STATE COLLEGIAN Published on Thursday of each week during the college year in the interest of The Pennsylvania State College. EDITORS, ALEX. HART, Jr., ’O5, Chief, F. M. TORRENCE, ’O5, T. F. FOLTZ, W. J. DUMM, ’O6, ED. FAWKES, 'O6, F. K. BREWSTER, F. B. GARRAHAN, BUSINESS MANAGER. W. G. HECKATHORNE, ’O6. CIRCULATION MANAGER, P. A. RAINEY, ’O7. ASSISTANTS. H. P. DAWSON. ’O7 W. N. LE PAGE, 'O3. SUBSCRIPTION. $1.50 per year or $1.25 if paid within 30 days after date of subscription. Entered at the Post Office, State College, Pa. as second class matter. Thursday, Jan. 26, 1905 EDITORIAL The article clipped from the New York Times and printed elsewhere in this issue should be of interest to students of this institution who have literary aspirations. The contest is open to any regular student in any college or university cf recognized standing in the United States. From among the six hundred, which we have here, there surely ought to be at least one or two who are capa ble of turning out a creditable essay on this subject. For details, write to President M. M. Butler, Columbia University, New York City. The Freshman class has, up to this time, made an enviable record. It may not have occurred to some of its members, but it is nevertheless a fact that this same good record would be considerably enhanced by the abolition of the annual “ stunt ” which calls for the abstraction of a horse, cow, or other animal from a stable in the neighborhood and its installation in the class room of an obnoxious instructor. The chief reason for calling a halt on this so called custom is that the Main Build ing is getting old and shakey. A crowd of three or four hundred fel lows on one of the floors is very likely to produce a cave-in and the con sequences of such an occurrance can hardly be imagined. The second reason is that it is cruelty to animals in its worst form. The third consid eration is that such treatment of the instructor in question doesn’t do the slightest good. If he’s been flunk ing many, he will be more likely to increase his percentage than to diminish it. These few facts ought to merit serious consideration. COLLEGE ORBIT. A chapter of Sigma X i the tech nical honorary fraternity has been established at Case School of Ap plied Science. At the University of Minnesota in interclass debates the custom of having the audience vote as well as the judges is in vogue. Michigan has the largest number of living alumni of any institution of learning in the United States, 15,- 000; Harvard has 14,000; Yale, 11,000. Cornell’s co-operative store, which was started with a capital of $BOO is now worth $1,400 after paying its members the $2 membership fee and a dividend. President Eliot, of Harvard, and President Angell, of Michigan, in re cent interviews, have stated that the experience of their institutions has shown that the elective system of choosing courses is a success. The fears at first entertained that the students would select “one-sided” courses—snaps —were unfounded. The building of new ice skating rinks is being urged at Harvard and Chicago Universities. At Chicago ice hockey will be played this winter for the first time. It is said that the University of Minnesota has a basketball team composed wholly of members of the faculty which can defeat any of the undergraduate teams in the Univer sity. At Minnesota the freshmen have riveted on a lofty smoke stack on the campus, an iron plate containing their class numerals. The upper classmen are considering the advis ability of ordering the freshmen to pull it down. Williams College has been award ed a gold medal for its exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition. The exhibit consisted of photographs of the campus, buildings and town, with a history of the college, schedules, courses, requirements and other facts of interest. Exchanges The Bucknell Orange and Blue looks as if it had had its face washed. The general appearance has been greatly improved. We welcome the return of the Brunonian to our exchange list. Its excellent fiction has been sadly missed. Friend —“In what course does your son expect to graduate ?’ ’ Father —“ In the course of time, by the looks of things.” —Oberlin Re view. “ Oh, my friends, ” exclaimed the orator, ‘‘ it makes me sad when I think of the days that are gone, when I look around and miss the old familiar faces I used to shake hands with. ” —Daily Democrat.