THE MICHIGAN DAILY TD MARC 130,: Student Government A Success? in ions Of Faculty nary On This Matter) The Revised Council Now In Operation i I Kalaw Tells Of Philippines REED LIKES IDEA OF. THOMAS H. REED, of the olitical Science Depagrten-. ; belieyfin student self-gcve9i. nt My faitli is 'based on a ; dozen1 rs.observttion of its working' at University of.California. Like er human institutions, it is not feet; like other. democracies its 'f orm a nce fluctuates with the in- ences of the moment. When all is d, however, there is a large balance its favoraascontrasted with the temn of faculty control xs a means of securing good con- ct on the part of students it is as ective as faculty control. I am y sure that student behavior at the iversity of California under stu- nt self-government has on the. ole been as satisfactory as at the iversity of Michigan under faculty ntrol. The idea that student self- cipline means lax discipline is a rious error. Once the responsi- ity for the maintenance of good nduct is placed squarely upon the adent body it reacts strongly to it. tose who, by the choice of their fel- that there is always an' available al- tetnative in faculty bntrol. Not the least of the virtues of thei sudent . tself-governent is the fact tiat it;inecessitates a constant educa- ti4YIP of .student opinibn, reiterated ap- peal tthe best in the student mind. In the process of education the Presi- dent of the University and the faculty will to some extent share, but most of it must be carried on by' student leaders, by the choice. of their fellows responsible for the result of the sys- tem. In other wordsstudentdself- government calls student leaders to the front and forces them to exercise their powers of leadership in mould- ing student standards. WENLEY GIVES IDEAS That students should have final authority in matters regarding the re- lations of one student with another,l and in offenses pertaining to the Uni- versity they should meet jointly with the ;faculty: is. the : opinion of, Prof. Robert. M. Wenley of the philosophy. department. There seems to be somewhat more I Michigan's student council today of student government in the Univer- consists of the following representa- sity of Philippines than here." said tives of the student body six seniors, Dean Maximo M. Kalaw, visiting pro- three juniors, the managing editor of fessor from the islands, in an inter- The Daily, the president of the Union, view. There the student council is one man representing the Athletic .composed of the big leaders of the association, and a president of the school, and the organization and its Student council. The senior and. doings are the center of campus at- junior delegates, together with the ,tetion. president, make up the council proper,' Every student wants to be on the jstudent council of his college, for this while thethree activities representa- srgniztion is ost iportn tive actas e-oficio in the school. They take charge of Last spring changes were made putting on the annual College Day which brought the preesnt organiza- and like affairs, and have frequently htion of the council into effect. At put across legislation. that time the council was cutaintwo,ed3 Student councils in the Philippines members, as it was thought that a are worked on a different plan than similar body would be more workable. We have seven col- As in the old council, however, junior leges. such as the literary college and the law college, and each of these, of two years. It is believed that by ihas its own student council, consist- of wo ear. I isbeleve tht b ig of representatives elected from holding over three men from year to ing of rerese e te from :a i each of the classesi, two from the year the council will be a more stable fresliman class and so on. and each ... 4 f r t ; ;1 : , '+ body. With the three major student, ac- # tivities represen'ted in the council- ublications, athletics, andthe Union .-the council can now act as a means 'of co-operation between the variousj ow studen neat their usness. erer judg ommittee. Further bout stu ails to be ients dea tudent su nay unde ome alms ondemne adeed. tudent se leted an .elegation t the sen- ssential t superiore self-gover authoritar miniature 'sity, stud; :mind and 1which pre effective cracy. So method o cept by pr munitiesc selves onl The grea over other present a of self im 1o other s systemso times very acciden't0 alone has ership fr governme in politica in trainin practise o a sufficien other. fo system. An ncid governme is the im makes ro students. underityi faculty of ~athority its, are placed in authority, Professor Wenley was the first student interests, tDefnite poicies functions with great sett president of the Student Representa, and unity of action are now easier to They are, if anything, se- tive council;at the University of Glas- arrive at, it is believed. 'es than a faculty discipline. gow, ' Scotland, and he states that it ' Another great change was made in Was a matter of slow evolution and the matter of election. Formerly each more, there is a finality that there were previously many un- :school was given a specific number of dent decisions which often 1 successful attempts made to effect an representatives on the council. Nowt e attached to the punish-organization, The council was in ex- the men are chosen from the campusc lt out by the faculty. A istence fifteen years before it became at large, which gives them a broader bjected to faculty discipline a part of the organized legal ma- responsibility. The president is se-s r some circumstances be- chinery of the University, he said. He lected in the same way. ost a local hero. A student I also feels that we cannot take condi- As regards disciplinary matters, the t d by his peers is condemned tions in foreign universities and copy I council is at present represented on Df course, to be effective them because of the different circum- each of the faculty disciplinary bodiese lf-government must be com- stances with which we must contend. by its president and two other coun- I d genuine. No half-hearted The views of Professor Wenley are cilmen appointed by him. They have I of authority will carry with ( as follows: the right to discuss cases, but not to se of responsibility which is "The holders of responsible offices vote. The council believes that it to its success. o he ul h Qf should. conduct i reliminary investit riing sGrod T ,+ o c1etions of -student discipline cases,, with