Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (May 15, 1890)
tt T HE H E S P E U IAN keeping Ihe library open dining the evening, mid it would ccitainly encourage a ficcr use r rcrcicncc hooks. It seems to us to be an important step in raising n university above tlic level of academies, to give the lcsl of opportunities to com pare their text books with other authois, mid free access to the library nt nil times, is the only means of reaching this goal. A few minor "icforms" should be mentioned. After five o'clock many of the students who have classes from four to five do notcaic to go to their looms bcfoic supper; this is a splendid lime (or athletics, but it is also a splendid lime to look over periodicals or to weik upon special topics, and the library should be open Irom five to six. This innovation should be introduced now, this term, while we arc sitting around wondoiing hat we may do to employ an hour profit ably, when waiting lor supper time. Tlicic is not another library in the city that docs not have paper files. It is next to impossible lor the librarian to keep track of the dailies and to find a particular number of a weekly would be an absurd undertaking. The reading room has been piovidcd with reading desks and "lunch counter stools" why not also have paper files? The system ol charging books is very loosely managed; not a few students have been re quested to 1 etui 11 books which had been returned several mouths before. To plead for a published catalogue seems vain, olhcis have failed before; but we wish to remark that it has never been our fortune to hear of a library as large as oms that has no printed catalogue. This distinction, of which we should be heartily ashamed, is entirely our own. The university cadet battalion will go into camp at Hast ings, Thursday, May 29. The city of Hastings will pay $150 lowaid the expenses ol the outing, besides the other accom dations always furnished. The battalion will probably leave Lincoln on the 11101 ning 'flyer' and arrive in Hastings about half past seven. This will give us ample oppoitunity to take possession of the camp and to make all ncccssaty arrange ments so that wc can acquit ourselves creditably in the Mem orial day exercises, Friday. Never in the history of the dc pailinent has it been able to put a battalion into camp as large and well chilled as the battalion will be this year. More than a hundred of the cadets have expressed their intention to go. This will give us four good sized companies, and as very few cadets will remain at home wc will not be placed at a disad vantage by the necessity of reorganizing the companies, thus placing men in positions to which they have not become ac customed. The benefit derived Irom the battalion drills and dress parades this term will manifest itself when all realize that the battalion is the center of attraction, the observed of all observers. Lieutenant Griffith is investigating the feasibility of hav ing a general mess tent wheie all may obtain board at reas onable rates. This will be a great improvement upon the ar rangement of former encampments, as it will be not only more convenient and cheaper but will also be more in keeping with military discipline. Wc understand that the state will fur' nish new officers' wall tents, somewhat smaller than those used last year, but much better. The camp will consist ol Irom twenty-five to forty tents and will present an appearance of which we may be proud. Through the kindness of the commandant Tiik Hesiu:r IAN will have a special tent assigned for its hcadquarteis. The editorial staff will be there in force, and we take this opportunity to assure our friends that all will be welcome who desire to subscribe. The IIesveuian will be in camp ready for distribution Sunday morning, June I. , The si'veulcenth inlcv-state oratorical contest has pass.'d into history. Who will say that wc did not derive great bene fit from the meeting of the association? Many lessons were taught that could not have been learned from books. The tiulh ol the cxpicssion, inany men of many minds," was clearly demonstrated. The maikings of six judges, coming from different parts of the country, stand witness to the fact that what one considers an excellent production others rank very low. A glance at the chart of grades will show that several orations received both extremes in grades; such a glance will also show the injustice of the present system of ranking. Orators who stand high in the first ranking aic crowded down by the pernicious system of tluowing out the first oratois audio u.nking those remaining. Will some en thusiastic defender of the picscnt system explain wherein lies the justice of crowding n man down in final rank because part of the judges have ranked him above the winning ora tor? As an example we submit the following: Under one section ol judges the following markings ap pear: A receives 2, 4, 1; 11 leccivcs 1, 3, 5; C icccives 3, 5, 2. The sums of these ranks give A 7, 11 9, C to. Their ranks arc manifestly and justly A first, H second, C thud, but let us apply Sec. 6, Ail. V of the constitution to these ranks. A is declared fust and Hand C arc re ranked, giving II I, 3, 4; C 2, 4, t. Adding these ranks wc obtain 118, C 7, and C, not II, is declared the winner of second place. This apparent paradox is easily understood when wc observe that B was marked above A by two judges and hence gained but one by throwing A's marks out, while C marked below A by thrco judges gained three by this process. Will some one please explain what pillar in the temple of justice this system of ranking rests upon? We should like to suggest to the local associations of Nebraska that when the Nebraska delegation goes to l)cs Moines next year they carry with them an amend ment which will provide for a single tanking from the marks of the judges. The final rank of states to be in order of pre cedence as shown by the sums of these ranks; lies between ranks to be settled by grand averages. If there had been more time wc might have advertised our univcisity to good advantage, as it was all students as well as delegates were kept busy in working for the success of the contest. Few of our visitors had lime to thoroughly inspect the different departments of the university; we heard only favorable comment upon those departments which were in spected. After all wc did not entertain the association for the purpose of advertising our university but lor the purpose of gaining individual benefit from intercourse with other in stitutions of learning. In spite ol social disturbances which threatened at one lime to swamp the entire contest, e very thing passed off smoothly; or at least it so appeared to a casual observer. It is for the visitors to decide whether or not they were well entertained; wc did our best, and are sat isfied with our effort, although of course wc realize that im provements might have been made. Photo orders for sale by the business manager at a dis count. See him. Dr. Garten, eye, ear, nose and throat specialist. Glasses fitted. Rooms 16 and 17, Richards block, Lincoln, Neb. If you can't "keep your shirt on," then go to the Capital City Shirt Factory and purchase one at a very low price that will stay on. 939 O street. For instruction in book-keeping, pciynanship, short-hand, type willing or telegraphy, the Lincoln Business College is the best place to go. Over 600 students last year. M