Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1908 [PAGE 103]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1907]

PEOOEEDINGS OF THE BOAKD OF TEUSTEES.

75

I n reference to t h e t h i r d p o i n t of i n q u i r y , i t w a s l e a r n e d t h a t t h e players on all a t h l e t i c t e a m s w e r e o b t a i n e d u p o n a n n o u n c e d call for such p l a y e r s to p r e s e n t themselves on t r i a l w i t h o t h e r s for such positions. After t r i a l s in w h i c h each m a n is given an o p p o r t u n i t y t o do h i s best, t h e p l a y e r s on t h e University t e a m s a r e chosen b y t h e several m a n a g e r s a n d t h e director of athletics. Many c o n t e s t a n t s for positions a l w a y s a p p e a r . No money, offer of scholarships, p a y m e n t of fees, laxness of e x a m i n a t i o n s , or free expense a r e offered to a n y one t o induce m e n from t h e secondary" schools w h o have abilities as a t h l e t e s to a t t e n d t h e University in order t o have t h e m become memb e r s of one or a n o t h e r of t h e teams. A t r a i n i n g t a b l e h a s been operated b u t t h o s e u s i n g i t a r e r e q u i r e d to pay t h e i r r e g u l a r p o r t i o n of t h e expense w h i c h a m o u n t s to n e a r t h e same c h a r g e as a t a club b o a r d i n g house w i t h t h e same n u m b e r of p a t r o n s . A few i n s t a n c e s w e r e m e n t i o n e d w h e r e m e n desiring to go to colleges b u t w i t h o u t a m p l e m e a n s to do so a n d w h o w e r e good a t h l e t e s , w e r e offered places n o t in t h e University w h e r e t h e y could e a r n b y services a p a r t of t h e i r college expenses. Most of such cases h a d n o t proved to b e successful, e i t h e r for t h e reason t h a t studies, service, a n d a t h l e t i c s a r e too g r e a t a draft u p o n a s t u d e n t a n d h e h a d t o q u i t one of t h e m ; or t h e s t u d e n t felt t h a t his service w a s u n i m p o r t a n t a n d r e n d e r e d i t indifferently and w a s t h e r e f o r e discharged from it, a n d w i t h t h a t q u i t school. And t h i s m e t h o d of o b t a i n i n g s t u d e n t s h a d fallen i n t o disuse. I t was found t h a t n o society, f r a t e r n i t y , or p e r s o n a l influence, or " p u l l " w a s allowed to d i c t a t e t h e choice of a player on t e a m s , b u t r a t h e r his ability to play a n d t a k e training*, his s t a n d i n g in his classes, a n d his companionableness as a m a n . I n m a k i n g a s u m m a r y of t h e findings of y o u r committee t h e following s t a t e m e n t s a r e made: (1) T h e m a n a g e m e n t a n d control of a t h l e t i c s in t h e University a r e exercised b y a satisfactory organization. (2) T h e funds w h i c h h a v e b e e n received a n d paid o u t in p a s t y e a r s h a v e been properly a n d h o n e s t l y accounted for. (3) No i m p r o p e r influences h a v e been used to o b t a i n p l a y e r s in t e a m s or to w i n contest g a m e s w i t h o t h e r e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s . (4) T h a t t h e g e n e r a l practice of t h e several forms of a t h l e t i c s by t h e screat body of s t u d e n t s of t h e University, induced l a r g e l y b y t h e i n t e r e s t developed a m o n g t h e s t u d e n t s t h r o u g h t h e g r e a t college a n d inter-college games, is a good far o u t w e i g h i n g t h e h a r m r e s u l t i n g from t h e contest games w i t h o t h e r institutions. Y o u r committee m a k e s t h e following r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s : (1) T h a t t h e t r e a s u r e r of t h e A t h l e t i c Association a n n u a l l y m a k e to t h e p r e s i d e n t of t h e University an itemized r e p o r t of his financial receipts a n d d i s b u r s e m e n t s for t h e previous year, t h e said r e p o r t to be e x a m i n e d a n d approved as correct b y t h e finance or a u d i t i n g committee of t h e b o a r d of cont r o l . If in his j u d g m e n t it m a y be desirable t h e p r e s i d e n t m a y p r e s e n t t h e said r e p o r t to t h e b o a r d of t r u s t e e s t o g e t h e r w i t h a n y r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s w h i c h h e m a y t h i n k advisable. (2) T h a t as l a r g e a n u m b e r of t h e s t u d e n t s as possible be encouraged to t a k e r e g u l a r a t h l e t i c exercise of some form. Respectfully submitted,

S. A . BULLARI),

Chairman

Committee.

The board adjourned.

W . L . PlLLSBUEY, S . A . BULLAED,

Secretary.

President.