The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-10-24

A COLLEGE LEAGUE.
The Inauguration of Helpful ant
friendly Work Among Students.

Friendly Work Among Students.
A quiet little movement is on foot
amongst the wives of the professors of
Columbia college and a few interested
friends. to add to the practical workings
of that institution an organization SINH
lar in plan and scope to one which origi-
mated in Ann Arbor, Mich. few years
ago, and which has proved SO productive
of good results that it ought to be
adopted in every college in the country
where co-education exists.
One afternoon in that charming west
ern city. two or three professors wives
chanced to be together, when their at
tentiol became aroused to the uncheered
lives of numbers OF young women in col
lege who seemed to have no social ties
or friendly relations of whatever sort;
who We're perhaps poor had come 10
town without introductions, were shy
and difndent. or may be inclined to take
ousiy; often, indeed, overworking from
sheer lack of that social relaxation Wnlcn
duStS the c0bWebs from the BRAIN lifts
the weight OF self-imposed responsibility,
and irnparts new enthusiasm and fresh
ness to Tagging energies. They recog-
nizad the fact, TOO, that while many such
do not fail to go through the college cur
riculum with honor, they afterwards 90
out into the world obviously unequipped
with that broader. better culture Wnlcn
comes from contact with older more ex-
percnced minds in the atmosphere OF re-
fined and cultivated homes. The outcome
OF this afternoons conversation was the
voluntary association of the young Wo-
men Of the college, under the name of
the "Women's League of the University
of Michigan with a large associate
membership of the wives of the profess
sors and other social leaders of the city
| The general aim of the society crystal
lzed itself into. a few specified objects:
To cultivate friendly and helpful inter-
course amongst the college women, ire
spective of department, of courses of
study or of any church or society affilia-
tons; to further the spirit of unity and
loyalty to the university; to give practi-
cal aid to young women entering college;
to afford opportunities for social enjoy
ment in the homes and to bring before its
members subjects which are of especial
interest to college women.
! In its practical working, however. the
association has found the last clause to
embody perhaps the least essential of the
women entering college, and the social
enjoyment have proved themselves of
untold value.
1t is the duty of the reception commit
! tee of the league to be present in the
main building during the examinations
and opening day of each year. Indeed
| the young women of this committee re-
turn to college several days before the
opening that they may better look after
| the stranger within the gates. often going
! to the station to meet and direct them
| To each new conner they give reliable
| information upon all possible points, sup
| plying lists of desirable rooms, boarding
places. laundresses and other practical
necessities. They then introduce them to
| the professors and to each other, and in
! general initiate them happily into the
college life. Friendly calls are also early
made upon these new recruits. and they
are accompanied to the churches of their
| choice and at once introduced to the
pastor and the leading ladies of the con-
| gregation.
The delightful homes of the members
i of the faculty are then thrown open to
| these young women. Not only are "At
| Homes" regularly given to members OF
the league and their friends, but the city
is accurately divided into sections Sc
| that no one may be overlooked, and ev-
cry week at some of the homes a tea
| Is given to % young women students
These are perfectly informal functions
after the manner of the usual high tea
several of the professors wives being
present to aid in the entertainment
Games, music and dancing are intro
duced; reading also, If anyone happens tc
be present who reads exceptionally well
or has CHANGED upon anything more thar
ordinarily amusing or entertaining. Thu
women of the faculty, headed by Mrs
f, President Angel, a distinguished soeia
leader, threw themselves with enthusiasm
into the undertaking and enjoyed it quite
as much MS the girls. The hospitality o.
the league has been cordially Responded
10 by the students except by the oc
caslonal girl who cares for no function
undecorated by the young man. and thu
uitra-sensltve young woman who fear.
that she Is being patronized
The officers of the league are elected
yearly. The executive board is composed
of students, representing every depart
ment OF the university. The advisory
board Is made up of 10 associate mem
bers. The annual membership fee is 2
Icents
Monthly gatherings of the league are
dresses by distinguished women are glver
during the year. It is easy to see wha'
an inestimable boon such an association
would be 10 students in any strange city