Advice to fresmen

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RESEARCH USRAniES

1 FRESHMEN

BY

FRESHMEN

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Advice to Freshmen

BY

FRESHMEN

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- • • •

GEORGE WAHR. Pubuishkr - r
Ann Arbor, Mich.

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A^Cm. LRKOX AND

Copyright

1921

Lionel G. Crocker

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IILLARO PRKSl
ANN ARBOR

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FOREWORD

I should like to advise every Freshman to
read this little book very carefully. It
ought to be read before coming and ought to
be read again after you have been here a
month.

In this volume you have placed at your
disposal information which is distinctly un-
usual. It is based on the actual experience
of Freshmen. It is written by Freshmen.
It is written for Freshmen. You cannot
afford to ignore or disregard it.
May I add just one bit of advice? Remem-
ber that the change from high school to
college is tremendous. You are no longer
a high school boy or girl. You are a college
man or woman. This University is a place
of freedom. You are thrown upon your
own resources. You are independent. But
do not forget, I beg of you, that independ-
ence and freedom do not mean anarchy and
license. Obedience to law is liberty.

Very sincerely,

M. L. Burton.

PREFACE.

The purpose of this book is to familiarize
the coming freshman with the existing
conditions which must be met during the
first year at college. While it does not
compel neither does it discourage the appli-
cation of all the advice given. Rather than
that, let each individual choose for himself
the case wherein he would be apt to slip and
thus make a mistajke which might prove
costly in his college career.

We have tried to be as broad as possible in
character, writing only on topics that we
have come in contact with during our first
year. If we have overlapped the assign-
ment it is only because of the emphasis we
wanted to put behind our messages. We
have also tried to be helpful for the benefit
of our neighbors because Michigan is only
one of the Universities where freshmen are
hampered during the greater part of the
first semester by the fact that they were

not advised wisely previous to their
entrance.

The subjects which have been chosen are
many. They include practically every phase
of freshman activity. It is their purpose to
elucidate, warn, and advise. And if it is
possible to learn by the mistakes of others,
we feel sure that the time spent reading
this book will greatly repay the reader.

If this could only take the place of an older
brother, already thru the mill, giving coun-
sel to his younger brother, about to step
off into that transition from school to man-
hood, our aim will have been fulfilled.

Go to it little book!

To

The Pleasant Associations

With Freshman Rhetoric

In 202 West Hall

This Little Book

is Affectionately

Dedicated.

CONTENTS

High School vs. College - - 13

1 Frosh. + 1 Year=l Soph. - 16

Gretting Acquainted - - 18

Boarding House Conduct - - 21

Cardinal Virtues - - - 25

Choosing Your Room-Mate - - 28

Be A Good Sport - - 31

How About Your Room - - 34

Snap Into It - - - 39

Watch Your Step - - - 41

Kite-Strings - - - 44

Sororities - - - - 48

Being Rushed - - - 52

Dame Fortune Ahead - - - 55

Learning To Loaf - - - 57

A Word About Co-Eds - - 63

Know Your University - - 66

Don't Bury Yourself - - - 69

Campus Traditions - - - 71

Campuser, Grinder, or Fusser - 74

Good Health - - - 77

Student Publications - - - 80

Pipe Down - - - 84

Hold Your Horses - - - 87

Knowing Your Instructors - - 91

Foundational Friendships - - 94

You Can't Afford To Miss^ - - 98

Freshman Rhetoric - - - lOl

It's Up To You - - - 106

fflGH SCHOOL vs. COLLEGE

\

Most freshmen, when they come to college,
have been graduated from a medium-sized
high school, where they were well known
by all. Naturally, they think that all the
students in the university, which they
choose, will also recognize them. Don't kid
yourself !

In high school you were, perhaps, the best
pole-vaulter and not only won medals for
yourself but also loving cups for your high
school. Perhaps, you think that every man
in the university will gather around you,
as they would about a star, when they hear
of the ten feet you cleared, when at high
school. If you think that, just wander over
to the "gym" and watch the Varsity start
at about ten feet six.

When you were in high school, perhaps,
your rhetoric teacher would read your

-14-

themes to the class, as brilliant and shining
works of the brightest student in class.
Just hand in a few themes in your freshman
rhetoric course and watch how the C's, D's
and E's seem to find their last resting place
on the bottom lines of your themes. No
more are your themes read to the class as
examples of the best theme handed in.

You may say, ^Well, when I was in high
school — y Just forget that you were ever
at high school. You're at college now and
the best rule to follow is the old adage,
''When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
Just as you seniors in high school used to
ridicule the freshmen with your superior
knowledge of the worldly ways, just so must
you go through the ridicules of the upper-
classmen at college and the best way to get
along, is to take it all good naturedly. In
other words be a "good sport" and take your
"razzing" like a man and not like a high
school kid. When you are at college, you
are among men, so be a man with them and

-16-

not a kid.

Don't get discouraged if you are not noticed
the first year you are in college. There are
very few freshmen who are noticed in their
first year. That year is to see if they have
stamina enough to stick out the other three
years or not. If you are good enough to be
able to "weather" your freshman year and
are a good fellow, you will be recognized.
You are only one out of ten thousand.

-16-

1 FROSH -I- 1 YEAR=1 SOPH

You are here at Michigan — a tenderfoot.
Admit to yourself that you are lost — ^that
you are a Freshman. Everyone was once.
You may even be homesick. I was. But
you'll get over that when your classes begin.

There are a thousand and one things you
want to know. You have a tongue in your
head. Use it — ^politely — ^if you would learn.

The upper-classmen — even the Sophomores
— are not dragons or vicious oppressors of
Freshmen. Forget what you've heard.

Most upper-clasmen are real men. Men
who have been through the mill. Men who
are, therefore, broader of mind and more
experienced in the life you have chosen,
than you. They have been Freshmen at
one time; so has President Burton. They
know what is expected of Freshmen — and

-17-

t
/

m •

they expect it. Aim to please!

Do not be afraid of the upper-dassmen.
Have a healthy respect for their Sophomoric
wisdom — but do not expect a Sophomore to
leap at you from every dark comer. K you
do, you may not be disappointed. As mere
male human beings you are as good as they,
perhaps, but you are a member of the Fresh-
man class and they are Sophomores. Re-
member that. You won't be the "Frosh"
next year.

Now concerning this hazing you have been
tossing about nights worrying about. You
won't be touched unless you deserve it.
And you won't be hurt seriously if you are.
^Michigan is just a bit civilized. K you are
loud and impolite or are so bold as to try to
attend the "Soph Prom" you may be tubbed
or paddled. And if you are — ^think it over.
Didn't you deserve it?

-18-

GETTING ACQUAINTED

It has often been said that college associa-
tions are probably the most important phase
of college life. Remembering this, every
man should strive to increase his acquaint-
anceship. You will have your intimate
friends as every one does but the larger the
number they are selected from, the better
the friendship.

An easy way to become acquainted with a
great number is to know the men in your

•

classes. Speak to the ones with whom you
come a good deal in contact and call them by
name. It is not hard to remember names,
especially with practice, and it is an aid and
asset. Everyone likes to be known in con-
nection with his name, not, I don't mean,
for the notoriety, but it is a sort of harmless
flattery to him to think that he made such
an impression as to be remembered.

-19-

It doesn't pay, however, to be too familiar.
By the end of the first semester you will call
many by their first names or nicknames, but
not too many. Often calling a man by his
first name on a short acquaintance is re-
garded as an imposition and is resented.

Another important feature of getting ac-
quainted is the impression you yourself,
make. In the introduction, if there is one,
look him straight in the eye, as decency re-
quires, and tell him that you are glad to meet
him and not that you are delighted to have
his acquaintanceship. The first impression
is always the lasting one.

There are many places you will meet people,
men mostly. Women at Michigan are not,
by far, to be looked down upon but men are
important. There will be dances, mixers,
smokers and other functions. If you can
break away from your studies for a few
minutes, your time won't be wasted at this.
Then if you wander down to church occasion-

-20-

ally you will meet "the salt of the earth/'
One other phase remams unmentioned so
far, that is the faculty. Some of the in-
structors will be found not half so bad
as they may appear in class. We thought
you probably wouldn't think of this phase
but try it.

Don't, don't, neglect the rest of your
University interests, but you must know
that getting acquainted is not a side-issue.

BOARDING HOUSE CONDUCT

One of the first things that you will think
of on arriving in Ann Arbor will no doubt be
the needs of your stomach, and where to
fill it. Don't depend on Hershey bars and
ice cream. Find a boarding-house.

At the boarding-house you will be told at
.what time to come for your meals and
where to sit. Do as you are told. If you
are placed at a second table don't be strolling
in early and make the fellow ahead of you
bolt his food down. Don't be coming in at
the last minute either and make the waiter
serve you after every one else has finished
and gone. Be on time.

Be sociable at your table but don't get the
idea that it is up to you to furnish all the
conversation. I knew a Freshman who just
couldn't keep still, he just bubbled over with

anecdotes of his illustrious high school
career. Nothing could shut him up. The
result was that he was called before the
vigilance committee and warned of what
would happen to him if he didn't learn to
control himself in public Of course his was
an extreme case. Don't let this scare you
into being tongue-tied at the table but just
act natural and remember that you're a
Freshman and you'll "get by" without any
trouble. You're not a member of any en-
tertainment committee.

Have mercy on the waiter. Just because he
happens to be a little slow in serving you is
no reason for you to make life miserable for
him by bawliiig him out at every opportuni-
ty you get. He is probably new at his job,
just as you are new at your classes, and if
the Profs, told you what they thought of
you every time you make a blunder you
would soon be discouraged. A little tip; be
good to the waiter, it may be the means of
getting several pieces of pie, etc. It pays.

Another matter that might be mentioned
here is the payment of board bills. Don't
slip behind on the bill for it is a bad habit
to get into and may lead you to serious
trouble. You would hate to have the board-
ing-house neglect to serve dinner every now
and then. Well that is what you could ex-
pect if everyone just forgot to pay every
now and then. Another thing, if you put
off paying for a couple of weeks you'll soon
find yourself hopelessly in debt. Take the
motto, pay as you go.

Remember one thing, if you don't like the
meals, change to another place. You have
the privilege to do that as often as you like,
and it is no doubt a good thing to change
now and then. You are your own boss so
far as the eating part of college life goes.

You may, after reading this little advice,
be too scared to even move in your chair at
the boarding-house. Don't let it affect you
in that way, for that would be as bad a way

to behave as the other extreme; Act like
you would at home and you'll have nothing
to fear. Be yourself.

CARDINAL VIRTUES

Before you have been at Michigan very
long you will have been reminded, perhaps,
not in the most agreeable manner, that, for
this coming year, you are to be sort of a
"nobody" so far as campus activities are con-
cerned. Don't let this bother you; you're
only one out of thousands who has felt a
bit down-trodden, but set your teeth, put on
a genuine smile, do all that is expected of
you, till you can run the gauntlet next May
and toss the little "pot" into the fire. Don't
think it will hurt you to be subordinate for a
few months. "Grin and bear it."

It will not be expected that you be an enter-
tainer in a group of men who are above you
in class. They will resent any such effort
on your part, and justly so; you don't real-
ize it now, but later on, next June, ten years
from now, you'll be glad that the upper-

-26-

classmen did see to it that you were kept
"piped-down."

For the first month you will be so busy
learning the school songs, buying banners,
books, and gold bricks, that the natural
tendency will be to slight your school work.
If you came to college solely to acquire such
a collection, go to it. Most men expect to
devote the best part of their efforts toward
accumulating knowledge. Think this over
before you decide your career.

K you are being financed by your father or
mother, don't tell him or her that your set
of blue books will cost fifty dollars or that
the laboratory fee has stripped you of every
bit of your allowance. This is a period
when you are making yourself what you will
be through life. Play a clean game.

There is no credit toward graduation given
for drinking, swearing or propagating dirty
stories. Don't enter any of these activities

-27-

as they have no place in a good Michigan
man's curriculum.

