The Savannah morning news., 1904-06-13
VISITORS TO THE UNIVERSITY.
The Chapter House and Athletic
Questions Discussed Among Others.

The Chapter HOuse and Athletic
Questions Discussed Among Others.
Athens, Ga, June 12.-The board of
visitors to the university, in its report
to the board of trustees yesterday, rec
commended that it be allowed in the
future to visit the university during
the session of the college as well as at
the conclusion of the session. as in its
opinion better results can be attained
thereby.
Attention was called to the failure O.
many to return the money borrowed
from the brown Scholarship fund. The
condition of the buildings in general
was reported to be good.
Concerning the question of chapter
houses of the fraternities at the uni
versity, the board said: I'VE have
studied the chapter house question at
length. and while there has been some
basis for the unfavorable sentiment ex-
listing against these houses, scattered
as they are about over the city, our
investigation has disclosed nothing
meriting a severer condemnation. We
can but express our opinion, however,
that this almost exclusive companion
ship will be the source of regret to the
students in after years, Wherever fra
ternities have been animated by gen
erous intellectual rivalry in college life,
their influence is undoubtedly good,
though it is frequently otherwise il they
become mere social clubs.
The board had a word to say about
the need of gymnasium for the uni
versity. zone of the pressing needs of
the university is gymnasium where
the students may have systematic
training. Without this those who most
need this work will be least likely to
share in its benefits, for the various
teams naturally seek those already
marked by athletic ability"
Of the literary societies of the uni
versity the board reported: For years
it has been customary to bewail the
lack of interest in the Demosthenian
and Phi Kappa literary societies. We
believe that much of this lamentation
is out of date and misplaced. That the
two literary societies should be kept in
a state of efficiency and should afford
an opportunity for practice in debate is
undoubtedly true: and not only has
creditable work in this line been done,
but the attendance and interest has
been fair. 1t should be remembered
that changes have taken place in edu
cation, as in everything else. In the
old days the debating society was al
most the sole resource outside of the
class room for the training of the stu
dent. Now it must share this former
supremacy with college Journalism,
athletics and the various other forms
of the more complex student life of
to-day. Then, too the last few years
have shown a large increase in the
number of scientific students who nat
urally cannot be made to feel the in
terest in public speaking manifested by
those preparing for the law or the min
istry. For these reasons we have not
been disposed to shed any tears over
the apparent decline of the two liter
airy societies. but rather are we desir-
Gus of saying an encouraging word as
to their work. There are great uni
versities with many times the num-
bers and wealth possessed by the Uni
versity of Georgia that are doing no
better work than is found to-day in
these two societies."
The board commended the intercol-
legiate debates between representatives
of the university and other institutions,
but as to intercollegiate games in ath-
letics away from the university, the
opinion is that they are not so useful.
The action of the students in refrain
ing from playing any more games on
Memorial Dav was commended.
A school of commerce was recon-
mended. and also an additional in
structor in the English department, tie
board being of the opinion that Profs.
Park and Sanford need help.