New-York tribune., 1905-11-30
FOOTBALL FRIENDS RALLY.
THINK COLUMBIA HASTY.
Mormingside Heights Students Re
sent abolition of Game.

The Columbia undergraduates voiced strong dis
approval of the barring of the game by the Morn
ingside Heights faculty. It was learned, however
that the action of the committee on student oi
ganzations does not sound the kneu Of the game
provided proper changes are made
A storm Of disapprovaI and criticism from %
lumbia students met the announcement YESTERDAY
morning that the faculty had abolished footOali'
and movement was started at once to try and get
the decision revoked. The general opinion was
that the committee had been altogether too suoueH
in its action. Many of the students said that they
favored reform in football. but thought that rs
abolition would harmful.
Perhaps no one voiced the sentiments OF me
students in general better than r w Macoeh'
president Of the senior class. who said:
Most Of ready to admi. that important mp srnt
now played and there Is reason 70 believe mat
eral much needed REFORMS The university com
mttee might have awaited the announcement OF
must pTo9e disastrous to RRat is low recognized
as the leading college sport. .s.@
That the decision of the committee must have
been reached quickly is shown by the fact that
when Professor Herbert G. Lord, chairman Of the
committee was asked on Tuesday morning to give
his opinion on the football question he replied:
n94ng 5g e sy until ia hsEe Bo kno hsd s
was Just Informed Of the fact that the. committee
of which I chairman had such full powers
vested in it.
The Columbia Spectator commenting editor-
ally on the action of the faculty. says:
That the step which has been taken is altogether
too radical and far reaching there is not the slight
t6ere 6e are many sweeping Changes which should
be made in the game 50 as to reduce e q InimI M
great We believe can. say that the stu,
Changes should be made without further delay;
For the university to have recomIa;Hnded tha{
undoubtedly have been wise and carried much
wsh but and 9Bcssd 70 o Tbe aoon Of the
football problem lies in constructive, not IN de-
waited until the rules committee had taken action
believe that there would have been no gr9nnqs ar
fore, be considered as altogether toe hasty.
The board of student representatives, composed OF
the presidents of the four classes. held meeting
in which they discussed plans for obtaining the
restoration of the game They decided to call a
meeting of the students for next Tuesday, aI
which the action will be taken up and discussed
The council of New-York University met and
accepted the recommendation of the faculty Tor
the calling of conference of all the uniyersltles
and colleges with which New-York University has
had athletic relations and in so doing committed
itself to the abolition Of football at University
Heights. . ...=~
If all the colleges that have played football with
New-York University accept this invitation, the
representatives of twenty universities and colleges
will consider and decide upon the following ques-
tions: = ~~".
First--ought the present game Of football to be
second-Y not. what steps should be taken to
secure It's thorough reform?
substituted?
Each college is invited to have representative
of its faculty and representative of its athletic
association at this meeting.
Invitations were sent to the colleges included in
the facutys list requesting them to appoint dele
gates to meet at the Murray Hill Hotel, in this
city, at 1870 a. nj. on Friday, December g. s-+
Chancellor MacCracken said yesterday in COM
ment the action of Columbia University in abol-
ishing the game: d" ~s e~@F E@5 5~11 e. s.' a,~
Immediately abolishing the game, but deferred to
ae a on stdenT org9nizatons which felt that it
was advisable to Try to induee II the c0eges VIII VIII
us in any action we take instead Of assuming an
Yersity as to the abolition of tue game have been
plainly set forth.
Student sentiment at the New-YorB University
was almost sodly In favor of the abolition of the
game Men who had been protesting at what they
termed the rash and unnecessary action of the
faculty found themselves ready to change when
members Of the team and others recognized as lead
ers Of the undergraduate life expressed themselves
squarey as against the game
There was a good deal of discussion to what
branch OF sport should be substituted for football
next year. Many favored lacrosse. a branch Of
sport in which the university has been represented
by successful teams in the past, before 1t ever had
a football team Association football had some
supporters, while number favored the adoption
of the form of the Rugby game played in England
and Canada. -.a.- ..-~..-~. ..-~.... ..-.
while Columbia University has adopted resolu-
ton aboIishing football at the institution it is not
believed that this really the death knell of the
game on University Heights. provided proper
changes are made in the wpay the game is played.
In fact it is pretty thing that If the changes
are made that Columbia desires. such changes
are made as will meet the essential requirements
of the athletic leaders there the game will be re-
established at Columbia. ..8 ~.
Last night one high in the university's athletic
councils said, in reply to question whether the
action of the committee meant the end of football
at Columbia for all time: Columbia will gladly
welcome any changes in football the game is at
present played. If proper notifications made
doubtless the game will be again on Uniyer-
sity Heights II +za.~
Columbia University it is to be remembered, be-
gan negotiations something like six weeks ago
looking to notifications n the game Letters We're
written to the various universities and these letters
were written by responsible men, not haphazard, |
but with the knowledge and the cooperation OF the
heads OF the institution. It is not be supposed
that these men have been ignored in the present
situation.
Last night Dean George W. Kitchwey, Of the |
Columbia University Law School, said:
The action or the faculty. as understand IT. Is |
Rugby game but at the game of football it now
exists II our Anerlcan colleges But this statefnehe
COMMITTEES was taken in order force reforms on
that that committee that the football element in
our colleges has any conception of the dscredit into
which this game has fallen, and no reason there |
fore to hope for a revision of the rules that Will
have any material influence the game.
But the truth that the worst features of the !
game such revision of the rules will touch
the dishonest and unsportsmanike spirit which |
the game at present fosters. revision of the rules
at best Go no more than relieve the game or |
some of the dangers TO life and limb which it now
involves and TO render the playing of dirty foot
ball little less easy OF COnCealment.