The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-27
CLEAN ATHLETICS
DIR. Chas. e. st. John of Oberlin
College Talks.
Makes Plea for Refor-
nation.
ON THE UP GRADE.
Approves of Drastic Football
Regulation.
On THE UP GRADE.
DisapprOves Of the Paid Coach
Plan.

Dean Charles Edward ST. John of
Oberlin college at the conference
meeting of the colleges of the interior
this afternoon at Washburn college.
Not that I do not have great inter-
est in intercollegiate athletics but that
1 have much greater interest in ath-
letics within an institution. The mat
ter was summed up in a resolution
adopted at the last meeting of the In
terconegiate Athletic association in
this way.
In the interest of the proper work
of education the number of intercol-
fegiate games in all branches of sport
should be limited by rule of the
faculty. Interclass and intermural ath-
letics in general should be fostered
to the end that a larger number of
students may receive benefits and that
intercollegiate competitions be made
an incident rather than the end of col
lege and university sports.
by the interest aroused in the fall
of 1905 by the wide discussion of the
football situation a real gain was
made possible though at first it SEEM
ed that the popular interest would ex-
haust itself on the game as played on
the gridiron and that the reform
would only exist in the rules. This
condition was particularly true in the
middle west though recognition was
finally given to the ethical conditions
which abound in intercollegiate ath-
letics and threatened the discontinue
ance of intercollegiate athletics.
AT a meeting held in New York in
December of 1905 when 6S colleges
were represented rules were made
which has made possible intercol-
legiate athletics to exist under the
supervision of board which has con-
troll of college athletics over the en-
tire United States The association
proposes to carry out propaganda
for cleaner athletics as wide as is this
time it will afford an opportunity for
men familiar with a wide range of
local conditions to get together for
conferences which can not help but
be of benefit to the general situation.
"If the rules of this association are
enforced they will do away with the |
offering of special Inducements by |
colleges to athletics of unusual ability |
and special inducements to like stu |
dents who are in preparatory institu- |
lions. The playing of those in college |
athletics who are, Negligible and the |
playing of those who are not bona fide |
students In good standing. 1t will al |
so do away with the unsportsmanlike |
conduct of any, sort whatsoever |
whether on the part of the players or /
the coach. |
'In fifty years from now 1t will be |
interesting reading to those then in /
college athletics to read the rules of
today and note the Things which col /
lege authorities have felt themselves
called upon to prevent by a common
agreement. 1t is an impossibility for |
any single institution to deal with the |
athletic conditions with which they
are confronted today and the forma-
ton of this association became a ne
cessity.
1.-The president of the association,
Captain Palmer Pierce of West Point, |
is soon to be transferred to q military
post in this state and this move prom
Uses good for the east and west alike
as he is an open minded, fair man who
will be glad to be in a position where |
he can review the situation first hand. |
1.-The committee on the playing rules
for football Will be made up of seven
men selected by the association and it
is an interesting fact that the old COM
mittee composed of like number of
men was so constituted that to make
a change in the rules that it required
the unanimous consent of the entire
body. Under the old rules one mem
Der could block any reform attempted
but under the rules of the association
a majority of the members may make
any change that their judgment may
dictate.
Il believe that the association has
large possibilities for good in the con-
troll and development of college athle-
tics providing that 1T receives the gem
eral support of colleges and uniyer-
sites. Athletic sports and games do
have an intrinsic value and. the day of
doubt as to that is past but the aim
must be the greatest good to the
greatest possible number of those af-
fected.
This means that athletics exist for
the good of the general student body
and that the effort should be made to
enable every legitimate student to have
a chance at the game and sports and
not be crowded out by some one who is
really a professional athlete or has been
Induced to lend his presence for the
glory of the team.
The ideal condition would be to have
the sports and games developed under
the direction of an athletic director. not
under the direction of a professional
coach rather under the direction of a
man of the same calibre and character
As the players preferab bly, for this posi-
ton some member of the faculty.
Let the teams represent the student
body from which they are chosen and
not some professional coach and when
hey would meet teams from other in
;titutions they would be confronted
With a like condition. The real aims
md ends of college athletics are the
benefits and advantages gained for the
student body itself and not the produce
ion of winning teams. This is funda, .
mental and lies at the bottom of the
of the association.
by the somewhat drastic measures
adopted by the association perhaps more
lbuses have been removed than by any
,ther action. By these rules it makes
boy spend enough time in college be-
ore he becomes identified with it's ath- {
tentative of the student body. The z
rear's residence required for all stu s
Tents and the barSdng1 of graduates
trike at the roots of PROSECUTING and
end to make the games those of college :
,oys and not of meH.zl
These are strenuous rules for the I
mailer colleges, but they serve all :
like, and with US we believe that