Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-24
WANTS AUTONOMY
IN SPORTS AFFAIRS
Big Ten Plans to Support
Northwestern in Battle
With College Body.
BY FRANCIS J. POWERS.

- HICAGO, March 24.-The
Western Conference has
~ placed itself in a position
to resist any effort Of the
North Central Association of Col
leges and Secondary Schools to
participate, by investigation CT
disciplinary measures, in the
conduct of Big Ten athletics.
Definite action by the Western Con-
ference will be taken April 10, when the
presidents and faculty representatives
of its schools meet in Chicago to con-
slider the situation brought about by
Northwestern UniversityS refusal to
permit North Central investigators to
complete their investigation at the
Evanston institution.
The dispute between the North Cen
trail and western Conference was
brought to focal point Thursday when
the associations Board of Review re-
ported: THAT Northwestern has sub
mitted no report and its accrediting is
referred back to the Board of Review
with power to act" Which means that
for the time being Northwestern's
standing in the North Central Associ-
alton is III status quo.
States Big Ten Stand.
In an address before the North Gen.
trail, Walter Dill Scott, president Of
Northwestern, defended the action Of
his university and, in part, said:
Official investigators OF the North
Central Association have stated in SUBJ
stance that the intercollegiate Confer
ence has failed and that the North Cen
trail Association was taking over the
work previously done by the Intercol-
legiate Conference. Several members Of
the North Central, who also are menu
berS of the intercollegiate Conference,
have stated that in their opinion this
new policy of the North Central Asso-
citation is a subtle attempt to disrupt
the conference and place the control Of
all intercolleg late athletics in the hands
Of the North Central
This they regard as an attempt to
bring the control of intercollegiate ath-
letics into the hands of those who are
not interested in raising the standards
Of intercollegiate athletics, but who de-
sire to see them abolished
AT the present time the conference
has better organization for legisla-
ton, administration, inspection, adjudi-
cation and control Of its 10 institutions
than has the North Central. We, as an
association are justified in placing our
faith in the future dependability of
conference with such q distinguished
career.
Several Of the conference UNIVERSE
ties feel that it is undesirable to be in
spected by individuals unfamiliar with
local conditions and to have the find
1ngs presented to a Board of Review
on which there is not a majority IN di-
rect contact with athletics at the con-
TnFnF1R0 TfV7fxsarCitfne lie
true II that board has power to in
nict punishment"
E. g. Elliott, president Of Purdue, Of
Tered an amendment to the resolution
OF the Board OF Review, concerning
Northwestern, to the effect that "ac-
ton and differences between the North
Central and Western Conference be re-
ferred to the Executive Committee Of
the association for consultation with
Big Ten representatives.
Action In Allegiance.
This was voted down after E. Z.
Rail, president Of North Central Col
lege, had objected on the grounds that
no single conference should be given
special privilege. Northwestern then
was given an opportunity to present the
report Of the North Central Associa-
ton Investigators, which automatically
would have settled the dispute. But
that Northwestern refused to do.
The North Central Association Board
Of Review viii take no further action
on the Northwestern question until after
the Big Ten presidents have held their
meeting. General opinion is that the
two factions then will hold a Joint
meeting, in which an amicable agree
ment viii be reached. But that agree
ment will guarantee the Western Con-
ference autonomy with regard to the
conduct Of fts oVvn athletic affairs