students were asked to sign blanks
binding the signer to abstain from
fraternity activity during attendance
at college. The two men debarred
refused to sign such papers. The
fraternities decided to combat Presi
dent Smith's stand in the matter.
The trustess have just lately agreed
to recognize fraternities, but they
are to be placed under the imme
diate supervision of the faculty.—
The Oberlin Review.
The College Topics of the Uni
versity of Virginia a few weeks ago
contained an interesting editorial re
garding the forty per cent rule re
cently adopted by the faculty of the
institution. The article is interesting
because of the apparent antagonism
of the ideas of Thomas Jefferson
and those of present day educators.
"When Thomas Jefferson found
ed this University he had several
ideas in view. First of all he
wanted to make of this University
a hot bed wherein could be culi
vated freedom. Studies were to
be chosen by each man according
to his own taste. Likewise each
one was to have any religion or
no religion as he saw fit. Second,
he wished to make the Univer
sity the capstone of the public
school system, and make under
standing rather than wealth the
passport to knowledge. This im
plied free tuition for the deserv
ing. Last and by no means least,
he sought to beautify the surround
ings and make a school of taste in
his native state.
"In his mind, it made little dif
ference, whether or not the so
called student studied. If a youth
of eighteen took up his residence
here and spent four years beneath
the green porticos, a certain
amount of culture would be
assimilated by him. He would
mix with other young gentlemen
and exchange ideas with them.
Also, he would sit under the
learned professors and would thus
THE STATE COLLEGIAN
learn much from their• weighty
words. The question of whether
or not his scholarly duties were
performed was to be left entirely
to the parent—the latter being
kept cognizant of the *son's prog
ress, and by him was to be decided
whether or not the advantages of
the education merited its cost.
The sign of "No Admittance" was
to be unknown on the University
portals.
"These new rules adopted by the
Faculty usurp the parents' author
ity and overthrow the Jefferson-
ian idea. They restrict attend
ance to the studious and make
"black list" of the very ones who
need most to be encouraged in
the quest for knowledge. These
rules are a form of coercion, and
of all words in the dictionary this
was most odious to Jefferson.
"This University has gone on
for almost a century in the path
pointed out by the Sage of Monti
cello. We do not believe in strict
adherence to the old, but we also
do not believe in overthrowing
time honored customs unnecces
sarily.
"The "40 per cent rule" is unnec
cessary, harmful to the University,
and unfair to the citizens of Vir
ginia. The right to deny its ad
vantages to the youth of the state
does not belong to the University
affairs, but to the people.
"Jefferson was a wise man and
he held up only the laws of the
land to be adhered to.
"A college man is to young to
be condemned as a failure. Lead
him to do better; do not give him
a downward push. And let the
"man that signs the checks" de
cide whether or not he is worthy
of his pay. "
Mr. C. E. Downton of the West
inghouse Mfg. Co.. gave a talk be
fore the M. E. and E. E. Societies
last Friday night.
GO TO
GEO. B. JACKSON
—FOR--
CIGARS. TOBACCO AND
FRESH ROASTED PEANUTS
A Full Line of Smokers' Fancy Articles.
ALLEN ST.. STATE COLLEGE. PA
A. F. MAIRKLE
DEA I.ER IN
MILK AND ICE
STATE CS. ra".EG
COTRELL & LEONARD
ALBANY, N. 1'
Makers of
CAPS. GOWNS
AND HOODS
to the American Colleges
and Universities.
Class Contracts a Specialty.
ALL READY
'l'o scrve yon with a Quick Lunch.
Oysters in every style. Soups, Vios,
Cakes, Baked Beans, Sandwic es and
Tlot Drinks. Also a choice line of
Until ectionery constantly on hand.
Socla Water and Sundaes in all
flavors and to suit all tastes, at the
Old Drug Store Stand.
Try us and Be Convinced
C. F. HARRISON, Prop.
Catering a Specialty
TRUNKS TRAVELING BAGS
HARRY W. SAUERS
HATTER & FURNISHER
STATE COLLEGE, - PENNA
FLASHLIGRS, VIEWS, GROUPS.
STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHY
Sizes up to Bxlo.
GEO, D. BARBEY, 370 Main
Successor to Morgan, Arnold and Barnett,