Evening star., 1933-01-22
COMMISSION RULE
HELD 'AUTOCRAT|C'
G, w. Chiefs Own Resolution
Against Aided Athletes Is
Out of Order.
BY STANLEY WOODWARD.

~ I AVN AASAAt
M The action of the Commis-
/ Y sion on Institutions of
Higher Education in pro-
viding that colleges which grant
athletic scholarships be disquali-
fed for inclusion in the approved
list of this section, caused slight
uproar in a star chamber session
which took place in the business
building at Columbia this after
noon.
Dr. Cloyd Heck Marvin, president OF
George Washington University, accused
the commission of adopting "autocratic"
and "un-American" measures, and 1t
became obvious that there has sprung
up home rule" clique which ques-
tions the right Of the commission to
determine the qualifications OF students
in individual colleges and schools.
DR.. Marvin's address voiced his OBJ
jections in a general meeting OF the
Middle States Association of Colleges
and Secondary Schools, Of which the
commission is subsidiary Following
this meeting, which was called to dis
cuss the commissions actions, the COM
mission itself went into executive
session.
nROF. ADAM LEROY JONES of Co.
I lumbia, its chairman, declined
after each meeting to say what
had transpired. He warded OF report
ers with the assertion that he might
have statement to make from his
home in Montclair at 10 o'clock to-
morrow morning.
From unofficial sources, however, GER
tain of the transactions Of the general
meeting were learned. DR.. Marvin,
after questioning the advisability OF
giving the commission autocratic con-
troll over matters which he considered
to be the province of individual col
leges, offered resolution for adoption
by the association, providing that no
man who received help OF any kind shall
take part in athletics.
Whatever his motive in offering such
a resolution, his right to offer it was
overruled by Prof. Jones, who presided,
and his remarks on the "autocracy"
of the commission merely constituted
part of the discussion.
nRINTED copies of the report Of the
Commission on Athletic Scholar
ships, which was presented to the
association at the previous meeting
were distributed among the delegates.
The resolutions embodied in that report
are as follows:
prevails in certain colleges of awarding
athletic scholarships is undesirable and
that the commission disapproveS OF this
practice. 1t is further Resolved, That,
beginning with September, 1888, an in
stitution which grants or continues such
scholarships shall be held to be dis
qualified for inclusion in the approved
list of institutions Of higher education
of the Middle States Association Of Col
leges and Secondary Schools"
The term athletic scholarship" Is
defined by the commission as any
money payments or the equlvalent
granted to student because OF MS
athletic promise or athletic achieve
ment.
IN plain words the resolutions mean
i that any college which considers to
have violated the precepts embodied
in them, may be held educationally un-
sound
During the general discussions Prof.
Jones was asked to interpret the stand
of the commission of various continent
questions. Training tables were held
''unsanitary' If the athlete was given
free or below cost board. The ancient
practice of subsidization OF students,
perhaps athletes by Alumni was brought
iIp and the opinion was given that each
case must be decided on its merits.
The resolution aimed at athletic sub
sidization were adopted by the commits
sion December II, 1881. The printed
folder, which was circulated at the
meeting presented reasons Tor their |
adoption 1t points cut that the col !
lege which awards such scholarships |
Thereby indorses the practice OF sub
sddizing athletes and professionalizing |
athletes; it indicates to the student body |
and the public that in its view athletlc
prowess is at the very least competl-
tor with academic excellence and that
ability in athletics may even be pre-
ferred to scholarly ability"
A PPARENTLY the note struck by DR..
n Marvin was not entirely new, for
the report suggests that something
similar had occurred before. 1t says:
"It was suggested that the commits
sion'S first resolution expressing us
disapproval of athletic scholarships was
commendable. but that the second,
which made the granung OF sucn
scholarships a disqualification for in
CluS&OIl III tllC dPPioSSA "NS NASe.
Objection was urged on the ground
that colleges should be left entirely free
in such matters; that this type of reso-
luton establishes a tendency to take
the power and authority Of the univer-
sity administrators or Of the college
administrators out of the hands OF
those who are responsible for it.
ITO these suggestions it may be said,
first, that the mere suggestion OF the
commissions disapproval might easily
be disregarded by a college, and, sec
ond, that the same objection might
equally be offered against all activities
of the commission, and third, that If
freedom to subsidize athletics seems
important for its welfare to any college
for the independence of its admin
istrators, we have nothing to say ex-
cept that it should not ask to be in
cluded in the list of colleges which do
not follow the same practice"