1903-04 Volume 28 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROLL. 403not give the usual Monday holiday, but make the school week consist of sixdays. The main object in this change is to reduce the size of the classes andgive students more chance for receiving individual instruction, and a morenearly equal distribution of laboratory apparatus. After the freshman yearall work will be elective, subject only to a few necessary restrictions againstover-specialization. The present four hour a week courses will become threehour courses, with the exception of freshman mathematics and beginninglanguages which will be increased to five hours a week. Freshmen andsophomores cannot take less than fourteen or more than sixteen hours of workper week, while juniors and seniors must come between the limits of fifteenand eighteen hours.A great deal of agitation is being given to the question of inauguratingthe honor system in conducting examinations in all the college classes. Someof the large classes in the science department petitioned the faculty to beallowed to conduct their own examinations. They have elected studentcommittees to have charge of all examinations and "cribbers'' will be ostracizedby their classmates instead of being occasionally caught and punished by thefaculty. It is hoped by the student body in general that the system will beadopted in all departments, and prove as efficient as it has in some of theeastern colleges where it has been inaugurated.Spring athletics are again in the ascendancy and unusual interest is beingtaken in them this year. A squad of seventy men has been at work in thebaseball cage for several weeks and many promising candidates are beingfound who will give the veterans a lively chase for positions on the team.The team is fortunate this year in having as coach the veteran pitcher,Charlie Ferguson, of the St. Paul American league team. An excellentschedule of games has been arranged and there seems to be unusual interestIn the great national game here, as well as at many of the other westerncolleges.The track men have started light work in the gymnasium, and are confidentof having a good team, as the new material is unusually fast and manyof the veterans are back. Bro. Armstrong is a member of the team and isaccounted to be one of the strongest quarter mile runners that Minnesota hasever had.Tennis is having a great revival at Minnesota this year. A large associationhas been formed and a series of games arranged with other colleges.Since our last letter we have initiated Bro. Lynn Stoughton Gilliam, ofLuverne, Minn., a member of the freshman law class.A number of high school rushing parties have been held at the chapterhouse during the winter and the following men from Central High School,Minneapolis have been pledged: Merton Sowle and Waller McDonald.Minneapolis, April 5, 1904.EDWARD C. PARKER.MISSOURI BETA, WESTMINSTER COLLEGE.Since our last letter the second semester has commenced, and with it camevery few new men, hence a scarcity of fraternity material. We have pledgedMr. James L. Edwards, special, of Mexico, Missouri, which increases ournumber to 18; 16 active and 2 pledged.Baseball season has opened under most favorable circumstances. Bro.Soule, third base, is captain and the team promises to be a good one. ^i A 9is represented by Bro. Sevier, pitcher; Bro. Soule, third base; Bro. Seibert,centerfield, and Bro. Rice, substitute. Bro. Wilson, manager, has arrangedan excellent schedule and a successful season Is assured.