Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-10
DANCES AT BATES.
Question Is Discussed at
Chapel by Pres. Chase,
Petitions Have Been Circulated
on Both Sides.
Issue as to lis ACCESSIBILITY in Co.
Educational College.

Lewiston, Me, Nov. 9.--(SpeciaD. -
sequence of a little trouble, petitions
have been made for the purpose of ask
ing the faculty to consider the matter
of having dancing at Bates College.
Yesterday morning the president asked
tie students to all be present at chap
81 exercises this morning for he had a
few words to say. And this morning
after prayers he spoke to- the students
a few minutes.
What a splendid body Of students,
l always feel the splcndidnrss Ct them
but never so much as when I stand
before them each morning. Bates
gives to her grad .latcS a diploma which ,
is very valuable 10 them Decui!Se it Is
understood that Bates stands Very we'll
throughout the country. met last
week at Gardiner = body Of educational
men and was asked if | knew that
Bates was first in education. Bates
graduates an" doing wonderful work
AL 'tc; tie word: publishing books
miniStoring in other lands and leading
educational movements. Bates is yet
young. lt.!T" seen rs GloNth from the
first event in my life. One reason Why
Bates has succeeded IS because of the
norii worth If its students. Always in
IT," TtiatriCulatirn nlfdge there mas been
the statement that no man should
drinl; While in college
Good people are divided into diti"r-
"nt classes. one of these things which
divides is, that "i which all OF YOU arr.
thinking low. Yesterday IswaS told
that petitions concerning Gancine were
coming to me-. some proposing il and
some disappearing of it. | have not re-
c"ired any such petitions.
The founders Cf the college thought
it not wise to dance in co-education-
al school. Tljv women have signed
pledges to the same effect II. however.
| should ask how many dance. | vx-
poet that | would hrd very few Who
q" not know how. The issue is not
whether dancing is q thing in which
good. Christian people should indulge
The issue is whether it is good to have
il in a co-educational school The nt-
or day talking with very intellectual
man he said that the women must go
When the thought of dancing came
ABOUT IN Sucn Il college.
NO restrictions have been pat upnn
TIE money which has been given to the
colleg" IN regard to dancing. But if we
mad started out with dancing we would
not DC On the level on which we now
stand. Several parents have sent their
girls ncrc because they do not dance
at Bates.
Il must admit that our social life is
MT adequate To the needs. Two years
ago IN attempt was made to better the
social conditions but the stud hts did
not agree to the methods proposed. |
can see now wherein We Went about
thrt wrong. ] am ready To confer with
You at any time on this matter OF bet
t"ring our social life.
THE young women are hurting ti.i,
c"nscienceS when they sign petitions
for 0ancing. The Young men are Very
line men but they ought not to induce
TIC young women to break pledges
wri"n il they had not been made would
have barred the Young women from us
There is no~ rule that the youns = men
shall not dance but if We should find
that they were going behind in studies
for this reason We SHOULD have to make
q rule,
There is an mwritten rule that the
men in college shall not organize
dances and until lately have not
found that this was being done. This
"" must stop in defence of ourselves,
for the sake of our helpers.
Il repeat that all this is not con-
corning the moral uplift of dancing but
whether it is coed for cur institution
q not. Also I repeat that I am ready
TO confer with you at any time for
bettering social life here