Show $ STUDENT LIB’E 90 Although the past months have been months of difficulty for the management there are signs of a new awakening Our contribution box is being used more frequently We are gaining the interest and support of the Alumni We are gaining recognition abroad We feel that next year’s staff will have more support in a literary way from the general body Many can write and will write as soon as the first scare is over For these and many other reasons next year should give us a journal unrivalled in the State Stay It Out With the approach of spring many of our students find it necessary to leave school We do not wish to pose as a wise counsellor or to presume a better knowledge of a student’s affairs than he has himself but we are forced to the conclusion that much of this yearly discontinuance is unnecessary Of course there are times when a student is absolutely forced to discontinue but these conditions are rare Most students could by putting forth a little extra effort stay until the close of the year We feel that few have reached such a stage of exertion that they are incapable of further exertion What then is the cause of so much leaving every spring? It is the inability of the student completely to comprehend his position For many of us forget that we are rapidly leaving our best life behind We forget that our age is an age of education We have left behind the period of honest ignorance and are approaching that of honest intelligence Could a student be brought to realize that only four or five years will see him in the world forever he would hesitate before entering it unprepared We have men in our halls who come four or five months every year and repeat each year the work of the previous one We cannot see why a better plan would not be to stay out entirely one year and come a full year the next We speak for the rule and do not wish to force our views on the excep- tional student In the University the plan of what the journals have dubbed “The College North-Wester- n Drummer” has been adopted By it the University openly employs men to canvass for students It is slightly objectionable in that it lowers the old reverend dignity of the university and substitutes an almost commercial spirit It is commendable in its open avowal of a principal hitherto considered incidental We suggest that each student be his own drummer and ask himself the question: “Is this to my best interest?” In the Reading Room For some time past it has been the custom of the students to assemble in the reading room during the lunch period of each day This of course must be expected However of late there has been more or less confusion owing to conversation On March 19 when the chattering was at its height President Kerr appeared on the scene and reminded the students of the regulations regarding the use of the reading room Such incidents are humiliating to both students and president There is seldom an effect without acause and it would seem upon first thought that the blame rests entirely with the students Their actions arc not wholly unwarranted The conduct of the students in the reading room at any other period than the one in question is beyond criticism After four or five hours of labor the students need and should have some recreation before beginning the work of the afternoon The majority seek the reading room to get such recreation from the papers or magazines What is the result? The room as at present equipped will accommodate not more than 125 students while there are at least 500 in daily attendance Granting that only half of this number enter the room there would then be 100 or more who are barred from the use of the reading slopes and compelled either to leave the room or remain standing They stay with the hope of reaching the papers This hope might be realized if the selfishness of mankind were entirely obliterated It is not an uncommon occurrence to see a student retain possession of a paper or magazine until everthing |