Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-15
THE BLOT ON COLLEGE SPORTS

A DETERMINED effort is making ut
~ Princeton, Yale and Harvard Univer-
stiles to put an end to the practice of sub.
sdizing athletes. As u result of it three
Princeton students have been debarrcd from
further participation in college sports.
1t seems that u fund had been provided
from which loans were made to deserving
students who engaged in sports. Its evil
dent purpose was to enable the students to
take college course so that they could play
on the college teams and help win victories
for the college.
This fund was administered in Princeton
through the office of the Bureau for Stu.
dent Help, but about year ago the name
of the bureau was changed and it was put
under the direction of the secretary of the
university. The athletic fund. however,
was not turned over to the new director, but
was retained by n committee, which admin
iStered 1t with the knowledge of the uni
versity authorities. The three students who
have been debarred from further participa-
ton in sports were receiving loans from the
fund-that Is, they were apparently being
helped 70 an education not because of the
interest of any one in enabling deserving
youth to go through college, but in order
that they might play on the college teams.
The debarment action has been taken in
accordance with an agreement with Yale
and Harvard to prevent interested persons
from using money TO support athletes whose
services would not be available without such
| support. This agreement can be made
| effective If all funds for the relief Of needy
| students are administered by the college
| authorities, and, if relief is afforded it is
| given to students regardless VI their athletic
| ability.
| But even such an arrangement would not
! stop the scandal of subsidized athletes in
| the present state Of college sentiment 1t is
! notorious that the athletic authorities Of
| the colleges scour the country for good foot
ball and baseball players. II they hear Of
one in high school or private preparatory
| school they seek to induce him to enter their
| college. His tuition will be RENTED and
a loan will be promised 10 him to pay his
| college expenses, with the understanding
that he will not be pressed unduly to repay
| what he has borrowed. There have been
eases where boy has allowed the colleges
to bid for him and has gone to the college
| which made the best offer.
This abuse has grown up since the en-
| ployment OF expensive coaches to train the
teams. These coaches receive bigger
salary than is paid to the president Of the
| university, and the coaches have fostered thi
practice Of getting tho best athletic material
| the country afforded, In order that they
might by their Victories Justify the salary
paid to them.
|. The president Of Amherst College has re.
Gently been urging the discharge OF all pro.
fessional coaches and the restoration of col
lege athletics to Il purely amateur status
His suggestion has not been seconded any,
where. 1t is not likely to be seconded s,
long as the purpose of college athletics is t,
win victories from other colleges rather thar
10 keep the students in good physical con
dition while they are pursuing their studies
But the dropping Of the three Princeton
students from the college teams indicate
that the authorities are beginning to realiz
that something must be done. Unless th
abuses are cured it may come to pass tha
Miss Jcanes, who left S.. .0O0, 900 or So 600
600 to Swarthmore College u few years az
on condition that it participate in no inter
collegiate athletic contests--a bequest whic
was rcfused-may have been only a genera
tion in advance Of her time.