Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 508]

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1939]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

505

BOXING AS A PART OF THE PROGRAM OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION A N D INTRAMURAL SPORTS (24) T h e unfortunate accidents which have occurred from time to time in boxing bouts among college students have given University officials grave concern and have raised the question whether boxing as a sports activity should be continued. Such a question could not be settled by discussion alone but required information from those individuals who have had experience with boxing as a college sport and a careful analysis of available pertinent evidence. Consequently, last year the President of the University appointed a committee to make a careful study of this question, to weigh the evidence for and against boxing as a University activity, and to give its conclusions. T h e members of this committee are H. E. Kenney, Assistant Professor of Physical Education for Men and Head Wrestling Coach, Dr. H. C. Gebhart, Assistant Professor of Hygiene and Medical Adviser for Men, and Dr. E. A. Thacker, Associate in Hygiene and Medical Adviser for Men. This committee spent several months in making a thorough and painstaking study of the question referred to it. It gathered information about the experience of many other institutions and secured expert medical opinions. After a careful study of the data collected the committee reached the unanimous opinion that boxing should not be included in the sports program of an educational institution, either as a curricular or an extra-curricular activity. The basis for its conclusion, which is amply supported by the evidence in the committee's report, is as follows: First: T h e objective of all offensive maneuvers in boxing is to injure an opponent. T h e more efficiently an offensive is executed, the greater the injury incurred. Second: T h e type of injuries most common are insidious in nature and in many cases not recognized by either participants or coaches. T h e effects of head blows are cumulative and are not recognized in early stages. Knockouts are not recorded as injuries in this sport. Third: Contests of intramural or intercollegiate nature are impossible to control; hence the dangers of ill-effects to participate outweigh the values of the competition. Fourth: Instructional classes in boxing are not particularly dangerous, but it is impossible to justify teaching an activity and at the same time to advise students against participation in the activity taught. T h e Director of the School of Physical Education and the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics concur in the opinion and conclusions of the special committee.

This matter was referred to the President of the University.

DIVISION OF STUDENT HOUSING (25) At the meetings of the Board of Trustees on May 26 and June 8, I submitted certain reports and recommendations as follows: 1. Reorganization of student activities—report and recommendations from Senate Committee on Student Affairs. 2. University supervision of fraternities—report of Committee on Fraternity Affairs. 3. Student supervision off the University campus. T h e last item has already been authorized by the B o a r d ; the other two have been referred to the Committee on Affiliated Student Activities, but on July 6 I suggested to the Committee that it postpone further consideration because I believe we have a solution which will make possible this reorganization through the use of existing personnel. W i t h the report on reorganization of student activities I submitted certain recommendations of my own including the appointment of (1) a Director of Student Activities and Manager of the Illini Union Building, and (2) a Director of Student Housing and Executive Secretary of Committee on Discipline. I now recommend that the Board authorize the establishment of a Division