Show A QUESTION is now confronting our literary and debating societies in which discretion and steady handed judgment judgment judgment judg judg- ment must neither bedazzled by the ze zealot lot nor chained to absolute custom by the them m mossback That question is the grading grading grading grad grad- ing of society work in the University To settle it sharp discussion has been indulged in in meetings have been held professors have been consulted and agitation agitation agitation agi agi- tation has stirred up comment on every hand We learn th that t the agitation of this originated with the members of the Zeta Gamma Society with Society with some of the leading members who suddenly began began began be be- gan to think grading would be beneficial There is no doubt they began to think correctly but it appears to have been the operation of that very grading that put the question on its feet The societies are in one sense already graded Society work and class work are two different and distinct things An effort to grade the societies on a basis of standing in the prescribed work of the University would be to attempt the abolition of students societies and set in their place class clubs to replace the broad democratic brotherhood of students so characteristic of our Western colleges by the narrow class selfishness of the Eastern college But as the numbers of our classmen will not permit of this method it is suggested that the basis of division be college and preparatory work respectively and that there be high grade societies with a membership of men college-men proper and another with witha a membership of preparatory students Under the existing conditions this is the only way to look at the question and nd the only way to bring good from froma a change is to establish a preparatory society and let the others now now in ex- ex i fe ce keep up tip p pa a a- r rivalry valry and- and their individual individual individual in in- life as long as they can Competition Competition Competition Com Com- petition is a healthy spur to effort and should not be stifled or its eff effects dead dead- ened The best society will in the end absorb the weaker but bu if they be equally strong strengthen then the desired com competition p eti tion will exist True the narrower the field the greater the results to be attained in its special line but society work like that now existing in our institution has for its aim not a special education in any anyone anyone anyone one science e or art it be the Normal to which no allusion n is made when gradation is spoken of but on the contrary its aim is to develop manliness manliness manliness man man- liness and conversancy with all sciences and art on a broad plane With this aim the only grading necessary necessary necessary sary the only grading conducive to existence existence existence ex ex- in fact is that which will take place without any interference of faculties faculties faculties ties or constitutions is that grading which already exists from that natural gravitation of kindred minds to a com common common mon cause The proper solution o of the question is isto isto isto to establish society work fitted to the preparatory's and freshman's capability and let the societies now on a career of prosperity continue |