The sun., 1895-03-20
GLOOM AT HARVARD.
THE FACULTY. STILL OPPOSED TO
INTERCOLLEGIATE FOOTBALL.

sprInr Practice OF the Eleven May Ne
stopped Will Harvard he Represented
In the College Conference on Rules
CAMBRIDGE, March 10 Once moro the IEar-
ward faculty have set their mark of dispcnsure
on intercollegiate football, This last action was
taken this afternoon, when they met and passed
tho following vote:
The faculty having received and considered com.
municntion from the committee the regulation OF
athletic sports. dated Feb 60 lS05 remain OF the
opinion that student under their charge should 10
permitted to take part IN intercollegiate football
contests.
Tonight everybody was asking. What docs
this mean ~ for 1t is singuarly cnigmatical. As
a matter Of fact, it means no more than 1t says
at least just at present
1t is not final, but Is merely another express
sion of tho faCulty'a opinion which. added to Its
previously expressed opinion. makes it apparent
to any one that football ut Harvard is pretty
near deaths door.
1t will be noticed that the wording Is changed
materially from the first vote. In the original
vote 1t was stated that the Athletic Committee
were notified that 1t was the desires OF the fac
ulty that intercollegiate contests be abolished.
by this wording there was a sort of conflict
between the faculty and committee. There was
a great deal Of discussion over 1t, and many au-
thorlties wero at loss to define sharply the
powers Of each body. Now. the faculty got
around that difficulty by taking Il short cut that
is generally criticised by the collegs unfair to
the Athletic Committee.
contests be abolished. They take advantage Of
the fact that all matters pertaining to the stu
dents themselves are in their hands, and act ac-
1t 10 as II they said: Perhaps wo can't
abolish intercollegiate football here. but we can
keep the students from playing In the games"
ltis simply the abolition Of football from another
The faculty members were very reticcnt about
speaking Of the vote; One member, however,
said i" In my opinion 1t will be some time before
any definite action is taken by the faculty. The
changed in their opposition to the game, al
though they have taken no final action.
convinced that other colleges rs well as lIar-
ward were to take part in the movement of re-
played another season as an experiment.
PERSONALLY, think that it Is only fair that
the these % ssDua have fair trial before
There was another full meeting Of the faculty
hours the question was talked over and over be-
fore the final result was decided upon.
1t will be remembered that after the very first
faculty vote on the matter the Athletic Commit
tee prepared a communication to the faculty,
which outlined their position and the plans Of
reform they proposed to institute.
1t has been the basis OF the faculty discussion
for the last two meetings. 1t is manifesty ono
OF the mo most important tcommunications that have
officially Harvard's athletic committees posi-
tion.
In order to lessen the excessive notoriety and
bring the game within the proper limits Of n col.
lcge sport. they recon mend ID That all
games be played upon the home grounds of tho
competitors; e., That the salo OF tickets be
limited to graduates and undergraduates for
themselves and their guests: CD That all efforts
on the part of the press to give undue publicity
to the game throughout the season be discour-
aged.
In the matter of training they feel that much
has been accomplished by the adoption of La
throp's idea. They hope to effect still further
reforms by shortening the period of hard foot.
introduction to the active work.
They recommend also the abandonment OF
the summer practice. In order to further di-
minish tho liabilt; Of injuries. they recommend
relating to n fair catch. low tacklng. disquali-
feat tion, and reduction Of time for resumption
The committee have spent much time in pre-
pairing these suggestions, and they apparently
cover tho ground very thoroughly. But it is
evident that the faculty do not consider II so.
Prot. Ames of the committee was naturally
unwilling to say ANYTHING upon the matter as
he is go nearly interested. Other men. however,
who are prominent in Harvard athletic matters
and were very outspOken.
They one and all agreed that 1t was out
and out throw down" for tho Athletic Com
mittee.
Capt. Brewer of tho football eleven did not
know what to do when seen tonight. lie was
looking for some one to explain to him what the
action OF the faculty meant. and he could not
tel. whether the vote would stop tho spring
practice or not.
The most immediate effect will undoubtedly
be to prevent Harvard from entering into tho
proposed conference OF the colleges for amend
ing the rules.