The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-02-23
GIVES IMPRESSIONS
YALE STUDENT


| Norman Alexander, is, wrote tn
letter below which was recently writ
ten to Mr.. w. M. Wemett who sug
gested that it's contents might be O.
interest to Budget readers. Mr.
Alexander, after leaving this institu
ton, attended the University o:
North Dakota where he took hi!
Bachelor and Masters degrees. HI
later attended the University Of
! Minnesota and this year is continu.
ing his studies in Yale. His address
is 81 York Square, New Haven, Conn
This paper is glad to give space to
Z, the letter.
Coming to the New England Sec
ton was captivated with the beauti-
full scenery that greets the eye every
where. One can't help but love the
hills and streams and woods which
dot a New England landscape. To
one accustomed to the prairies OF
North Dakota, it was a welcome
change. The autumn months were
especially rich in color. Every wind
ing path presented harmonies Of a
thousand hues. But this is all famil-
lar to you who have spent a large
part Of your life in the east.
The weather is just as changeable
here as the North Dakota weather.
The only thing we know definitely OF
tomorrow's weather is that it's going
to be different. One day it rains, the
next day it SHOWS, then a foggy day
these succeed each other in an end
less procession. This morning it was
8 degrees above zero. Everyone was
commenting on the extreme cold. The
damp air, however, makes it seem
much colder than the thermometer
registers.
Yale University is quite ancient in
comparison with western colleges. A
few of the buildings erected in Revo-
lutionary times are still standing.
One of these is the hall where William
Hull roomed while a student here. A
few members of the constitutional
convention were students here as we'll
as Eli Whitney, John Calhoun and a
score of others noted for achieve
ments in American history. 1t
brought me into actual contact with
some of the surroundings of charac-
tiers and events of which l learned in
your American History class.
It WAS there that my interest in
History was kindled, and I have liked
that subject ever since that time.
Yale University mas an attendance
of more than four thousand. The
colleges, however, are so detached
from one another in administration
and purpose that we rarely mingle
with members OF other colleges.
There is no occasion for common
meeting. Chapel attendance is re-
CURED of the undergraduate students
only. They are required to attend
seven days a week, and this regula-
ton is stringently enforced. Women
are admitted to the medical and law
colleges, and are permitted to 90
graduate work in education. Some
agitation is going on with the view
of admitting women on an equal
basis but the realization is far dis
tant.
Like many old universities, Yale
has many traditions. They persist in
exerting an influence on thought.
Most of them though are innocent
and harmless. The annual "cane-
rush" between the freshmen and
sophomores stirs the martial spirits
of those classes. This is a substitute
for "hazing" and it works very we'll.
The casualties consist of bruises OF
temporary duration.
But the big football games enlist
the attention of all. At the Yale
Princeton game, there were $4,000
people and thousands were turned
away. 1t was an interesting spec
tacle with banners and colors visible
everywhere while college yells and
songs rent the air. I rather think
that too much Importance is given
these contests and the real purpose
of institutions of learning partially
lost sight of.
The class work is more difficult,
than it is in the western Universities.
The students are more mature. This
is probably due to the intensive un-
dergraduate work, and the require
ment of a college degree in the pro-
fessional colleges. Everything seems
to be subordinated to the development
of the intellect. Oral expression and
written composition are sighted. AS
to the wisdom of this policy, there
may be difference of opinion, but it
does stimulate intellectual activity.