HOW TO PREVENT DISSIPATION AND DISORDER
My principal recommendation for preventing this
dissipation and disorder is that rules should be !
adopted and strictly enforced requiring students to-
return their colleges at the clos. OF con-
tests. I do not think. however. that there Is any
more and I'm fact there H. probably less DISSIPATION
among college students. In proportion 10 their mum
Der to-day than there when In college
over thirty years ago. As college president |
have always labored to bring college traditions and :
customs into more complete accord with the prin-
ciplcs which should guide Christian young men en-
ged In any business whatsoever. ! have never |
been able why we should tolerate for stu |
dents different rules from those which applied |
to bookkeepers business statesmen or young men |
engaged In banking other similar business. Stu
dents should be taught that the moral rules by |
which they are be guided while in college the
same as those by which they were guided before
entering and must be guided by after leaving coi-
lege | am in favor of college faculties applying
the ordinary criminal laws of the State to students
who offend against the rights OF others "a. for
ample in the recent case at Cornell and heartily
indorse the police OF this city for arres,ng student
Offenders
PRESIDENT wEBBS ENDORSEMENT.
President Webb said: 81 am with President Eliot,
heart and soul our college has no athletic grounds.
so that am disqualified from taking up his sug-
gestlons In detail | cannot indorse game OF foot