The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-10-31
HIGHER EDUCATION AND
THE CONSTITUTION
PLAIN STATEMENTS PLAINLY
STATED PERTAINING TO OUR
COLLEGES AND UNIVER.
SITES.
xxx

-h-h-h-
The time was when students at
colleges and universities were taught
to reverence and obey the Constitu-
tion-all of it-whether they agreed
personally with it on all points or
whether they did not. Now a de-
plorable condition exists in many of
the large institutions of learning
condition that calls for the exer-
else of intelligence as we'll as stub
bornness upon the part of our patri-
otto citizenry. It is fact beyond
dispute that class reunions connive
at the serving of liquor at their din
ners and wink at practices which
occlude in connection with the en-
forcement of the eighteenth amend
ment. Nay, more, even the alumni
shield themselves and their fellows,
it is said, from the results that
should follow certain lawless and IN
patriotic performances in which wine
and whisky flow to tickle the palates
Of those who have lost sight of the
fact that the breaking of a single
line Of the law of the Constitution
is as bad as kicking the whole docu-
ment into the waste-basket.
Is it not really true that many Of
our colleges are not preparing men
to live, but are merely teaching them
to make living-regardless Of
ethics and morals, and with "pleas-
ure" the uppermost thought in
mind? Is it not true that in a broad
sense the life of the average under
graduate is little more than dull,
stupid, meaningless, save where it is
''brightened" by "athletics" and
'1ivened" by the false hilarity that
grows out of "wine whizzes" and like
violations of federal laws?
Do Universities Provide an Artificial
Life?
Universities, it would seem, are
enlarged nowadays to provide an ar
tifcial life for young people-a life
where originality of thought is not
SO much encouraged as an original
and strained mode of living. Infor-
nation seems to be ladled out like
soup at cafeteria, as some one has
said, and the entire force of the
teaching staff of many a university
appears to be spent upon superficial
and vain studies of questionable cul-
tural value rather than upon those
leadings and lessons which will make
good citizens out of the youths that
are ground into the educational ma
chine.
Is it not true that a considerable
number of our successful CD univer-
sity graduates have so far failed in
absorbing true ethics, that they ap-
pear to be more interested in their
own stolen or perverted pleasures
and modes of life and support than
they are in the eternal welfare Of
their children and that of the won
derful country of their election and
destiny?
And yet, back of this general in
stability of purpose remain, within
the hearts of a great people, the
ideals for which all reasonable pa
triots toll and from which they re-
ceive ustaining power. With these
ideals behind US as living force the
truth becomes clear and beautiful.
We shall believe that it is possible
for American genius, education, and
patriotism to create a system Of
great universities in which young
men and young women shall be
taught a proper respect for the laws
Of their country-in which patriot
ism shall be the motivating power
behind all class room effort; in
which liberty shall be the light Of
all freedom youth and its ethical
life; in which the Constitution of the
country shall be the guide, the royal
will and pleasure and rule of life, Of
a proud and glorified young Amer