Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-19
uni. OF maine
Proposed Changes for N. E.
College Sports Eligibility

At the time Of the n. Z. ]. G. a. \,
run at Franklin Park. Boston. last
fall. there was considerable discus
sion as to the eligibility Of certain
| men. New Hampshire state College
| raised q question in regard to the
eligibility Of man taking a two
year course. A number of the col
leges in the association have similar
! courses. In some institutions a man
, may register for 4 two-year course
| on some special subject without
graduating from high school. The
majority Of colleges do not allow
such men to compete in athletics
against another college.
The matter was placed before the
executive committee to decide. The
point was not covered clearly in the
| conference. However, the executive
! committee decided that Payne, or in
fact any man taking a two-year
! course, was ineligible for any con-
test conducted by the n. L. !. c. A. A.
This decision was based on article
.. section .. which reads as follows:
| mo person shall represent any coi-
lege or university as a competitor at
an n. f. I. C. A. A. meeting who is
not a member OF that college or uni.
| versity in good and regular stand
| ing"
| The executive committee inter-
preted regular standing" to mean
that man must be taking a regu-
lar four-year course leading to q de-
gree. 1t was readily seen that the
| constitution should be amended to
prevent similar difficulties in the fu-
ture. Wayland D. Towner Of the adj
| visory committee has drawn up the
following proposed amendment:
Article Q. section 2. to be amended
by the addition Of the following: mo
! special student shall be eligible to
represent his college or university
during his first year as a special stu
| dent Students in two-year courses.
so-called. or in other abbreviated
| courses which do not lead to a de-
gree, or do not demand the usual
entrance requirements. shall not be
allowed to compete in meetings OF
! this association"
The first part Of the amendment, pre-
venting special students from competing
during the first year of a special course,
| is one OF the faculty rules in force at
the University Of Maine. This would
prevent the possibility Of a man trans
| ferring from one college to another.
registering as 4 special student, and
| immediately competing In athletics for
| his new aInler mater. This sort Of
practice Is undesirable. 1t would be
seen that the special student would be
| ineligible to represent the college for u
year. THIS would cover the above point
definitely.
The latter part Of the amendment
| would prevent . man without a high
school education from competing in the
n. Z. I. c. A. A. meets. The advan-
| tages of this rule may be plainly seen.
| 1t prevents a man who might be moro
| or less Of a professional from entering
a college TO register In special course
| without the necessary college prepara-
ton. and competing In college tahietics.
Another proposed amendment would
be added to article nine and would be
Especial cases not covered by sections
two. three and four shall be decided by
the executive committee"
Section three IL as follows: "A con-
testant having attended another college
must pc q bonafide member Of the COL
lege which he represents at least ono
calendar year before he can participate
in the games OF this association"
Section four ID as follows: mo man
| shall compete for any college having q
recognized standing higher than a pre-
paratory school who has competed in
| varsity athletics four years"
By this amendment any cases not COW
cred in these sections will automatically
be decided by the executive committee
Thus trouble in the future would be
prevented. Copies Of these proposed
amendments have been sent out to all
the members Of tho association. They
will come up to q vote before the n. E.
| I. c. A. A. at the Boston A. A. at 10
A. NJ. Feb. Z.