The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-13
University Athletics.

University Athletics.
The Pipestone Review prints an
editorial criticism of the management
of the state university which is, evil
IDENTIFY inspired by such an unfriendly
spirit, altho the writer claims to be
an alumnus, and is written with such
disregard of the facts, as to call for
some correction. The editor of the
Review makes the Michigan football
team the text for criticism of the
university management for using
money appropriated for Improving the
| campus by providing a football field.
We are not familiar enough with
the items in the university appropria-
ton bill to say whether $4,000 was
| appropriated ''to improve the cam
pus," but assume that that is correct.
Such Improvement was certainly
needed. The grounds were becoming
so crowded that there was. no room
left for an athletic field of proper ;di-
mansions for an institution Of nearly
1000 students. Our understanding,
however, is that not all the added
ground was bought by the appropria
| ton, but that it was supplemented by
| private gifts. Furthermore, the crit
icism of the university ''for building
a great WALL around the athletic field
and ''for the construction of grand
stands large enough to seat the largest
assembly that ever witnessed foot
| ball game,'' is made without knowl-
edge of the facts. The wall was built
| by an alunnnus of the university with
out expense to the state, and the
grounds were prepared and the grand
stands made at the expense of the
athletic association of the university.
ss The state is certainly getting off
easy when inlprov e1ffef1ts sef this kind
are made for the university without
drawing upon the public revenues. AS
I a matter of fact, the university owes
| it to the students to provide a, play
ground, and instead of being criti-
cized for extravaganza In that direc-
| ton, it should be congratulated upon.
the fact that the fitting up of =. the.
grounds has not cost the institution
tanything. When the outlay for ath-
| letiC purposes at the University of
Minnesota is contrasted with that Of
other institutions. we think it will be
found that Minnesota has been taxed
for such purposes much less than
many other states, altho she has the
second largest institution in the
country in point Of attendance.
The value Of providing for athletics
! inc iota in iS
probably not generally appreciated,
but it. is doubtless a safe statement
that if football and the other, athletic
Eattractioas of the University of. MIN
nesota were cut off. the attendance
at this institution would be very ma
terially reduced. Nothing contributes
so much to the development of col
lege spirit and the loyalty of students
to the university as properly conduct
ed college athletics. The physical and
. mental natures of college students de-
nand exercise and entertainment, and
if it is not provided at the University
Of Minnesota, these students will find
it somewhere. The only thing is to
have the athletic sports properly and
judiciously managed. We have not
heard any serious criticism of that
management at the University of Min
nesota. ......
AS for the criticism of the univer-
$4,000 a year, if the editor of the
Pipestone Review had been better in
formed on his topic he would have
known that DR.. Williams is not a
source of expense to the university.
He is not member Of the faculty,
but an enploye of the athletic asso-
citation. which derives it's income
from the students and alumni and
+ from gate receipts Of such events as
, the Minnesota Michigan football
, game, The editor of the Review adj
mits that "the football team of the
University of Minnesota ought to
have coach but is unable to learn
! of the source of authority from
, whence the management of the uni
versity can conscientiously believe
that the citizens of the state can be
taxed for any such purpose" The
writer OF TINS complaint says that
/ 'as an alunnus he is proud of his
alma mater" His alma mater might
+. be prouder of him if he displayed
F. more accurate information when crit
icising the management of the insti-
tuition.
That Washington labor union got organ
! lied labor into an unfortunate attitude be-
: fore the country when it raised an issue