WHERE SCHOLARSHIP COMES IN
For opinions which appear in these columns the Editors alone are responsible
The general subject of the present position of scholarship in the esteem of students is raised anew by an alumnus, who sends to the MAGAZINE a list of topics, considered in the significant order given below, in a publication sponsored by a prominent fraternity, which was lately sent to alumni members with intent to acquaint them with what the active delegations were doing for the honor and glory of the society. The matters of academic interest are treated in the following order from top to bottom: Football Basketball Track Tennis Tennis Extra Swimming Soccer Outing Club Musical Clubs Band Managerships Publications Dramatics Scholarship Ping-pong
Well, it might be worse. At least scholarship noses out the Ping-pong. But it is not entirely clear whether this order was adopted because the students felt it to be the order of merit, or because they felt it to be the order in which alumni interest was to be expected. One has a vague suspicion, however, from what one has read and heard concerning the scholastic prowess of the various prominent fraternities, that this array of activities is set forth in the actual order in which the active members have been shining. Not many years ago figures were published indicating that the older and more prominent the fraternity, the lower it usually stood in the scale with respect to its scholastic attainments—a matter which grieved the judicious and provoked the risibilities of the thoughtless. At least one fraternity has professed a concern sufficient to cause threats of revocation of the charter unless certain scholastic requirements were met.
Where the treasure is, there will the heart be also. When a fraternity is setting forth its records for the alumni brethren to admire, it is compelled to reveal what the boys have been able to do in various lines. The successful things come first, usually, and there is seldom any hypocritical pretense about what those are, which may be a redeeming virtue. In the case cited, ping-pong alone figures as inferior to scholarship in the schedule of points won. A dozen or more of other activities are mentioned first. That this would promote alumni enthusiasm and lead to generous contributions to building funds or other objects common to such organizations cjyi hardly have been the idea. If such had been an object of solicitude, no doubt the show-windows would have been more shrewdly dressed. One takes it that this choice of items thus arranged was pure unpremeditated honesty, or youthful naivete. That it amuses some, irritates others, and infuriates the discerning is the natural result.
Scolding about such matters does little apparent good, but the temptation is naturally to preach. That there is need of a great improvement can hardly be denied, even by the active delegations themselves. It is small credit when scholarship comes in as a hopeless tail-ender among the achievements of the brethren, as in so many cases it does. Ordinary pride ought to be quite sufficient to force a greater consideration for the fraternity's standing on that score, but apparently it is not, even in a day when undergraduate contempt for the boyishness of the elders often finds caustic expression.
