Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-28
COLBY COLLEGE.
The Christmas Vacation Will Be
Shortened to Two Weeks.

\
! Waterville, Me-, Nov. 27.-(SpeciaD.--
BY vote of the faculty of the college
the Christmas vacation will, this year,
be shortened from 20 days to two
weeks, college closing at p. M,
Tuesday, Dee. IT, and opening, Thurs
day, jan 2. This announcement was
made to the student body at chapel
exercises, Wednesday morning, by
President Roberts, and was heartily
approved. The shortening of this va
cation, however, as President Roberts
states, does not imply that the date
of Commencement day, in June, will
be placed one week earlier than the
present schedule. The shortening of
the holidays is but one spot toward
the desired goal, or, in other words,
only half the contract. The trustees
of the college, at their regular winter
meeting, must vote to accept the pro-
posed change which has already re-
eeived the sanction and approval of
the faculty, and indirectly the APP
prevail of the student body through
the student council. So, as the matter
rests unless the plan as submitted
to the trustees is adhered to, the
shortening of the Christmas vacation
will have no material benefit for the
students who wish to be about their
summer work early in the month of
June. If, for any reason, the trustees
vote not to accept the proposed change,
the vaea ton at Easter will be length
ened by the six days taken from the
Christmas vacation; and to many of
the students this change would be
more unsatisfactory than the present
system 1t is the general impression
that the trustees will understand the
practicability of this change which
has been discussed extensively for
over two years, and grant the change.
The reason why the students are so
anxious to have Commencement placed
one week earlier ON the college cal
endar is because SO many of the men
are dependable on the money earned
during the summer TO expend in meet
ing the college expenses of the year
following. During the past several
years, Commencement has always
come the last week in June, making it
impossible for the students to close
the college work satisfactory and then
the men from the colleges that close
the second week in June. In arranging
the college calendar, it should be re-
membered that the warmest season of
the year always comes during the lat
ter part of June, just when the final
examinations are being given, and SO
for this reason the date of closing col
lege in June should be placed at least
one week earlier.
The one argument that the trustees
Of the college set forth in regard to
having Commencement come on the
accustomed date is that they wish to
subserve the large attendance of alum
nj, who are teaching in Massachusetts
and some of the other New England
states, at the Commencement eXer-
cises. The trustees contend that, if the
date of Commencement is placed one
week earlier, these teachers will not
be able to return to Waterville for
the exercises. The question, then, may
be stated pointedly thus: Are the
trustees more anxious to make it con-
venient for the few school teachers
to return for Commencement than to
make it possible for the men work
ing their way through college to earn
the largest amount of money.
College closed at noon, Wednesday,
for the Thanksgiving recess, and will
open, at 10 A. NJ, Monday. Many of
the students have gone to their homes
while quite a number are passing the
vacation in Waterville.
Chapels p. Chapman. librarian of the
college left, Wednesday afternoon, for
New York, where he will attend the
conference of the Eastern College Lii
brarians. which will be held at CO.
lumbia University, during the Thanks
giving recess.
DIR. and Mrs. J. VIM. Black are en-
joying the Thanksgiving holidays in
Baltimore. Nd, with DR.. Blacks
mother.
Rex w Dodge, 'O6, of Portland, was
visitor. Wednesday,. at the Delta.
kapDa Epsilon house