New-York tribune., 1909-03-14
BROWN In THE FOLD
TO HELP WORK REFORMS.
Captain Pierce Discusses the Defn;-
ton of an Amateur.

Brown University has Joined the IntsrcciI.zy,..
Athletic Association Of the United States ar.-
many urgent requests to cooperate with the bo5v
which is working to place intercollegiate athIsti~,
higher ethical plane. Professor Fred W Ma
vel. OF Brown has been named on the counitts.
appointed to examine into and suggest reforms Z,
the present rules governing track and field athletic.
Professor A. A. Stagg. OF Chicago. Is chairman o,
this committee.
Captain Palmer Z. Pierce, L. 5. A president =,
the association, in writing OF the being dona
to secure a good definition Of an amateur athIs,.
and an enuncIation Of laws for his govsrnmsnt
says:
The question Of the real meaning OF the word
amateur was forced upon tie sixty members or
this organization when a visiting delegate ASKED
whether or not colleges that permit summer bas.
ball would be welcome additions to the association
Now II happens that each institution joining mus.
agree. among other things, to prevent the PLAYING
in intercollegiate contests OF those fneligfbls a.
amateurs. Hence the query. Who IL arnatsur-
became cf unusual importance TO the coneyiats
world.
But the colleges In this country not alone IN
their efforts to settle this vexed point Laws On
the amateur are being promulgated by the athIeti.
associations OF England Denmark and other lauds
The amateur status has become OF Importance
largely account of the wide influence Of ths
Olympic games The participants in these ara SUP
posed to be smon-pure amateurs. whether coming
from the United States. New Zealand or Australia
the London Olympic still echoins in the ears
Of the public
1T Is necessary to have uniform governing laws
for the separation OF the amateurs from the pro-
fessionals else these chickering's will always occur at
these great International meets That colleges are
taking part IN the movement IS a subject for con-
graduation. since II is well known that England
and other Continental countries view with sspe-
cial suspicion the amateurtsm Of the college athlete
OF the United States.
Tho abuses existing IN collegiate athletics ths
coInmercialsm rampant in connection with the
sports OF many American institutions, well
known TO foreigners. and make them regard all our
college athletes with more or less suspicion.
TT cannot be claimed that the last Olympic
games lessened this suspicion; indeed. certain
fortunate Incidents increased 1t a hundredfod-
TT IS fortunate that the colleges should havs
formed association which has become large and
important enough to deal with this matter OF the
amateur Law. But the framing Of a satisfactory
law from the educational standpoint viii prove
difficult. account OF the prevalence OF baseball
playing for money its equivalent by college stu-
dents
Many institutions permit their students 70 Ioin
minor baseball leagues during the summer months
and insist that their amateur status IS not injured
thereby. On the other hand. many colleges pub
Hcly frown on this making OF athletic prOwsss
means Of gain. willis in private condOninz IL on
the part OF their own players There in addi-
ton Institutions which honestly striving pre-
vent their students violating Of the considered
that thess players are apt to deceive. TO lie and
thus TO seriously detertorate morally.
ITO correct the evils Is one Of the great aims
Of the sixty colleges and universities that belong
20 the intercollegiate Athletic Association OF the
United States. The sentiment seems to be decid-
edIy IN favor Of securing reasonable definition Of
amateur and then strictly upholdins the stand
ard set"