The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-12-27
COMMENTS ON new
ATHLETIC RULES

st. Paul Pioneer Press: College ath-
letes throughout the states Of Mime
sofa and North and South Dakotas
probably waited eagerly for the results
of the big meeting held at the Ryan
hotel in this city all day Tuesday, at
which representatives OF thirteen col
leges and universities gathered In a
sort of voluntary" reform movement
athletics.
For many years there has been in
tercollegiate contests between the
schools in these three states, but there
has never been any sort of an organi-
cation to bring the different institutions
together. Geographical conditions are
such that to form an association of
such widely separated colleges is next
to an impossibility, but it has been felt
for some time that there was a good
chance to put athletics on a much firm
er basis among the schools and it was
with this idea that the movement which
eliminated in Tuesdays meeting was
begun.
AAA past JCcslsS N1ACIG has DCGu ITO unl-
formity Of rules existing among the
schools, so that while contests have
been held the rules have been such that
things have not always been satisfac-
tory.
With the object in view to formulate
what is called a code of minimum
eligibility rules which, it is hoped, will
be ratified by all the colleges which
were represented at the meeting, no.
tees were sent out and the attendance
was far beyond what the sponsors for
the idea had hoped for. Some of the
institutions sent one representative,
while others had two men on hand to
offer suggestions which might in some
way assist in clearing up matters.
After lengthy discussion a number
of rules were formulated and a COM
mittee Of three, one from each state.
was appointed to continue the consid-
GRAFTON of intercollegiate relations and
to call another meeting next if it should
seem desirable. This committee is COM
posed of Prof. e. F. Chandler of North
Dakota university, M. A. Kent of Car
Teton college, and S. H. Whittemore of
the University of South Dakota.
Matters of the utmost Importance
were brought up at the meeting and
were acted upon, but perhaps the two
most important rules recommended
were those covering the length of time
athletes may compete and profession
aIism,
After the spring of 1910 no student is
to be allowed to compete in any branch
of athletics for more than four years
and participation in the whole of one
contest or part of two intercollegiate
events are to be considered as a full
year.
The question of athletes migrating to
other colleges was also touched upon,
and 1t was decided that no such ath-
lete shall be eligible to compete until
he has attended one complete term or
semester.
These two clauses will, in a large
measure, do away with difficulties that
are said to have existed for some time
in these minor colleges, for when they
are adopted and. are put into general
practice athletics will be more apt to
remain in the school where they start.
The four-yedr clause will also el;nli-
nate considerable trouble, for IL will
do away with the postgraduate play
srs to a large extent.
Some Of the rules might have been
made more strict, but it was deemed
advisable by the representatives ret to
make them too rigid. The question of
summer baseball, for instance was
touched upon, bat after discussing the
matter at some length 1t was decided
not to legislate against summer base
bal altogether but to restrict in err
tain degree, the Playing of the national
game during the summer months oy
drawing up clause prohibiting stu
dents from participating in games und-
err the national agreement"
One Of the weakest of the rules and
one which may cause some trouble is