THE WORK OF THE SOPHOMORE CLASS OFFICER

From the beginning of my work as Sophomore Class Officer, I was convinced that I could render the best service to the scholarship of the College by encouraging students of high, or fair, standing, to attain still better rank. To accomplish this end, I talked with each student of some promise, induced the Seniors who were already members of Phi Beta Kappa to interest themselves in Sophomores of high standing and secured the assistance of the influential members of the Sophomore class who went out among their classmates to cheer them on to their best efforts.

At the same time it seemed clear that the men of low scholarship standing should be forced to become altogether responsible for themselves. They had been assisted through their Freshman year by various agencies, and had thus avoided many pitfalls. But now they must learn personal responsibility, if they were ever to learn it. The College should no longer be expected to grant consideration to those who were inefficient, or were the victims of chronic indolence or indifference.

But the most valuable service a Sophomore Class Officer can render is in fostering a spirit of cooperation with the aims of the College. The object to be attained is the realization by the class of their personal and collective responsibility for the harmonious advancement of the institution. The immediate endeavor should be that of inducing the class to observe fairly and adequately the plans that are being made constantly and thoughtfully for the improvement of our product, and of the methods adopted to make the improvement reasonably certain.

In undertaking this task one must look forward to the time when those who are now Sophomores will mould the opinion of the undergraduates. If the Junior and Senior classes think straight, the lower classes almost automatically do likewise. It is a fact scarcely requiring demonstration that if a class reaches the end of its Sophomore year determined to think straight and act straight, it will maintain this characteristic for the remainder of its undergraduate life, and its effect upon the thinking and acting of the lower classes will be most potent. Whatever a Sophomore Class Officer can do to bring about a sane and wholesome spirit in his class will be repaid many fold in the conduct of all kinds. of student enterprises, such as college papers, athletics, Prom and class politics. The effect of this spirit upon the attitude of subsequent classes toward the intellectual and toward clean living will be most beneficial and most keenly felt throughout the institution.