then with this dbasic fa L ty, cct it with membe s. of the right to suggest disciplinary mcan; G ee ; 4 , d1eettirirsmeasures ,Although, this 'will ndt 'give fa~icliin cases whr ' educational opportunities of; of students are particularly effected. them teh final judgment in such ,mat- nment as contrasted with Experience has been that under these ters, the council believes that it will' 'ian government. In the conditions the real evidence in anyn at lett gitthe ' a better democracy of the Univer case is much more likely to be avail meansf ressng their opinions on ents acquire an attitude of able. My further experience is that all theirj____rs._ an experience in action cases effecting students, no matter in k pares them to play a more what school or college, should be ad- little resphu;e from thestudent rneni- part in our political demno- judicated, by the same body. This bers. This certainly shows little apti-1 far there has ben found no tends to uniformity, which is neces- tude for self-government." f teaching self control x- sary for confidence in the decisions of rarsnsogoven theCm- a body. It is highly advisable that OUTLINES BOTH SIDFS can learn to govern them- this central body should be clear as y by governing themselves, to the various penalties which it can PROF, P. BRAND. BLANSIARD, of t superiority of democracy impose and that it should be equallyi ,the philosophy department- r systems does not lie in any clear as to the kind of misdemeanors: "The request of the Student Council chievement but in the faculty fo rwhich these penalties are to be im- for an . extension of student govern- provement which exists inosed. There is entirely too much ir- ment seems to me on the whole a ystem. The success of other regularity. Certain penalties should reasonable one. of government, which is at be definitely prescribed for certain "It is true that there are certain y great, is always due to the misdemeanors, as they are in our objections which immediately occur: Df a good ruler. Democracyc t First, the viewpoint of the student, the power of evolving lead- it may be held, is not that of his eld- om the mass. Student, self- "We must have a council which has ers; what is important to him may nt is worth all the courses the complete confidence ofsboth stu- not be important to them. There are 9. science in the curriculum dents and of faculty. This is to be certain campus traditions, for cx- 1g men and women in the obtained in two ways, first in the man ample, which to a body of students ~f democracy. There is here ner in which the body is constituted, might seem worthy of severe enforce- nt ground, if there were no and secondly, by the uniform matter ment, while to men of greater matur-I r the introduction of this in which it uses its powers. ity they would seem trifling. And here "The faculty should have nothing at maturity ought to decide. dental result of student self- all to do with discipline of the stu- 'Second, student investigators, it nt of the very greatest value dents among themselves. Give the I might be said, would not be treated rove reytionshsp which itcouncil final authority in matters in with- due respect. Advantage would' proved relationship which it be taken of their lack of official stand- om for between faculty and whichthe offense concerns student re- ing; they could not compel the pro A faculty of rulers' may' lations with one another. All matters ' uto f vdne hywudb As systembereplaced by a concerning offenses which effect the odinked,uevidecrossed and e i friends. The element of University as well as the student hdind, domulece andme in the parental relation is should be acted 'upon by a joint body."j "Third. campus offences are numer- organization, for instance a debating society, is permitted to have one member on the board. "'Some of the deans in the univer- sity allow their councils to meet alone for action, but I preside at the coun-I cil meetings for my school, the college of literature, science and the arts, which are held twice a month. How- ever, there is a vice-chairman elected by the group. "I submit to them all matters of their interest, including student dis- cipline cases. In the latter, they act in an advisory capacity and the deans convene in flagrant cases to take action. Student recommenda- tions are seriously considered, how- ever. "There is also a general university council, composed of a representative from each of the college groups, but this main body has little activity in the school. College spirit runs higher than university spirit, which we are continually striving to unify.' Each college is' 'eaer to present ater I College Day than the other colleges. These College Days are big celebra- tionr, a.nd co; umonly take . place on national'holidaa. Th yro'ram con- sists of athl64es, par# les, dancing" drama presemt ,ions, ad iquire d whole lay. Nt4t rally nthu m runs', high. , "As I said, we are always working! to unify our school spirit. Our cam- pus itself is about as large as that of' yours here in Ann Arbor, but we have less students than- you, 5,000 to be exact. It is vary difficult. however, to E fuse the various college interests into a whole." g. . f r i E .. * * hi .sg i BETTER CLEANING tOur laundry equipment is 'strictly modern. Your clothes are washed scientifically, as they should be. ALL the dirt is removed, and without injury to your clothes. It gives them longer life --.and they will feel moire comfortable, too. Whatever you have that needs cleaning White Swan will do it better, and will charge you less for it. It's part of our policy to give you the very best service possible. It's good business to charge only a reasonable price. Then we'll get more of your business, which is what we want. * * * * * Not only that, but we darn your socks, sew on buttons and make all minor repairs. You'll find our service in that line very much worth while. Students especially appreciate this service. '-A-.'... AnSAsk your friends about our dry CIeanin . They, , 1~ tell you it is unequalled. Of course it Oc6uldtit be otherwise, for we have the finest -fiequn~ont with which to do it. In addition every number of our organization is anxious to make his work satisfactory to you in every way. That's a combination that assures your satisfaction. * ii . . . * ye. * * * otherwise the faculty would descend upon him is as yet a barbarian with scarcely a glimmer of morality. What is wanted is a general student feeling that decency is not an arbitrary order from an academic All-highest, but something ratified by the cordial con- sent of people like oneself. "To establish for each student a jury of his peers would tend, I think, to foster this feeling. If a common sentiment in favor of a certain scale of values and type of life could be generated on the campus, it would be a completely transfiguring force: and while the present move tends rather to consolidate sentiment as to what not to do, it is at least a move in the right direction." But as we have told you before, to fully appre- ciate our service, and to become convinced that what we tell you is so, you must try it. Send us your next laundry or the next suit you have to be cleaned. If you are not satsfied, then we want no pay. it * * ' " * l often a serious obstacle to the good understanding which ought to exist between parent and child. The same thing is true with regard to faculty authority. f If a professor, besides leading the thought of his students, is expected to be an amateur prosecut- ing attorney and then to act as a judge in his own cause, there is danger of a barrier arising, fatal to his best usefulness, Sound Tradition Necessary Of course student self-government will not solve the question of relation -of faculty and students, but it will] open the way to its solution. At any. rate student self-government will re- lieve the faculty of a considerable burden of time' and energy now de- voted to disciplinary matters..- This will be a small but clear gain to the University. Of course, student self-government will not work well if neglected and left wholly to itself. The student de- mocracy will start out without ex-I perience or traditions. It must be led; by wise council and friendly assitance to the development of a sound tradi- tion. Once established this tradition. must be kept alive. The duty of keeping it alive will primarily rest with the upper classmen. Mazzini de-1 fined democracy as "The government of all by all under the leadership of the best and the wisest." The custom of acquiescence in senior leadership PATTERSON OPPOSED "I don't feet that the students have I shown sufficient worth in their stan- I dards of chivalry and education to be allowed to govern themselves," said George W. Patterson, assistant dean of the engineering school, in an inter- view. "The student body has ability, but can it use it properly to govern, themselves without guidance?I "We have an Engineering Honor committee here in our school that has taken action on matters of discipline, such as cheating, in the past, and their recommendations have generally been accepted. There has never been an appeal to the faculty of the school. In any cases where there was disagree-i ment between the faculty and the Honor committee, it was because lack of evidence failed to justify as large1 a penalty . as the student committee. recommended. "I think the Engineering Honor committee represents about. the high- est average of student on the campus. Following recent evidences of student incapacity to govern himself in mat- ters affecting the University, I am doubtful of his ability to control him- self under his own government. The important thing is to bring up the standards of being a gentleman on the campus here. "If the students want self-govern- ment, it is necessary that they frame ous; their investigations take time: and with student activities already toc many, it would be unreasonable tr' ask the Council to undertake the ad- ditional work. Answers Objections "There is some weight fin these ob jections, but the plan suggested 1 3 the Council does not seem to be open to any of them. As for the first, the plan does not propose to supercede [ the judgment of maturity by the judg- ment of youth. The power to review, to approve, and to reject still rests with the faculty committees, as I think it ought, to do. But the plan would institute a sort of parliamentary gov- ernment in which the students would I form a lower house with the power to initiate action; and the possession if such a body would tend, I think, to deepen students' responsibility for their own conduct. Furthermore. there is small ground for the view that student officials would .not take their function seriously; students, forgiv- ing little to youth, are often mor heavy-handed and implacable than their seniors. "Nor does the second objection seem weighty. Student investigators could scarcely be played with if invested with formal authority; and if their inqui- sition would seem less formidable than i that of a faculty body, that in itselt has distinct advantages. Their very lack of standing might increase the readiness of their access to the facts. "As for the third objection, the AGREES WITH COUNCIL' PROF ROBERT T. CRANE. of the political science department- "I believe in encouraging the stu- dlents of the University to assume the task of their own government to the fullest extent to which they show ca- pacity. This sloes not mean that any pre-conceived, full-fledged, scheme of self-government should be instituted as a grand adventure. The simple request for authority for the Student Council to make their own investiga- tion and to recommend action in cases )f discipline appears to be in conform- ity with my own views. It is a first step and asks the minimum possible in the direction of student govern- ment. "The student hearing and recom- mendation that is suggested in cases of discipline takes nothing from the. power of the University authorities. It might, indeed. be done without for- mal authorization. The weight that will be attached to the recommenda-' tions of the Council will depend en- tirely upon their value. If this value is proved by experience, discipline will in effect pass into the hands of the student body. Success in 'this taskI should be the basis for further efforts toward self-government. Success Comes With Growth "In short, student government, should develop and not be attempted through a mere fiat. If political sci- ence teaches anything, it is that suc- cessful self-government comes only through growth, through a develop-( To render you better service, and at a lower price we have installed a branch office in the Press Building. It is run on the Cash and Carry system. Here we give you15 per cent reductions on all laundry work, and clean and press your suit for $1.00. * * * * LOWER PRICES Regular "Call For and Deliver" Service, As Usual Telephone 165 S A ii m . -d- A - - U