Evening star., 1928-12-02
QUALITY GRADUATE
IS UNIVERSITY AIM.
Cornell President Defends
Modern Youth in Address
at Banquet Here.

leges in the next 25 years, DR.. William
Mather Lewis, president of Lafayette
College and former president of George
Washington University, told Cornell
University alumni and their friends last
night at the ninth annual banquet, held
at the New Willard Hotel.
Dr. Livingston Farrand, Cornell's
president, and Romeyn Berry. graduate
manager of athletics, spiritedly de-
Tended modern youth, and asserted that
never before have institutions of learn
ing had such material to deal with, both
from the mental and physica view
points.
Alumni Are Defended.
Taking issue with quoted statement
that alumni are IAN unmitigated nuis-
ance," DR.. Lewis insisted that alumni
can aid universities anG colleges by as
sisting young collegianS to get adjust
ed after they leave scnool, to the end
that American institutions of learning
shall live up to their full responsible
ties. Assistance of alumni is needed
he said, in development Of the individ-
ual to the highest possible standard
The "skyScraper university" of the
future, he ventured, will be able to pay
great portion of its way by rental of
part of its property.
Turning to the influx of students in
great numbers following the war, the
educator asserted that since the great
conflict I'VE have made a fetish of edu-
cation. and the war emphasized the
desirability of education"
College students of today, Dr. Lewis
pointed out, are not ridiculing learning,
as is evident in music and dramatics.
What our students need today is
leadership along intellectual lines" he
asserted "It is the place of the alumni
to give the hand of leadership to the
young student to help him over that
hard period of readjustment."
President Farrand proved an advocate
for modern youth, during the course of
his address following the banquet, at
which Paul E. Lesh. Washington attor-
ney. acted as POSTMASTER.
I'VE have never in the history of
American universities and colleges had
such material to work on" said Dr.
Farrand. I'VE are turning out bet
ter product than ever before and 1t is
improving year by year."
Mr. Berry said the most interesting
phenomenon of this decade that has
followed the war is the revolt of youth"
Il went out to put down this revolt
of youth and came back an apostle of
the cult" he asserted. "Out of this
welter of saxophoneS, roadsters. syn
thetic gin, road houses and what not
has come a superior race of girls and
boys, with Saner view of life and a
more mature Judgment than their
fathers and mothers had at the same
age.
Communications from 40 college
presidents, setting forth their ideas on
relationship between colleges and their
alumni, were read at the banquet
Rev. Dr. w. Coleman Nevils, presi-
dent of Georgetown University de-
clared, What the University may eX-
pect from her alumni will be deter
mined and measured by the nature OF
the benefits which they, as students,
have received from the university.
Energetic Loyalty Urged.
"The ideal alumnus will be practical
and energetic in his loyalty. He will not
neglect to direct and recommend worthy
candidates for admission to the college
which he once chose above all others.
And knowing. as all college graduates
must know. that what he paid to his
college in fees and tuition never meets
the growing cost of modern education,
he will, to the extent of his means. con-
tribute financially to her physical de-
yelopment and extension of her public
! service"
And, jealous of the good name of
his alma mater he should not hesitate
| to transmit to competent authorities
his own constructive and matured rec
concentrations in respect to curriculum
and general policy, together with such
comment, but be it friendly or unfriend-
". as would seem to warrant serious
consideration" President Anderson AID
erman of the University of Virginia
said.
Il once defined an alumnus as a
| faithful and grateful son of a good
mother. The first duty of faithful
son is to live good life and to illus
! trate by his integrity and clear think
| ing the value of the education and the
discipline to which he was subjected
! in his alma mater This is the supreme
! thing. The university which can point
! to a long line of capable and high
| minded men serving the state and the
Nation and human society is the great
| est university.
THE second duty is to keep in mind
! that universities or institutions increase
in needs and responsibilities as they
grow older.
THE third duty resting upon all
alumni is to take it to heart that they
| should remember their alma mater in
! her hour of weakness and need. and in
| their day of strengthened power, to the
| end that the whole social fabric shall
be strengthened and the sons of their
alma mater acquire standards of
straight thinking. good taste, clean
honor and fidelity to trust"
Reception for Cornell President.
Included among the kilograms and
| letters received were expressions from
President Nicholas Murray Butler OF
Columbia President Walter Dill Scott
of Northwestern University, President
John Grier Hibben of Princeton, Pres
ident Charles A. Richmond of Union
College and President Ellen F. Pendle-
ton of Wellesley.
The evenings activities started with
a reception for President Livingston
Farrand of Cornell at the north en-
trance to the ballroom on the tenth
floor of the hotel.
The alumni voted to request that the
organization confer with the athletic
council of Cornell concerning the whole
situation affecting athletics at the uni
versity. A list of former athletes of
Cornell was suggested from which Sc
lections might be made to assist in
threshing out next month the slump
in athletics which, 1t was said, affects