Evening star., 1909-06-22

the college. but has not permitted hel ~
distract the attention of the students
by excessive agitation at Vassar. There
are among the faculty as well as among
the students many earnest and sincere
advocates of woman suffrage and believ-
ers in various theories of socialism, out
all agitations of political movements are
prohibited lest they interfere with the
regular work. At the same time a stu
dent may express her opinions with per
feet freedom and discuss any topic tnat
woman could properly express herself
upon in the literary exercises lhe SUI
fragettes have held several meetings this
past year, and under the direction OF
Miss Milholland they arranged a very
clever and striking series of tableauX
last winter as object lessons to confirm
their arguments.
One group. labeled those who do not
want to vote" represented lot of old
maids sitting around a hearth, knitting.
with their tea kettles and pussy cats
Those who want to vote were repre-
sented by group of factory girls and
students. THE polls as they are sup
posed to be" was a picture of saloon
with a ballot box on the bar: The polls
as they should be" represented an en-
trely different scene, while other phases
of the subject were represented in a siml-
lar manner.
In talking with both students and mem
bers of the faculty. and also with resi-
dents of Poughkeepsie who are familiar
with conditions at Nassar College, / find
only one opinion. and it is that the aglta-
tions of the socialists and suffragettes
have not diverted the attention of the
young women from their lessons. and
have done more good than harm.
President Taylor is of a similar opinion,
although he regrets that the college has
been made the subject of so much no
toriety.
Old Traditions Maintained.
Despite the impression that has been
conveyed to the public by absurd "eWs-
paper reports of the activities of few of
our students in politics and socialistic
movements said President Taylor. ''the
great student body as we'll as the faculty
adhere to the conservatism and common
sense view of education that has always
characterized the institution. its trustees
it's faculty, its alumnae, its undergrad
yates and its constituency throughout the
entire country. These publications have
drawn undesirab BILE attention to the insti-
tute and have misrepresented the attitude
of the undergraduates. The utterances of
a few progressive young women have been
charged to the entire student body, which
is a grave misrepresentation. The spirit
of the students has been all that could be
wished for. The leaders of the Stu
dent Association have stood With ad-
mirable poise and wisdom against the
radical tendencies of the few young wom-
en- that otherwise might easily have re-
suited in disturbing our quiet life, and
might have made good work impossible.
Unquestionably no institution s free from
the cause of this notoriety, no matter how
unjust we may consider it. Because of
the sensational publications, however. l
cannot too emphatically reterate the
statement that the life of the college it
self has been sound. the attention of the
students has been devoted to their work.
and the loyalty Of the class officers and
the great body of the students to the ira
ditions Of Vassar has been beyond queS-
ton.
1--WE do not propose to be put on the
defensive regarding the stand of Vassar
College toward the so-called progressive
as it is true every where, that explorers of
new views and adherents of new isms seek
every opportunity to attack the minds of
our undergraduates. Now 1t Is suffrage.
and now anti-suffrage: now 1t is prohibi-
ton, then some missionary cause like the
claims Of woman students at Toxic; then
the student volunteer movement, or some
settlement work then some religious
evangelist or even some agnostic or an
apostle of some new religion. Every one
who has a new cause naturally wishes to
get at our young people, for political so
cial and religious reforms. and it is equal
ly natural that we should desire to pro-
tect them from such attacks because IT
diverts their minds from their studies, and
does them no good. We try to give them
a useful .old-fashioned education. opening
up all Of these questions under the spirit
Of the influence of teaching and lnNestlga-
ton. but not of agitation.
"Vassar College recognizes that all
good service is worthy, but 1t does not
encourage agitators 1T does not seek no.
torety for its undergraduates. and b.
lieves 1t to be unhealthful. both from an
intellectual and social standpoint. We
recognize the admirable quality OF much
Of social service, but at the same time
we affirm our belief in the home, in the
old fashioned views of marriage and
motherhood and the splendid service of
society wrought through quiet and unradi-
cal means. We believe in the teacher
and the school and the church. as well as
in all other means of philanthropy and
social betterment.
Vassar Aims to Educate.
"Once more, Vassar' recognizes the
right of every one to do her own think
ing, and her right to withhold the re-
suits till she knows what she thinks. Th /,
single purpose of Vassar College is to
maintain and advance the standards for
the education of young women. and it is
not to be led aside from this by any alIur-
ing reforms which are better suited to
mature persons than to those in the pro-
ces Of education. 1t reitera-es what
President Raymond said in lh15. after
ten years of work, and in the midst OF