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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 1927)
4 THE BATTALION THE BATTALION Published every Wednesday nitrht by the Students’ Association of the Agricultural and Meihanical College of Texas. Subscription price $1.7 5 per Year. ALL ADS RUN UNTIL ORDERED OUT Accepted for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized October 18, 1922. All undergraduates in the College are eligible to try for a place on the Editorila Staff of this paper. Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors who are interested in journalism for its own sake, are urged to make themselves known to some member of the Staff. EDITORIAL STAFF W. C. MORRIS R. R. PEEPLES L. J. FRANKS P. C. FARRIS W. L. KENNEDY .... T. A. PILKEY G. O. MOUNT J. M. HOLMES E. L. ANDREWS W. T. COLEMAN .... J. J. LOVING R. H. SHUFFLER ... H. D. MAPLES R. O. PEARSON E. R. LAWRENCE .. W. C. JOHNSON W. C TIMMERMAN G. M. WRENN J. E. HUDSON Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Associate Editor Associate Editor Associate Editor Sports Editor Associate Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor News Editor Associate News Editor Assistant News Editor Assistant News Editor Assistant News Editor Exchange Editor Associate Exchange Editor Literary Editor Associate Literary Editor Associate Literary Editor Cartoonist Contributors: Vaez, Stromberger. BUSINESS STAFF L. N. BOURLAND ; Business Manager M. E. DIETERT Assistant Business Manager J. E. FONTAINE Circulation Manager LISTEN GANG! During last school year there was organized on this campus a Committee on Student Welfare. This Committee, composed of faculty members and students, was organized to deal solely with student problems and to recom mend solutions for the same. In that the entire student body might gain equal representation a senior from each Squadron, Battery and Battalion, three Juniors elected by the Junior Class, two Sophomores elected likewise, and one freshman have membership in the Committee along with twelve faculty members. This Committee holds regular monthly meetings in that the current student problems may find ample consideration. At a recent meeting of this Committee reports from the various depart ments indicated an alarming number of failures when the mid-term grades were posted. These “flunks” are not confined to any one class or to any one department. Each faculty member of the Committee reported similar situations in the various departments and no one class seems to be out standing. We can always alibi our shortcomings in school as well as else where but “that report” has gone in and the problem has divided itself into as many individual problems as there are holders of bad reports. The prob lem is to raise those failing grades to passing grades. We are tolerating crowded quarters which are not at all conducive to effective study and efficient work but since this condition cannot be remedied until the new dormitories are completed then we must make the best of it. We have had a great football season—too great for the good of our studies. The tempta tion to play has been unusually inviting but football for 1927 is over; so lets drop down to real seriousness and concentrated effort in an attempt to atone for those shady looking grades. It has been a long standing tradition here on our campus that upperclassmen stand ready to help in any way possible those under them. The same will be found true here this year. “Freslrmen, Soplnomores, or Juniors, if you need a little real honest assistance on some course or courses cut that pseudo-pride and go after it. If some upperclassman can help you, well and good, if not, then go to your instructor for assistance. Whether this is contrary to previous college traditions or not is of no consequence so long as you need the help. Apply common sense and disregard traditions if they tend to hamper your studies. This isn’t being done and we have none other than the instructors’ word for it. Meet him half way and he will cross the line to get on your side in an effort to help you clear up the difficulty. We prefer to believe that each member of this student body came to A. & M. with a definite purpose and is inspired toward a bigger and better life. You of the upper classes who have made reputable records in the years past can possibly offer but one reason for your present standing. Even though you are below the line in enough work to make you feel that you are hope lessly swamped, consider keeping a diary on one week of your time and see what per cent of it you are actually utilizing in preparing your assignments. Do this conscientiously, for its for your own benefit and you alone are to profit by it. Work systematically for a while and then compare the results accomplished. In an attempt to help solve the Freshman’s problem, be it whatever it is, it is the suggestion of the Student Welfare Committee that each senior assume the responsibility of seeing that a certain number of Freshmen actually apply themselves for the remainder of this term. Find out their trouble, Seniors, and go to the heart of it with them. If you find a listless attitude then try talking them into a new interest. Inspire some fight and a comeback where fight once was but no longer exists. If it is due to lack of opportunity to study, then it is most certainly a problem for you. The faculty will be found ready and willing to allow every man a new chancq if he can prove that he is capable of better work and is willing to show an honest effort, even though his record as it now stands is discourag ing. As was stated above we are not certain that the situation is more acute than it has been in years past but it is bad and can be and should be bet tered. Let’s cut the play for a while and turn our thoughts toward our courses with the same spirit that won for A. & M. a football championship, but with it