GE SIX
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
WOMEN UP IN ARMS:
Alumnae Urge Athletic De-emphasis,
7m
By CAL SAMRA
The Michigan Women's Alumnae
s
group of Marshall, Mich., has
adopted a resolution condemning
the "trend toward bigger athletics
in the Western Conference" and
urging the University to withdraw
from the Big Ten "if need be, un-
til athletic saneness is restored."
In letters to President Harlan
H. Hatcher, Athletic Director Fritz
Crisler, and the Alumni Office,
the Marshall alumnae assailed
everything connected with "big
athletics," and claimed that pres-
ent practices are leading to "ath-
letic corruption and academic de-
terioration."
it
"And rather than to subscribe
to the growing philosophy of
subsidization of athletes and
continually greater stress on 'big
Athletics,' the University should
continue its athletic program,
without subsidization of ath-
letes, and with the re-installa-
tion of the Freshman Rule .. .
"And if need be, withdraw from
the Western Conference until ath-
letic saneness is again restored and
before its academic standing in
the world of higher" education is
impaired."
IN PARTICULAR, the alumnae
group voiced its disapproval of,
University "athletic tuition schol-'
arships" and the recent Big Ten
ruling permitting freshmen to par-
ticipate in intercollegiate athletics.
The women, however, took spe-
cial pains to praise the Univer-
sity's past record in dealing with
the sports problem and its high
academic standard.
The resolution was signed by
Miss Louise Alexander, president;
Mrs. Ralph F. Mahrle, treasurer;
and Miss Claire Beechler, secre-
tary.
* * *
EARLIER this month, the Uni-,
versity's policy regarding the eli-
gibility of athletes was the ob-
ject of another protest.
The faculty of the literary
college adopted a motion declar-
ing its concern over a "double
standard" which permits eligi-,
bility for athletes below a "C"
average and rests sole control of
athletic eligibility with an ath-
letic board committee.
As it is, the Office of Student
Affairs rules on the eligibility sta-
tus of students in non-athletic ex-
tra-curricular activities, while the
eligibility committee of the Board
in Control of Intercollegiate Ath-
letics passes on the academic
standing of athletes.
THE LITERARY college faculty
suggested that the "whole ques-
tion of the makeup of the athletic
eligibility committee, its proce-
dures and standards, be subject to
re-examination."
Promptly, the University's fac-
ulty representative to the West-
ern Conference, Prof. Ralph W.
Aigler of the Law School, pre-
pared a defense of the Univer-
sity's athletic eligibility stan-
dards. He pointed out that for
years the eligibility committee
has exacted scholastic require-
ments, over and beyond the Big
Ten rules.
"To the members of the commit-
tee it has been a source of deep
gratification, Prof. Aigler explain-
ed, "that in almost every instance
in which a young man has been
declared eligible, though lacking
a two-point average, he has proved
academically that their confidence
had not been misplaced."
At Indiana University, however,
the National Collegiate Athletic
Association vice-president, Prof.
William R. Breneman, blamed re-
cent athletic bribe scandals on the
failure to enforce strict academic
standards.
He also censured "weak-kneed
educators who wink at commer-
cialization of their teams."
""Specil
-Daily-Malcolm Shatz
HOMECOMING DISPLAYS-Two student carpenters, Clement
Tam, '53P, and Jim Kanitz, '54E, wield hammer and saw in prepar-
ation for the judging of the Homecoming displays. Prizes for the
contest will be awarded during intermission at the Homecoming
Dance.
** *
Origins of Homecomil
Celebration, Still Mystery:
* * *
ALTHOUGH clothed in the con-
ventional "whereas" style,y the
resolution contains a caustic in-
dictment of big-time college foot-
ball. It reads as follows:
"Be it resolved, that the Univer-
sity through its Alumni Groups
and its Governing body, adopt a
policy, continuing without reserve,
the high academic standard of the
institution.
I
By JOYCE FICKIES
Homecoming seems to be the
forgotten holiday as far as campus
historians are concerned.
Old records indicate that home-
coming began -as far back as 1897
when the alumni came back to
campus to play the Varsity foot-
ball team. Beyond those facts, the
why and wherefore of the event is
a mystery.
ALUMNI Association officials
have expressed the belief that IFC
has something to do with its be-
ginning. An old issue of The Daily
concurred, stated that IFC formal-
ly established the day in 1933. .
However, when told of these
statements, IFC Secretary Mark
Sandground's first reaction was
a laughing "We did?"
He later admitted the possibility
that homecoming may have grown
out of Founders Day, a day when
old grad affiliates came back to
campus en masse to honor the
founders of their fraternities.
NO ONE at the Office of Stu-
dent Affairs, the Athletic Ad-
ministration Publicity Office, or
Student Legislature could add to
the information.
Files of the Michigan Historical
Collection also failed to yield any-
thing further.
fr
N%,ew Library
Granted to IU'
The personal library of the first
vice-president of the University,
Father Gabriel Richard, was pre-
sented to the University by the
Archdiocese of Detroit.
The gift of the library, which
formed part of the historical be-
ginnings of the University, was
made through a letter toPresident
Harlan H. Hatcher from Edward
Cardinal Mooney, Archbishop of
the Diocese of Detroit.
When Michigan was still a ter-
ritory, Father Richard's library
was among the largest and finest
in Detroit and Michigan, num-
bering several thousand volumes at
his death. At the time of his ap-
pointment to the vice-presidency
in 1817 he held six of the 13 pro-
fessorships established.
The Richard Library will be
added to the University's Michigan
Historical Collection where the
library of the Reverend John Mon-
teith, the first president, is
housed.
Read and Use
Daily Classifieds
One explanation remains. Old
newspapers reveal the fact that
University alumni flocked back to
campus for the Union anniversary
dinners which were held each fall.
This, and the freshman sophomore
football games and rallies, could
have gradually combined and
come to be the homecoming ob-
servance we know today.
* * *
Homecoming
DisplaysRise
Student carpenters have been
busy with hammers and saws dur-
ing the past week in preparation
for the judging of Homecoming
displays.
Until this morning' most of the
work had been kept under cover.
Today, however, it was brought out
into the open and now the campus
is dotted with exhibits.
All the moving parts will be in-
stalled by 9 a.m. when judging of
the displays is scheduled to begin.
* * *
THE JUDGES of the contest
will be: Prof. George Peek of the
political science department;
Prof. Philip Duey, head 'of the
Men's Glee Club; Mr. Richard
Wilt of the architecture college;
Miss Ethel McCormick, Social Di-
rector of the League; Mrs. Sarah
Healy, Associate Dean of Women
and Mrs. Clarabelle Baird of the
speech department.
Winners of the contest will be
announced during the game today.
i(I
MICHIGAN MUSIC
PLAYED IN THE
MICHIGAN TRADITION
Take it home and reminisce.
i