Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-01
FRIEND OF ATHLETICS
President Needham Believer in
College Sports.
HELP TO STUDENT BODY
Kept From Evil Habits Through
Their influence.
URGED TO ORGANIZE A UNION
Head Of George Washington Univer-
sity Points Out the Benefits
Of Fraternities.
URGED TO ORGANIZE A UNION

President Needham came out strong
for college union. college fraternities
and athletics at the opening session OF
the George Washington University. held
In University Hall, 18th and H streets
northwest. yesterday afternoon at Q
O'Clock. His remarks called forth much
applause from time to time from the
large portion of the student body in at
tendance
The tendency in all universities to-
day." said DR.. Needham, rs to create
the spirit of democracy in the student
body. Clubs and fraternities. where the
membership is selected from the student
body by the choice of the fraternity, are
desirable and are doing an excellent work.
know of instances where young men
have been held to their work in the col
lege and kept from falling away into evil
habits by the positive influences of their
fraternities. In this respect I believe
they are doing. good work and should
be encouraged; but We should nave
union to which every matriculated man
student should be eligible.
Athletic Quarters offered.
II am aware that these are usually in
buildings sufficiently large to furnish
dining room and sometimes dormitories,
but we can commence our union If the
men Of the student body will come to-
gether and form the organization. We
will turn over to them the use of this
room the only conditions being that the
constitution Of the organization shall be
submitted to the presidents council and
approved before it is adopted, and that
the union when formed shall be RESPONSE
BILE for the care and order Of the room.
What we want to accomplish is greater
unity among the student body. The
young women are furnished with a gath
now let us have this gathering place for
men In University Hail."
Ball Parks Available.
In speaking of athletics he said:
THE trustees have assumed the rental
Of privileges in Union League Park and
the American League Park in this city
for the athletic events. These activities
are under the direction of the athletic as
ISOLATION, made up OF representatives OF
the student body. the faculty and the
alumni. We desire to develop this activ-
ity Of student life along right lines. 1t
is an important activity for the students
and for the university. Like all activities.
1t has its temptations and it's evils. 1t
also has its high and worthy aims. 1t Is
the duty OF the athletic board to sup
press any tendencies toward the evils in
the sports and to develop to the utmost Of
it's ability the advantages that come from
1t. To make 1t what 1t ought to be. a
high standard Of morality must govern in
the selection of men, In the conduct OF
games and in awarding the merits.
Three things are essential. The rep
resentatfves upon the teams must be in
good standing as students OF the univer-
sity-thoroughly representative Of the
student body. They should be morally
strong men. with high ideals of the pur-
poses Of college sports. capable of self
control and willing to submit to that
in every enterprise. and they must be
men who are physically strong. We do
not send in the intellectual contests
men OF the weaker type Intellectually.
most active minds. fitted for debating,
and so In athletics we must select men
who are strong physically and able to
meet the strains Of the game and do
credit to themselves and their fellows
the student body.
Additions to the Faculty.
During the summer the board Of
trustees" he said, has furnished US
with important additions to the edu-
cational stan. In Columbian College Ave
men have been added to the corps Of in
structors. Ten have been added in the
College OF the Political Sciences. one in
the department Of medicine and three in
the department OF law. The library ia
cilities have been increased by the purchase
of between $500 and 3.OO0 volumes. max
ing grand total of about 81. 900 volumes,
with an additional reading room. Some
changes have been made in the Woman q
building which will make the use of that
building for social purposes more desir-
able. A new building. $40 18th street, has
been rented for the college Of DO
litical sciences which contains large
library room, rooms for administratio
three classrooms and six professors Of
fees. In this building the College Of Po-
litical Sciences will have its first home,
and we trust 1t will soon deserve and re-
cetve from generous men a new building.
We have also fitted up two additional
rooms In the building. which now makes
every inch of available space in the
buildings and surrounding courts service
able for our educational work. These two
rooms are in that part OF the building
known as the tower They are very large
and extremely pleasant. The upper one
has been assigned to the editors of the
University Ratchet and of the Cherry
Tree, the university annual The other
room we desire to have used by the men
of the university as a clubroom, where
they can have a common meeting place.
Rev. DR.. Roland Cotton Smith. rector
the invocation at the opening.
Later Deans Monroe. Vance, Phillips.
Wilbur. Hodgkins and others made short
addresses.
WOMEN'S TRIBUTE TO HEROES.
~ a.