The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-08-01
State supt. Cary Sees I'M
prOvements at the Uni
versity of Wisconsin.
PRAISE FROM BOSS KNOGkER
Suggests Naming Of a Dean for Univer-
sity Men and Publication Of Athle-
tics of the University-Says Condi-
tions are Improving.


State superintendent G. P. Cary, the
boss knocker Of the University of Wis
consn, has sent out a statement in
which he declares that conditions at
the university relating to the morals
of the students are improving. The
letter has been sent to every teacher in
Kenosha. 1t follows:
Madison, Wis, July 20, 1912.
TO Teachers and the General Public:
That there is widespread distrust as
to Che morals Of the student body in
Madison is perfectly evident to any
one who has had opportunity to know.
Again and again have parents said to
me that under no circumstances would
they send their children here for an
education. No inconsiderable number
of parents have in anguish of spirit
told me of their sad experiences with
their own children at the university.
DO the facts at present warrant such
distrust? The question may be discus
sed from the point Of view of the
moral influence of the university itself
and from the point Of view of the life
outside university walls. shall first
discuss the latter.
Eight or ten years ago l was strong
ly and most disagreeably impressed by
the conduct of considerable portion
of the student body. Drunken
young men were frequently observed
on the streets. Often they were noisy
and the police seemed to be afraid of
them. In the fall there were disgrace
full hazing scrapes, and the annual
rush" that occurred in the fall be-
tween the freshmen and sophomores
was dangerous to life and limb. Be
sides, it WAS barbarous exhibition of
tattered, half-clad boys and young men
who thought it desirable to parade the
uptown streets hooting and yelling
after the rush" was over.
This does not exhaust The list of
things that might be enumerated. The
worst exhibitions of all followed sue
cessful football games. Happily these
conditions have been greatly improved.
Excepting a rare outbreak now and
then, students in Madison conduct
themselves in a manner that does not
call public attention to them. They
come and 90 as do other residents of
the city and are just as we'll behaved
as the better class Of young men and
women in any city with which / am
acquainted 1t is rare thing, indeed,
to see drunken students, and it is a
rare thing to observe unbecoming con-
duct on che part Of any, There still
remain, if l am correctly informed, at
least two societies of young men of
the university that find their main
pleasure in drinking. Such societies
ought to be torn out root and branch
by the university authorities. That
there is some drinking, some gambling
and other forms of vice among the
student body, is doubtless true; but it
is inconspicuous and is confined, in its
grosser forms at least, to comparative
ly few
What has brought about this change
in the morals Of the student body?
Doubtless many forces have been at
work, but the most prominent, / be-
ieve, may be traced back to the clear
ne up of the athletic situation, the
plendid efforts Of the student pastors,
the praiseworthy and efficient services
of the self government association of
girls, the Consumers League, certain
religious organizations, the student
court, and the attitude of the board of
university regents on moral questions.
The present trend is upward. The
great majority Of the students in the
university of Wisconsin live student,
lives that are above reproach. How
ever, no young man or young woman
today is safe from numerous tempta-
tions either in Madison, at home, or
anywhere else If young people are
70 go away from home at all, it is nv
sandid belief that they are as safe in
Madison as they would be anywhere. L
make this assertion after prolonged OBJ
scranton and considerable inquiry rel
alive to the question. might add that
most young people are quite as apt to
yield to temptation in the home en-
vironment as in new situation.
The university itself might well be
more positive and active as to the
morals, conduct and ideals Of the stu
dents. There is a strong tendency for
all universities to become scientific
or naturalistic in tone, thus minimizing
the Importance Of the idealistic or
spiritualistic side. The university calls
the young people who come here col
lege men and women. Many of them
were called high school kids two or
three months earlier. Such young PEG
PIE are not men and women. They are
away from home for the FIRST time.