Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1921-09-23
REQUESTS SIMPLICITY
IN SOCIAL FUNCTIONS
President Holland Issues Order That
Expenses of Student Entertain
ments Must he Kept Within
Conservative Limits
President Holland has issued the
following letter to all organized
groups of the State College,
To Organized Groups at the state
College of Washington:

The students OF tHe otdtS COiiO5N
of Washington have been known
throughout the Northwest as young
men and women of democratic spirit,
cooperating in all things having to
do with college citizenship and TAX
ing their studies seriously in order
to prepare themselves for lives OF
usefulness, We have cause to be
proud of this reputation and spirit
Last year SO per cent of the young
men attending the State College
earned from one-fourth to all OF
their expenses. Nearly the same
proportion of young women attend
ing the State College earned part or
all the money that they spent last
year while in attendance here.
This indicates that our young
men and women are not afraid of
work; that they are willing to do
anything to enable them to continue
their education All the positions
as walters in the college dining halls
are filled by men and women stu
dents. Many positions on the col
lege farm and in the janitorial staff
are taken each year by college men.
Furthermore, many of the young
men and women working on the
campus stand best in scholarship
oDd MANY ~ tbap, ORC Iaadarc In GIN
dent activities. This is as it should
be and all of us hope that no one
but a worthy young man or woman
will ever be able to win a place of
leadership in our college activities.
My attention has been called to
one tendency which, if not checked,
will do great harm. | refer to the
formal parties given each year by
our fraternities and sororities.
have been informed that the cost of
music for one of these evenings has
been from $50 to $40. Also, | have
been told that the "favors" for some
of the parties have cost from one to
three dollars for each person giving
the party. No student working his
way through college can afford to
make such expenditures. In addi-
ton, | am sure many parents who
are making great sacrifices to send
their sons and daughters to the State
College would not approve of such
extravagances. Finally, and most
important of all, such lavish waste
of money is contrary to the demo-
cratic spirit of the State College.
realize that it can be argued that
these expenditures are considerably
less than those made in some other
institutions of the west. Such argu-
ment, you will agree with me, is not
conclusive; for in many ways the
State College has not been and does
not intend to be an abject follower
of custom, especially when such Gus
tom is in violation of our democratic
spirit. Today there is a demand for
economy and, from the beginning of
our history, the democratic spirit of
the State College has fostered sim
plicity of life,
1t is necessary for us to insist that
no formal party given from now on
shallscost more than $3.50 for each
person present, and that no one in
dividual shall pay more than 50. In
addition. the lavish amount of time
which has been spent in the past on
the decorations of the reception
halls should very properly be de-
voted to college studies. Further
more, the so-called informal par
ties and receptions shall be limited
TO 5 for each person present and
no individual shall pay more than
50.
This is practically an executive
order sent out from the president S
office. We may say, however. that it
is contrary to State College spirit to
consider it necessary TO lay down
rules of this character In the past
it has been sufficient for us simply
70 point out what we believed was
best, and the students Of the State
College have at once tried to carry
out the spirit Of the suggestions. |
am sure that the proposed limita-
lions will be observed by every or
gained group on the college campus.
You, OF course, know that we are
now keeping a careful record Of the
scholarship of each organized group.
We are doing this in an attempt to
emphasize those things for which the
tax payers established the State Col
lege of Washington. Let US 90 for
ward this year with the determine
ton to make the most of our oppor-
tunities in order that the people of
the state will continue to give rs
adequate support for our greatest
needs. Let us maintain orr renu+a-