COMPULSORY RECREATION AT DARTMOUTH
The demand for physical exercise for the entire undergraduate body in American colleges has been advocated for years. Many of the authorities would not recognize the importance of exercise for all and those that did realize the importance of the work would not take the initiative in establishing a system. A few of the colleges have attempted a make-shift arrangement for the lower classes; but no really systematic organization has been developed. At the several annual meetings of intercollegiate associations, papers have been read and many theories have been discussed relative to this work but little real progress has been made. The successful operation of recreational activities in the army and navy during the war, however, gives promise of its success in the colleges. The sports conducted by the many organizations during the war had tremendous weight in keeping up the morale of the allied forces.
Specialized athletics have held sway in collegiate sports for years. Intercollegiate athletics have done more to keep up collegiate spirit than other activities. Without college competition the spirit would surely drop considerably. Those taking part in college competitions represent the minority of the undergraduates, consequently intra-mural competition and other recreation added to intercollegiate sports seems to be the one way of getting all the undergraduates into some active regulated exercise. Intra-mural sports alone, however, can hardly be successful as the real college competitive spirit cannot be brought out.
Next fall with the entering class, the following year with the two lower classes, and later perhaps with the four classes a system will be established so that every student may obtain some means of exercising. The details are now being developed and an idea of the proposed plans of the recreative activities are as follows: From the opening of college in September until .the Ist of October physical examination of the freshmen will be held under the supervision of Dr. Bowler. Each freshman will be advised as to his selection of recreation. Those passing a normal test will be given their preference. Those with physical defects will be advised accordingly.
A schedule will be submitted by each student for the college year, October first until June first. He can select any activity among the list which includes — football, track, baseball, basketball, cross country running, gymnasium advanced gymnastics, etc. For the initial year it may be advisable to select a certain few of the above events in order to insure a successful start. These plans are now being worked out.
The undergraduate must complete as a minimum three hours exercise per week on alternate days. The Athletic Council through its coachers, managers and captains will make a detailed report weekly to the Graduate Manager who in turn will submit it to the Physical Training department. The Athletic Council will assume responsibility for all the varsity and freshmen sports under its jurisdiction. This will cover the entire field of specialized sports. A chart showing other activities, seasons, hours, etc., will allow the non-athlete the opportunity of selecting his preference when physically able.
To insure the efficient working of the schemey an undergraduate must make out his schedule — days, hours and activity and each week will sign a statement reporting his participation for the preceding week. Inspectors will verify these reports. No additional credit will be allowed for the work but in order to receive a degree a student must have completed the required work. It is expected all will go into the work with the proper spirit and although it is compulsory the idea is to make the work a pleasure.
As the plans are perfected, inter-class, inter-dormitory and inter-fraternity competition will be held in all sports, but until new facilities are obtained it will be almost impossible to include the entire plan.
Many boys entering college take the compulsory gymnasium work of from 60 to 70 hours their freshmen year and do absolutely nothing for the next three years. The consequence is that on entering a business or professional life they are not in condition to stand any real hard work. These are the boys the new system will reach. An athlete needs little persuasion to exercise, in fact it is often necessary to keep him from doing too much.
Some football players have reported in the fall in poor physical condition. In most instances they have done really no exercising since the last season. Under the plan to be inaugurated, they will be given a rest of a few weeks at the end of the football season and then take up some milder form of exercising. Take for example a line man. At the end of a football season he will know his faults. By participation in either track, boxing, wrestling, tennis, handball or some other activity, he will eliminate these faults, and keep in fairly good physical condition all the time. Spasmodic exercising is liable not to prove beneficial.
. Varsity, freshman and student divisions will be formed in all sports. Those who do not wish to compete in intercollegiate sports or who are novices and need developing can enter the student division and here acquire the fundamentals of the sport they are particularly interested in and later on if they so desire can transfer to freshman or varsity squads. The plan of the system is not to develop college athletic teams but incidentally will be the means of doing so. Developing teams from home talent is more satisfactory in every way than relying on the preparatory school stars.
it is only a matter of time when most of the American institutions will install such a system. Dartmouth will be one of the first of the larger institutions to start this work and due to its location it has many advantages. It will however mean the cooperation of the alumni, faculty, athletic council and undergraduate body to make it successful.
CHART SHOWING THE PLAN FOR COMPULSORY RECREATION
I THE CONTROL OF THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES
