The San Francisco call., 1905-03-14
BIG "C' NOT
TO HIS TASTE
College Professor Begs Boys
to Refrain From Desecrat-
ing Charter Hill Front
LETTER FROM WHITNEY
University Instructor Makes
Impassioned Appeal to the
Students Regarding Matter
Berkeley Office San Francisco Call,
2148 Center Street, March 13.

214S Center Street, March 13.
College boys who dreamed of plant
ing gigantic golden CO. on Charter
hill. beneath which should be engraved
the numerals of the freshman class,
the entire ceremony to be Charter
day affair and the beginning of a no
table college tradition, have awakened
from their dream with a rude shock.
for which Professor A. w. Whitney Of
the mathematics department is re-
sponsible.
Professor Whitney has addressed an
open letter to the sophomore and fresh
man classes, which are principally con-
cerned IN the plan to build the big
C. beseecrfing them to reconsider
their resolve. declaring that if the plan
is carried out, the famous hill will be
desecrated, the university will be made
ridiculous, San FranciscO's interests in
the Berkeley hills will be violated, the
Orient will be shocked and altogether
long train of ills engendered
The college youths awoke this morn
ing to be greeted by the following COM
munication addressed to them by Pro-
fessor Whitney, the exact purpose of
which they are still studying to under
stand:
While in reality the land upon which 1t is
piOPVSSu 10 DuliQ the cement y Is a part
of the university campus in a far larger sense
1t and all the hills about the bay the COM
mon heritage of the people of California 1t is
our birthright to look upon them to watch
their passing shadows TO note their response
to the fall showers and to follow their gradual
changes from delicate green through the lux
uriant color of spring into the russet hue Of
summer-that is one OF the privileges of be-
ing Californian: TO desecrate this scene by
other place. but entirely unsuited to the gen
tie beauty of the hills, is a blow to the moral
rights of the people of California
The egotism of college community is for
the most part pardonable-it is interesting and
the world looks at 1t in indulgent way
but let US for that very reason have care
munty OF perhaps three thousand persons
whose fervid zeal for their university may
that to them a cement &C. the hills.
painted, yellow once year. is a worthy symbol
of their alma mater On the other hand, here
is d c6nifnunity of a hundred thousand people
within easy sight Of the hills to whom this
deseorationE of nature Is an affront, and not
fog "a, day but for twenty years of days
OF all the institutions in the world a uni
versity should stand only for what is best,
for the fine ideal citizenship and conduct. Let
three thousand young people for four years
live in the contemplation OF this kind Of vul-
garity and the State need not be surprised to
Andcwny riotY Why is it worse? The -Berke-
ley hills in their way are just as fine the
Yosemite; they front the Orient; thousand
times as many people look upon them; our
wantotness would be in the eyes of the world.
We cannot afford to stand for such vulgar
ity and phiiistinism. The country laughed at
our desire to illuminate the Yosemite for Pres
ident Roosevelt; let US not give 1t another
chance.
erence and manhood to give UP rushing volun-
tarily, rather than barter their supposed priv
dignity upon themselves their alma mater the
community and the State. Yours sincerely,
A. W. WHITNEY.
Divers wise youths of the university
declared their belief that Professor
Whitney was "guying" them, and was
not actually serious, but the pseudo
wisdom of this section of college life
was revealed when Professor Charles
Mills Gayley astonished the student
body by coming out with a letter,
backing up Whitney's proposal, and
adding to it's force. Professor Gayley
wrote to the college men thus:
have read Professor whitneys letter with.
deep interest; and while respect the motive
with which our freshmen and sophomores have
entered upon this substitute for Charter day
rush, join him in begging them to consider
hatchet'. NAV not be devised I concur In his
apprehension lest in zeal to commemorate
the era of good will we may set up a monu-
ment which shall dishgure our hills and be a
source of modification to us.
Can we not devise some other memorial?
Of that golden broom that bursts into blossom
early in March? something else; anything
else for that matter. that has been more
carefully considered by the whole body OF the
university. Yours sincerely.
C. NJ. GAYLEY
All preparations have been made by
the sophomores and freshmen to build
the big sc" next Saturday. The men
are to be excused from all university
exercises, and the women students will
provide them with luncheon. The cost
CT the work, including expenses of ma
terials and other incidentals, is to be
betrayed by the classmen, on whom an
assessment has been levied.
The plan was approved at separate
meetings of the freshmen and sopho--
more classes, when it was voted to
abandon the practice of rushing" on
Charter day, and substitute for that
unhallowed but exciting sport the
more prosaic stunt of building a great
golden co. on Charter hill, and plant
ing freshman class numerals beneath.
1t is said by the college youths that
Professors Gayley and Whitney have
spoken too late in the matter, and that
the plans will not now be changed be-
cause of the faculty members appeal
to the artistic instincts of the varsity
men.