Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-31
HONOR STANDARDS APPLIED TO
COLLEGE ATHLETES,

1t is the desperate absorption in the
contest itself that has made the problem
of campus athletics so difficult to deal
with. 1t has been found that left to
themselves ana freed of watchful crti-
cisr', the young men who direct athletic
affairs in many of the american colleges
and universities Will not maintain. As a
body. the standards OF conduct which
should he a matter OF course.
1t is an Indictment of American uni
vcrS'ty lite and its student body That a
complex code OF rules and penalties must
be devised to prevent him from casting
repr oaCh on the fair name of his insU-
tuition.
But for his side of the case there is
much to be said The pressure of inter
collegiate rivalry becomes ticrccr every
year. Athletics are set far above all
other reputation to be gained on tho
campus There is no real sport in train
ing for the eleven or of tho crew. The
game is all in all, And the Inverse crit-
cism al this condition come from the col
lcge men and appear in their own periodi-
Gals in such force as tc Indicate u strong
rcactionary tide. President Eliot of Har-
ward complains OF tho same tendencies in
his latest report Nowhere appears any
symptom of denial that athletics play a
tremendously valuable part in the max
ing Of useful, vigorous. sclf-rt liant men.
Nor is there any stronger influence of & ,ojl
in college life than the training. develop
mont and discipline of a university team.
Yet those chosen for these teams arc
being driven with Increasing pressure to
make Of their athletics a vocation. not a
diversion in college. The result Of com
hined influences working with increasing
Roadway has hcen to increase also the
difficulty of keeping these intense rival
ries within the bounds Of gentlemanly
conduct. Not one university or college OF
| note is free at least from the record of
accusation and counterchargc of dshcn-
orable conduct in athletics.
Princeton has tried the honor system in
student examination, and it has beer
notably successful Instead Of fencing
| her young mon about with tutors and
| rules, they themselves are on honor to.
| ward one another. Punishment is in the
| disgrace which comes hot on The heels
| of fetraNiNE of common trust. Is there
| any reason why the same code should not
he applied to athletics? a manager who
| coaxes promising schoo, athlete to g
to n certain college by promise Of ma.
tcrial help, clcverly disguised: Il coach
who teaches unfair tactics. n player VINO
| takes n position at a summer hotel ir
order that he may play ball without act
| ualy receiving salary, the man who
| allows any misrepresentation to exis'
about his amateur standing-are not thes.
| pitiful persons i'll as sorry a plight as tbs
man caught cribbinG in his examination
| From Massachusetts to California anc
| from Maine to Georgia there is an un
| ending eQuabble over eligibility rules anc
| purity In college athletics" Yet Their,
seems 10 he no difficulty over the problem
| of what should be done with student,
caught cheating in the class room. o
men caught cheating with cards in ;
| club room. or shOrt-sightci persons ac
cuscd Of taking money under false pre-
lenses, But in tina; class of America,
life, In which standards of conduct be
fitting the gentleman are most CONFIDENT,
| to be looked for il is no disgrace to b.
accused of dishonorahle dealing nor at
| tcnptln. to pass it off on others -Ralpl
n. Paine. in the Illustrated Sportin,
| News.