Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-14
object o. College sport.


On the lines OF the true object of college
athletes Prof. Loren d. Milliman OF the
University OF Washington had this to say
in a recent number OF the Pacific Wave,
the college paper: The trouble with our
college athletics Is that we train to defeat
some other college instead OF taking exer-
else TO develop the bodies of the students
and to give them good health. What would
be the result upon our class room work,
what would be the educational value OF the
college course, IL we trained to meet some
other institution in contests OF mathe-
mates, Greek or chemistry? The good stu
dents would be trained and the weak ones
would be neglected. Students would be
coached to answer and TO ask catch ques-
tons. No attention would he given to
gaining general Information on a subject
or TO forming habits of study that would
be useful in after life.
ITO be sure, foot hall games advertise
a college. SO do bargain sales advertise
= dry goods store. Within a year q store
in Seattle was 80 thoroughly advertised
by a bargain sale OF gloves that a woman
had an arm broken In tho rush. -Four
policemen were necessary to keep the street
open and to let the women into the store
in relays. II that kind of business were
continued at that store no self-respecting
man would consent TO have his wife. sister
or daughter go there. although the firm
sold the best goods at the lowest prices.
Much Of the so-caued foot ball advertising
is of such a character that the Institution
becomes notorious rather than noted.
mo one loves to play foot ball or en-
joys the rough games of wrestling and
boxing more than l do. They are games
that I defend and games that I wish my
sons to play for the manly traits that they
develop. But I shall send them to a coll
lege that produces scholars rather than
winning teams. The way to cultivate
college spirit of the right kind Is not
through athletics. especially the athletics
that looks toward producing a team that
will defeat some other institution OF learn
ing. Games that place more stress upon
a fair. manly spirit of the contestants than
upon mere victory are essential helps to
college spirit.
Yet athletic sports are not the whole
college nor a very large part of the legiti-
mate work for which colleges are sup
ported, and as long as America is domi-
mated by the love or victory no unusual
stress need be laid on c~ultivating a desire
TO outshine all rival institutions. More
stress does. however. need to be placed in
the scholastic spirit. the spirit for which
colleges are supposed 70 exist. Extra stress
need not be laid on languages or sciences,
but the effort OF seeking truth at all times
and in all places. and the habit OF holding
oneself e~verlasungly to a problem does
need fostering in American colleges"
Elsewhere Prof. Milliman says; "rhis
must not be taken as a criticism OF ath-
letics or Of love for victory. Both are
healthy. legitimate expressions OF human
life. Hut my contention Is that they ought
not to be prominently the things which hold
college men together. By so doing they
turn colleges into athletic associations. for
they are the things for which those as
soeiations srend their money. The love of
athletics is but one OF the motives that
should actuata a bodV Of college st1denta