Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-01-11
FACULTY WANTS TO HAVE
GAME SHELvED.
SUGGESTS JOINT ACTION
Asks Conference Colleges to Agree
to Omit intercollegiate Contests
on the Gridiron for Two Seasons
Wisconsin Representatives Given
Instructions Against Game.
Madison, Jan. 10.


university yesterday afternoon the
following resolutions were adopted as
instructions to Professor f. J. Turn.
err, who was elected the university
representative at the conference OF
the association Of nine universities
OF the middle west TO be held at Chi.
cago on Friday:
Resolved, that the representative
Of the University Of Wisconsin TO
the Chicago conference propose to the
universities there represented, n pub,
lie condemnation OF the evils associ-
ated with football at the present
time, ana protest against the undue
emphasis upon competitive athletics
as compared with the fundamental
purpose of q university.
Resolved that the representatives
Of the University Of Wisconsin are in.
structed to propose TO the other uni
yersitics of the Chicago conference
the suspension OF intercollegiate foot.
BAH between the universities for a
period OF two years to the end that
rational, moral and normal relations
between athletics and intellectual ac.
tivities may develop In each instItu.
ton; this action 10 be operative mp.
on ratification by the respective fac.
ulnes."
1t Is observed that the instruction
eontemplates action of the whole
conference to be ratified subsequent.
ly Ivy each institution independently;
and II is evident that the University
of Wisconsin has not decided by
these resolutions to proceed indie.
pendontly In this matter, Final nc.
ton in the matter Is not TO be taken
by the several institutions until after
the general action OF the conference
at Chicago next Friday.
The action proposed by these reso
lutions IL more moderate than that
suggested by those who would pro.
hlbit the game entirely, since II does
not involve the abolition OF football
entirely, but simply provides for n
temporary suspension during the next
few years Of intercollegiate football
games, In order that there may be
developed through the action of fac.
ulty and students condition OF az.
fairs which will be more satisfactory
TO oil concerned.
The action OF the faculty of the
university was based on the belief
that the conditions requiring remedy
were not limited TO any one unver.
sity of the middle west but were In.
herent In the present system of inter.
collegiate games, It was the gener.
al opinion of the faculty that the
question OF rules to prevent brutality
and other undesirable conditions in
football was less important than nc.
ton to preserve healthy attitude of
the student body in regard to the re.
lntions between athletics and the
moral and intellectual activity OF the
university.
Members of the faculty expressed
the belief that the athletic life of the
university Is very important for the
welfare of the institution, but that It
should be broadened and developed as
well as relieved from professionalism
and football be made a true amateur
college sport in which many can
partnke rather than spectacular
performance OF a few
Copies of these resolutions have
been mailed TO all universities TO
meet at the conferences.
Personal View of Professor Turner.
Professor T.. j. Turner expressing
his personal view and not speaking for
the faculty said in an interview last
night, that conditions had been shown
in the football situation which demand.
ed thoughtful consideration Ivy stu.
dents, alumni and faculty, Interested
in the honor and good uamC Of the uni.
yersity As a whole, he said, the stu.
dents Of Wisconsin are MT least as earn,
est aud clean body Of students, IA
those of any other university i do
not understand the faculty's action 20
be In amy sense request for more
room en- the mournors bench than be-
longs to her neighhors,' he said Had
there been sufficient time before the
conference for i fun exchange az Yiews
between alumni students and faculty
undoubtedly the faculty would have d@
cided TO have awaited themselves n
The opportunity The Importance 81
athletics in university life IS undoubted,
It was the feeling Of many Of the faeul
ty, however. that the game Of football
as now played between the colleges re,
shictea the exercise to u very limited
number Of expert players, and left tc
tho exercise on the bloachors, Unt
persty sports should be made available
TO more students and kept In right re
lation to the good morals and intellect
ual purposes Of the university,
"The difficulties which have beer
shown III intercollegiate football ans
which have called out national senti
ment In favor of reforms, arc not :,
much the roughness Of the game as th'
attendant evils. Football has become