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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1882)
THE HESPERIAN STUDENT. ries manifests itself in hazing and midnight adven ture, but we should like to see more unity of feeling among the students of the University. The adop tion of a college color and the organization of the classes have been steps in the right direction, yet is there still a great lack of that fraternity which ought to exist among students whose i iterests are largely in in common. We should learn to look upon the University as our common home, a home wheve all have equal rights and privileges. There is no good reason why a student, as many of them do, should go through his entire course without even forming the acquaintance of the mem bers of his own class. Such a student on going out in to life, will not feel the inspiration, not put forth half the effort he would if he felt that he was leaving a host of warm friends behind him who would be ever anx ious to hear of his success. Some students seem to think they can become pro ficient in oratory by studying elocution. The notion is simply absurd. A thorough elocutionary drill un der a competent instructor might improve one's voice and give him a more graceful command of person, but these are to oratory only what brush and canvass are to painting. Speech is simply expression of thought. Hut no matter how much skill in elocution one may have he cannot express thoughts he doesn't have. The only way to become able to speak readily and well is to be come deep and accurate in thought. If a per n can not express himself it is usually because his ideas are vague and not well defined. One who has definite and clear-cut ideas will seldom have any trouble in finding appropriate words to express them. Others think they can become good speakers and debaters by practicing a little occasionally. Practice may make a wrestler, but it cannot make a speaker. Speaking is something more than an art. No one ever made a speech upon any particular subject that was worth listening to who had not at some time or other studied that subject. No one can argue any question intelligently until he has thoroughly ventila ted and investigated it. It is sometimes urged that the masterpieces of Webster and Clay were delivered off-hand without any specific preparation. The fact is these statesmen had spent the most of their lives in studying the questions upon which they spoke. The profound arguments and lofty sentiments thus uttered were not the offspring of a moment but the product of years of patient thought. It is currently reported in University circles that there is a decided antagonism to our literary societies as they are at present organized and conducted, among the new members of the Facul y. While theSTUDENT realizes that this is a delicate question to handle, it can not forbear expressing the hope that for the sake of all concerned this rumor is unfounded. Time and again since their organization have the societies been much exercised over vague hints that something was to be done by the Faculty to restrict and radically modify them in various ways, but so far nothing of an alarming nature has been done in this direction. The societies exist in the University by the per mission of the Faculty, and their constitution and by laws must be approved by that body before their adoption. The rules laid down by those in authority should ever be enforced, and so no good student would think of refusing to obey any such demands ahat are reasdnable and necessary to the preservation of good order. The Student believes in the soldier's motto: "'Tis as honorable to obey as to command." This much being, granted tin Faculty should use, but not abuse its power. Tyranny is rarely a permanent form of government, and any encroachment on the liberties and privilages of the societies which are manifestly unnecessary, they will vigorously and prop erly resist. It is the opinion of the Student that both societies have justly earned the right to be treated with respect ful consideration. Their training in parliamentaay and literary work is unequalled in value to the student by any continuous study throughout his course; their halls are furnished excellently by the personal efforts and pecuniary support of their individual mem bers; they have steadily gained in worth, influence and membership from their infancy to the present time; and they constitute today a power in the Uni versity that neither Facility nor Regents will do well to ignore or antagonize. Their members are not children, but joung men and women; industrious, orderly, and worthy of respect and confidence, The discipline that teaches them to control their own con duct by their personal dignity, honor and integrity of character, cannot be beneficially replaced by the hampering dictation, irksome watchfulnes and closely-drawn reins of the so-called "parental" form of dieclipine. Like mankind generally, our students are very apt to be what they are expected to be; trustworthy if relied upon,' treacherous if suspected. 1 It would he a retrogressive step by the powers that be, to so interfere with tin-., societies that their work would be diminished or obstructed. It is an unpopu lar step to give the societies reason to feel that any pro fessor or regent is watching'for an opportunity to do them injury; and throughout the history of the Uni versity unpopularity has made its influence felt. It is for this reason that the Student hopes that a disposi tion does not exist in the Faculty towards the organ izations whose members and friends compose the con- wwjiy M I i rc, .-I. itiiniWiniilwillPl m I nmm i IliiHW1 hliiiiilltt liil'lll'llMi I'll li i li kEBhr 355. ii i Iiiiimiiii mini "l I i"i mm ihilMlilililiillliiy!lliilwliiHllwlMiill'iiill iNIIiiiM' ' l'i H I iillliiUlHMMilfWIHr PI) III nliUJHIIHlll IlilHdH III TTHl TTTTnTOBUmfTiTirT T r 7ii T" " "" T' " J ' Tl - -.." . -. t "m . tfS'Vi ti ; -&: .- v .U: H " i i.