Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-07
H|BBEN GUEST Of
PRINCETON CLUB
President of Universary Tells
Newarkers Studies Should
Lead and Play Follow.

Professor John Cirier Hibben, presi-
dent of Princeton University, was
the guest of honor of the Princeton
Club, of Newark, at its banquet last
night at the Washington. Although
the distinguished guest was only
fieeting in his stay and his address
shortened that he might catch a train,
he told the club considerable about
his ambitions for the future of the
university.
Il have only fifteen minutes to
speak," said Dr. Hibben. but you
know a great deal may be accom-
plished in that time. Big Bill can
tell you a football game can be won
in that time or a man can be con-
Victed in court in less time Then,
turning to Chief Justice Gummere, he
said: 81 believe the courts of justice
move much slower
Declaring that he did not intend to
speak on the financial needs of the in
stitution. DR.. Hibben said in part;
Princeton is the best place a young
man can spend four years of his life
with apologies to Harvard and
Yale. But the very delights of
Princeton may cause the boy when
ne first enters TO relax in his energies
and not awaken to a realization that
the college is a place of intellectual
experience. 1t is usually not until
the end of his course. or maybe in
the junior, or perhaps the sophomore.
year that he realizes this fact.
Encouraging Freshmen.
I'VE all feel that this spirit might
come to the boy in the beginning so
r,,II i TO- e laaa
intellectual benefits of the college
course. We are endeavoring to en-
courage the freshman to settle down
at the very beginning and understand
that the terms work must be kept
well in hand if he is to get through
successfully. and have provided for
three formal tests to be made at in
tervals, dividing the term into three
parts, so that it will be impossible
for him to let up on any of the work
thinking to catch UP at the latter
part of the term. He will be given
credits SO he will know where he
stands. We are providing for sys-
TEN of advisers who Will take hold OF
the freshman and encourage him if
he is inclined to drop out of the eX-
aminations.
This year since the system was
started there have been only ten stu
dents dropped out of a class of 425
We are going to bring not only the
machinery into play. but the sympa-
thetic influence of the whole student
body to surround the freshman so as
to start him right. 1t is important
that at the beginning of the junior
year, if not before. he has a great
awakening to achieve honors.
'The college is now drawing dis
tinction between merely pass men
and honor men. 1t is aimed to pick
out two of his studies and teach him
to intensity in his work and try for
some special work. Men who are
trying to take five studies when they
can handle only four properly will be
urged to drop the extra work, and
they will then feel that they have a
chance and will be put on their
mettle. The men should acquire su-
perior excellence in at least four of
the studies in the four years.
There is fallaey in Princeton and
other universities that a student must
be either a greasy poler' or a loafer.
/ do not subscribe to this sentiment,
but believe the young man can be a
worker and yet show himself to be
an all-around good fellow. or what
is sometimes called a sport.
DR. Hibben cited "HObie' Baker as
an example of how success could be
attained in both. Baker" he said,
"played football well and had the re
sponsibilities of captain, and at the
conclusion of the season went into
training for hockey and was a fairly
good hockey player. Yet the reports
of the exams showed he got into the
second group. / asked him how he
did it. and he told me by settling down
in his work utter play was over. l
believe in letting every young man
have a great deal of play. but there
is a time for relaxation and also for
work.