directed along academic lines. It can be done if you will try. Ask yourselves these questions, men: What was my purpose in coming here ? Is that purpose as clearly defined today as it ever was ? Does it matter if I fail to make the most of the chance that I have to accomplish that purpose ? If I don’t make the most of it, who is to blame ? Carry these questions home with you, gang, and come back after the holidays with a dash of seriousness which will allow an honest effort a chance to show what it can do. NOTED PHILOSOPHER TO LECTURE HERE IN FEBRUARY Dr. Durant, Noteworthy Writer and Speaker Being Brought Under Auspices of Science juuiuiag Dr. Will Durant, who in the past year or so has probably been the g*reatest factor in English letters in Jie popularization of philosophy, will speak on “Our Changing Morals” in the Assembly Hall, Monday, Febru ary 1G, at 8:00 P. M., under the aus pices of the Science and Social Science Seminars. He is probably best known as the author of “The Story of Phi losophy,” but he has also become very popular of late as a writer for some of our leading magazines and as a lecturer. The Science and Social Science Seminars are bringing- Dr. Durant here as a part of a program, in which they intend to bring to the campus a number of the foremost thinkers and speakers of the day. The movement is being undertaken as a community project, and all students are urged to avail themselves of the opportunity. If program proves popular this year it will in all probabihty t>e elaborated and continued in the years to come. Dr. Durant was educated by French Catholic Nuns, and early in life start ed a study for the priesthood. In his study, however, he found his chief in terests to lie in the field of philosophy, and giving up his plans for priest hood, he entered Columbia University, where, in 1917, he received his Ph. D. For several years he was a pro fessor in Columbia, but after a time he left that institution to become Di rector of Education in the Labor Temple school of New York. When Dr. Durant’s “Story of Phi losophy” was published last year, it at once became very popular, becom ing one of the best sellers of the non fiction books of the season. This im mediate popularity has been attribut ed by the critics to the fact that he treats the heretofore little under- sood subject of philosophy in such a way that it is very interesting and is easily understood by the layman. Today he holds a reputation, not only as a writer of note, but through his magazine articles and lectures is being recognized as a scholar of wide interests. He is especially well in formed on present day problems, democracy, education, the psychologi cal differences of the sexes, and the woman problem. All of the problems are of vital interest to the student body as a whole. This program of bringing outstand ing men of the world today to the campus is an attempt to introduce a much needed factor into the life on the campus. Due to our location, we have, as a rule, few opportunities to see and hear such men, and an at tempt to institute such a plan should meet with the whole hearted approval of the entire group. Two other out standing men of the day, Lewis Browne, writer of note, and Dr. R. Tsanhoff, professor of Philosophy at Rice Institute, are to be brought here this year. The committee in charge of the bringing of these speakers to the col lege includes Dean C. E. Friley, Dr. L. J. Pessin, Mr. L. X. Burchard, Mr. W. H. Thomas, Mr. T. W. Leland, and Mr. V. K. Sugareff. The program is also being endorsed by President Wal ton and the entire faculty. The season of ’27 is about to draw to a close and from the standpoint of the student body, a very successful one it has been. Our football and cross country teams have put out as they always do, and they have won. The student body has been with them on every turn and we have seen the results. The Battalion, so far, has endeavor ed to bring a closer association among the students themselves, and with the faculty. Each member of the Staff hopes that this result has material ized. We feel that in a measure the publication thus far, has filled the purpose for which it was founded and we hope that your thoughts are in accord with ours. We all will soon be leaving Aggie- land for a short intermission and are going to let the whole world know the where and why of A. and M. College. The advertisement of this College is in the hands of the student body and let us not represent it falsely. “What is your car, a five passen ger?” “Yes, but I can get eight in it if they are well acquainted.” ENCOURAGEMENT AND FRIENDSHIP FOR OTHERS (Continued from Page 1) The spirit of comradship that prevails among A. & M. men is next akin to the Christmas spirit. It is an example of brotherly love and fellowship that inspires men to dare and to do. May we take this spirit to our homes, and strengthened by the higher and fuller spirit of the Christ, may we use it as a guide for self and an inspiration to serve others in the full knowledge that as we are of service to others we shall get the true spirit of Christmas; that in making it possible through our acts for others to enjoy a fuller life, we are strengthening self for more constructive living. Let us therefore begin to day to help others to enjoy the Christmas season in its fullness. With the large circle of friends we have at A. & M. College, there will be many op portunities for each one to make a contribution before leaving for home. Is there a fellow student whom you know is discouraged ? Go and tell him you are interested in him, give him a word of encouragement. Has a friend or fellow student shown you kindness and lent you encouragement? Go and tell him you appreciate his friendship. Has some man lived a life that you have felt worthy of emulation ? Go and tell him. For by these acts you will be making your contribution to the true Christmas spirit. THE PRESIDENT.