Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-01
twenty years. He SAYS:

| u have been asked to state the
reason for the attitude of opposition to-
ward dancing which exists in the col
/ lege. 1t is doubtless growth. In the
early days, there was without question
a definite set of rules on the SuoJecI
| in addition to a number of other rules
| for regulating the students social HE.
In the course of time these rules dis
appeared, and the administration grew
into one Of personal relationship and
ico-operation. This is the only right
form of college government in DEM
ocratic institution Of this type where
4 The character of the men and women is
| emphasized, and where preparation for
| life in large sense. on the basis OF
character, is considered Of supreme i'm
portance. The passing away OF rules
i does not mean the passing OF order and
! government 1t means rather that the
rules that are worth while have be-
| come incorporated in the life of the
| institution and are effective thru the
general understanding Of the student
body. When a rule esta blishes itself
in this way, il becomes a tradition Of
the college and depends upon the mo-
rlerturn OF the college spirit to keep
il alive and in working order.
College spirit is one OF the most po-
tent forces al work in the college life.
| II in itself is Intangible, but IT ex-
presses itself powerfully in all kinds
of college interests and auusements.
u gives color to daily work and daily
play and creates an atmosphere in
which the student lives and grows and
/ has his Intellectual and spiritual being.
The older the college IS, the more vital
Its influence is as a real force in the
life OF its students and graduates and
the world at large, the stronger is its
spirit and the more potent il is in
moulding and establishing the institu-
ticnal policy. Happy is the college
with a history and with noble 1radi-
ttoRs.
Out Of Grinnell's history has grown
an attitude of opposition 10 dancing
as q recognized entertainment in our
institutional life. On this particular
point il has deemed il not wise TO be
2 coeduca rional college. If men and
women can live in colleges that are
not coeducational without dancing as a
social feature, why is It not possible
for them 10 do so in coeducationai
college? We have thought il was pos
siole; we still think it possible.
This policy regarding dancing has
grown out OF the conviction that dane
ing as a social entertainment is &
menace 10 the educational interests
OF the college, and such action as mas
been taken in the matter, is based on
the belief that the college as a whole
ALUMNI. students. faculty, trust tees
DO not wish il introduced. There is ev-
cry reason 10 suppose thai this belief
is correct have never considered the
question OF dancing from any other
point OF view than the one here stated:
namely, that il Is a menace 10 the edu-
ca tional side Of college life. Whatever
the other aspects of the question may
be, they have not been considered here.
l. is a menace. certainly so III institu-
tons where there IS little or no SUPER
vision. 10 the highest educational in
terests. Moreover, il is perhaps the
most fascinating of amusements for
many young people and hence most
difficult 10 supervise.
Personally, l would not. under any
circumstances. put myself in a position
TO enforce an arbitrary ruling against
dancing from whatever source such a
ruling might originate Such ruling
would be against the spirit of the in
stitution and would contravene the
pies bI >S4l SO'CIIi!!iS44s clAQ So
cial CO. operation which Grinnell aims
70 establish. I want 70 represent this
attitude Of opposition to dancing be-
cause the student body in its corporate
capacity is against it as college en-
tertain,nent, and because the judg-
nent of the whole college expressed
in its history, It's educational Ideals
and traditions, is against ii. The cen
trail ambition of my life is 10 lead
Grinnen in constantly advancing its
standard Of educational usefulness and
service, and 20 keep it in harmony with
the expanding needs Of the times. l
want 10 stand for Grinnell new and for
"old Gr!nnell"-for her sons and
daughters-in the best and truest
sense
The attitude toward dancing is an
institutional matter and must be treat
ed as such. Whenever group Of stu
dents, consciously or unconsciously.
unite TO break down the understanding
of the college on this point they strike
not a. rule, AT an individual, at facul-
u or trustees, or any group OF indiyid-
uais, but at the whole spirit Of CO.
operation and democracy which the
college emphasizes. They strike at the
college itself.
Students who refuse TO harmonic
themselves with the spirit of the col
lege on this point are not Of it. They
exclude themselv from its fellow
ship until they agree by their own free
will 10 establish or re- establish the re-
Ia tionship, and to do as individuals
what they can TO sustain the spirit OF
the college.
The college must assinailate. in the
spirit Of sympathy and hearty good |
will. it's new students. L must by |
patience and by emphasis on the dign- |
ity Of its work, make them devote |
them selves first of all to the supreme !
purpose of college life rather than TO |
its Incidental purposes. It must secure |
assimilation, cooperation, and self-as- |
sertion on the part Of its students along |
the line Of good judgment and high |
ideals. This is a prime part Of the /
purpose OF education. II would be /
easier to make a specific rule and TO |
assign g specific punishment, but this |
would not be better. It would simply 1
be projecting the period of childhood /
and irresponsibility into the college
life.
Briefly stated the college position on /
dancing is as follows: |
1t has been opposed to it on educa- I
tional grounds, believing it as college /
amusement 10 be a menace to the best (
interests OF college life.
The opposition to it has been the /