El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-10-01

NEW YORK, Oct Agitation to
~ bring about the abrogatlon Of the
freshman rule in intercollegiate eligi-
bility codes has once more been
brought to the front; but so far the
arguments made in support OF the
proposal refer TO old conditions.
and not TO the new order Of things
that Will prevail at most colleges and
universities at the ind Of this month,
when the academic curriculum Will
be subordinate to the program Of mil
itary studies that the war department
has outlined for the Institutions il has
taken under its wing. Nor do they
take into consideration the fact that
most college students, with the excep-
technical courses, will get at the most
not more than six months college
work this year, and probably not more
than three months Of instruction
The plain duty OF every college
which enforces the dictum is TO alb
rogate the freshman rule" writes one
Philadelphia commentator. The very
life OF intercollegiate athletes today
depends upon such action The rule
was framed for the specific purpose
Of correcting an abuse which had eX-
listed TO a greater or less extent in
every institution for years. It was a
big advance in the ethics OF college
athletics. and did much in purifying
a lax system.
Hindrance Now.
But the time has come to nullify
il for the period OF the war. II inter
collegiate athletic competition is to
obtain. or at least retain semblance
Of its former character. With almost
every college in the country depleted
Of its student body. and with It all its
athletic material, there appears 20 be
no way out Of the difficulty this fall
serve the rule. It will be an impossi-
men are not permitted to compete at
Pennsylvania, Cornell. Pittsburg and
other large institutions which OBJ
serve the rult. Il will be an impossi-
BILE task to play varsity football II
il not a question OF preserving an
ethical dictum or athletic superiority,
but rather Of conserving a very ben
eficial moral among the under graz
yates who desire, and IN fact demand,
some form OF intercollegiate athletics.
Intramural sports failed signally and
dismally at Princeton, Yale and Har-
ward. It IS idle to argue for the re-
tention OF the rule under present con-
ditions that its abrogation viii lead
to abuses The very iact that me
government will virtually administer
the affairs OF the colleges for the du-
ration Of the war accentuates the fai-
lacv OF such reasoning"
This argument apparently does not
take into consideration the new con-
ditions that have arisen IN college life
Under the conditions that prevailed up
to the beginning OF the war and that
prevailed all last season. the observ-
ance Of the freshman rule was a1so-
lutely essential II conditions which
every one admits were deplorable were
not to be allowed to return. The
freshman rule was necessary in order
10 preserve the proper balance be
tween sports and studies which had
been altogether lost sight of before
its general adoption. But now ath
letics are definitely subordinated 10
the military and academic programs
of study at the colleges and universe
ties. and are held so absolutely in
check that the abrogation Of the rule
could be affected without causing any
radical change in the life of the I'M
dergraduate or without causing him
TO lose his proper perspective.
Protect Student.
Hereafter the theory that a varsity
team is a necessity. and that without
freshmen a varsity team would be
impossible. viii be q dead letter. What
is more important is that athletic
sports are an essential in the proper