2 THE BATTALION THE E ATT ALIEN Student weekly publication of the Agricultural and Medlianical Coltegg of Texas. Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at College Station, Texas, under the Act of Congress, March 3, 1879. Subscription by the year, $1.75. EDITORIAL STAFF ROBT. L. HERBERT C. V. ELLIS M. J. BLOCK T. B. KETTERSON G. M. WRENN < J. L. KEITH T. S. ROOTS FRANK W. THOMAS JR W. J. FAULK C. M. EVANS A. C. MOSER JR D. B. McNERNEY P. J. JOHN H. G. SEELIGSON II P. E. GRIFFIN BUSINESS Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Associate Editor- Associate Editor Associate Editor Art Editor .... Associate Art Editor Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor News Editor . Associate News Editor Associate News Editor . Associate News Editor Reporter Reporter R. N. WINDERS Business Manager W. F. FRANKLIN — Assistant Business Manager W. J. NEUMAN Circulatioit^Msinager HOWARD HEDGES Advertising* Ma.nager THE PASSING OF TRADITIONS Elsewhere in The Battalion this week is an editorial from our contem porary, The Thresher, of Rice Institute, deploring the lack of tradition on the Rice campus and lauding the passing of hazing in the Rice Institute, .Student body, in which the editorial writer mentions the fact that hazing is ,now found only in “our state schools that are located on God’s wide open prairies.” We agree with The Thresher in his attitude toward hazing—we, too, feel that student bodies of the pfist have stressed its value as a tradition far beyond its deserts—but we cannot add our approval to the statement regard ing the state schools “located on God’s wide open prairies.” We have had occasion to familiarize ourselves with conditions existing at the Houston institution and we know that hazing has not yet been cast aside —and that The Thesher is being far too optimistic in hoping to see it en tirely done away with in another year. We also know that it has not been many months since authorities brought pressure to bear - on the Rice student body and forced them to discontinue their annual ‘‘shirt-tail parade” of freshmen through the Houston srteets—because it was too brutal and we suspect that freshmen still spend nights in Herman Park just as A & M freshmen receive occasional nocturnal outings. The Thresher will do well to remember that hazing is on the wane at all schools—those on the prairies as well as those located in the swamps— and, while on the subject of tradition, we might also suggest The Thresher’s mentioning such naive, antiquated and blatantly foolish customs as painting up the stadiums and buildings of other colleges on the eve of athletic contests, for if our memory can accurately recall events of the past fall, some students at Rice still derive pleasure in this manner. WHAT CTHEE SCHOOLS THINH LACK OF TRADITION One of the most deplorable conditions at Rice Institute is the so-called lack of tradition and the rapid manner in which the present traditions are being swept away. However, let us stop and analyze this statement in the light of cold, objective facts. In the first place, those tradiitons which are being swept away should have gone by the board long since. The one that is most frequently cited is hazing. Just stop in the Sallyport any time, any day, and you can hear sorpe one say that they’re not beating the freshmen like they did when I was a slime. For some unknown reason, this is the very first reaction of the college man to the hazing question. The Sophomore Thresher believes that hazing is a relic of the torture chamber. It is being swept away like every other outgrown and childish idea today. It is ridiculous and foolish that college men should have to entertain them selves by inflicting punishment on their fellow undergraduates. In fact, it is an insult to their intelligence that they should require such a brutal method of satisfying their desire for pleasure. Today it seems that our state schools that are located out on God’s wide open prairies are the only ones that amuse themselves in such a naive manner. It is with pleasure that The Sophomore Thresher will see the total abolishment of hazing. There was a small amount of it in the dormitories this year, but next year should see this antiquated and blatantly foolish custom confined to the junk heap. As for the number of traditions which the school rightly cherishes, the first thing to be considered is that this June the Institute will hold its six teenth annual commencement. Rice is still a very young college, compar-i atively, and one can not expect it to be hoary and loaded down with tradition. For the worthwhile ones that we have, may we cite: The May Fete, a really beautiful and charming event, which displays each spring the beauty and chivalry of Rice in the exquisite setting of a perfect day. The tradition that the school should be run with as little supervision as pocs'ble frdfn the’ offices of the administration, and if this supervision is required}-that it bfe admin istered in the manner befitting the young men and women who. are, concerned. The Sophomore Thresher thinks the notice posted on the bulletin board .this week requesting that only Rice letters be worn on the campus was written in a spirit that should appeal to every Rice man and woman. And, what’s more, every wearer of an outside letter, should, out of respect to ’the geintie- manly and courteous spirit of the notice, remove his letter without delay. There are any number of traditions around the campus,’ insignificant in themselves, but which taken as a whole go to make up the real tradition. Rice will go on to build its traditions with the passing of years, just like every other school. The only thing that is required is the time. With a broad and liberal administration. Rice will go on, quickly now, to build its noble and inspiring traditions. —The Thresher. - 1 At the age of 13, Robert Wadlow, of Alton, 111., is seven feet four inches tall and weighs 282 pounds. He added the four inches since his 12th birth day, and if his growth continues at its present rate, he will be nine feet tall when he reaches 18. 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