New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-16
1,5OO Alumni
Here Hail New
Yale President
Dinner Is Given in Honor
of DR.. James r. Angel
in Hotel Aston Ballroom;
Many Guests i'm Boxes
Taft and Hadley Speak
Importance of Athletics
in American College
Curriculum Emphasized

Yale University since the memorable
Yale dinner given in honor of William
Howard Taft in 1908, assembled in the
night to pay tribute to the new presi-
dent of the university, DR.. James Row
land Angel. Excluding special guests,
who occupied tables in boxes, 500 Yale
graduates filled the great hall, which
was decorated in the colors of Yale
and American flags.
James r. Sheffield, 1877, president of
the Union League, presided The other
speakers, besides DR.. Angel, were the
president head of Yale University, DR..
Arthur T: Hadley, and ex-President
William Howard Taft.
DR.. Angeles address dealt with the
curriculum and extra-curriculum &C.
Invites OF the modern university. In
speaking OF the former, Dr. Angel con-
fined himself almost entirely to the
subject of undergraduate athletics.
Tells Need of Athletics
"ln my judgement" he said, there
are two predominant needs in Amer
lean college athletics to-day. First a
for the student body in general, in or
der that the frail or nder-developed
boy who most needs physical upbuild-
ing and the benefits of college sports
may be certain to receive attention.
And second, there should, l believe, be
a substantial change in the academic
attitude toward intercollegiate sports"
Speaking of the strictly academic
problems facing the American college,
Dr.. Angel said "The great instruc-
tional problem of the American college
preserve the values of liberal educa-
ton, while gaining some of the en-
thuslasm for intellectual achievement,
which characterizes the better profess
slonal and educational schools"
DR.. Angel spoke highly of the bene-
tit resulting from interest in so-called
"student activities" not failing to men,
ton that these benefits are often
gained "at the expense Of their more
strictly academic studies"
He also touched on the value of
graduate and professional schools
upon the college proper, declaring that
prestige which does not stand in the
forefront in the quality of training
given in these higher schools.
II believe that the American univer-
sity should be conducted on the same
conservative principles as any other
trust" DR.. Angel said, in concluding.
"That is, that it should not expend
money which it does not possess. Let
it be clearly understood that l am in
no sense directing these comments to
the case of Yale, but rather to the
general collegiate situation in the
country. l quite understand the fnan-
cial pressure under which our educa-
tional institutions have been stagger-
ing in the last few years, owing to the
efforts of the war. And I also appre-
ciate that peculiar conditions may &C.
casionally justify an exception to any
general rule.
Taft Praises Angel
~ but urge that wherever possible
expansion occur after the funds re-
quired have been secured, rather than
before. To overtake the financial dis
location occasioned by the war will un-
doubtedly require time and effort, but
when we have caught up with these
needs we may we'll hope that our COL
leges will adopt a more farsighted pol
icy of planning for development and be
less content than heretofore to live
from hand to mouth, as many have
done"
In introducing Mr.. Taft, James
R. Sheffield presented him as "the
man with whom the ship of state was
safely piloted for four years and a man
| in whose hands the Constitution might
safely be placed for another period of
four years" Mr.. Taft said, in part:
"The war has disturbed the peace
the academic peace-of our universe
ties and colleges and put them into a
condition from which they must be
brought again to a normal state of be-
ing. feel that we have in DR.. Angel
leader who will guide the students
and faculty, not because of the power
that we have vested in him, but because
of his learning and high inspiration and
| ideals"