Make friends with your classmates; invite
them to your room and learn new ideas. The
cosmopolitan representation here offers you
a liberal education in itself; make sure that
you select chaps whose ideals would have
your mother's sanction, and when you go
back home for the first time, be able to pre-
sent yourself to your dad and mother, with
nothing that you would be ashamed to have
them know.

Check up your attendance at church; it is
not required by the university but it will be
a source of satisfaction to yourself as well
as being a big help in putting down some of
the temptations which are bound to arise.
Be a good Christian; be a hard worker; and
for this first year, be, for the most part, a
good listener. These are the cardinal vir-
tues of a Michigan freshman.

CHOOSING YOUR ROOM-MATE

(For Men)

Your room-mate wUl either make or break
you. He is going to be the most important
factor in the keeping of peace, so choose a
good one; There are room-mates and room-
mates. Because a man comes up to you
and says, "Let's room together," don't do
it unless you know the fellow. Remember,
first, that he is going to be with you for a
semester or more.

Suppose you get a fellow who isn't clean
bodily or, worse, mentally. You'll regret
the day you ever made the choice. If, when-
ever you enter the room, you see a bunch of
clothes lying around — it's going to get you
and will provoke a lot of arguments.

Of course, you in return must remember
that the bath tub is meant to use for the

bath and not only to put umbrellas in. Re-
member that if your clothes, ashes, and be-
longings are thrown about, your room mate
will have a perfect right to find fault with
you. If you both think of each other's
rights everything will be all right.

In the clean line (mentally) remember that
you soon get tired of the fellow who likes to
tell you a bunch of dirty stories.

Try to get a fellow who has the same tastes,
and if possible, the same ambitions as you.
If you enjoy studying at night try to find
out whether your room-mate has studious
inclinations. It will get your "goat" if
every time you sit down to study he begins
talking, singing, or giving an oriental dance.

If you, yourself, don't enjoy cards or other
gambling devices don't get a fellow who
does. He'll have all of his friends over to
play poker and will not only keep you up
until all hours of the night, but will incur the

-80-

dislike of the landlady. Late gatherings
mean late noises and you know what that
means. Keep on the right side of the land-
lady.

It is best to get a room-mate whom you like
to pal around with all the time. DON'T
get one whom you just see at night and
that's all. Get one who, whenever you go
anywhere, will go along too. Room-mates
should be pals, not merely friends.

If you don't like some of the things he does,
correct him in a decent way. If he doesn't
change, remember that you can always leave
him ; that is the best thing to do.

FINALLY remember that there is no dis-
grace in rooming alone, it is far better to
room alone than to get with a fellow with
whom you can't get along. Get a good room
mate.

^1-

BE A GOOD SPORT
(For Girls)

One of the first essentials to be acquired on
coming to college is to learn to be a good
sport. In High School most of us shone
brightly with a little or no effort on our
parts. At a great University such as Mich-
igan, what you are depends entirely on you,
and you alone. How you conduct yourself
with reference to people with whom you
come in contact is all important.

Conduct, like charity, should begin at home,
so we will start with your rooming house,
or dormitory, whichever it may be. In the
first place, you will very likely have a room-
mate. Don't think that because you have
known her before entering college, and have
chosen her, that you are going to enjoy do-
mestic bliss. There is a well-founded say-
ing here, to the effect that you never know

a girl until you room with her. Many,
many adjustments have to be made.

Be as independent as you can. Have your
own allotted space and articles. Do your
part towards keeping the room livable. It
would be well to make an agreement con-
cerning just whose duty it is to make the
bed, etc., on certain days. A stitch in time
saves nine. Above all, make her your com-
panion. Regard her as your first friend.
You will need a chum to go about with; a
friend to look after you and someone to
whom you feel responsible. This will help
make up for the home feeling which you are
bound to miss. Make her friends your
friends, and yours hers and always put her
before anyone in your regard. She is an
anchor, which, at times, you will need.

Now in respect to the other girls in the
house. Avoid making yourself a bore.
Bores are numerous here, and needlessly so.
C!ommon sense, rightly used is the remedy.

A bore drifts into other people's rooms, oc-
cupies their best chair; eats their fudge;
reads their new magazines before they
themselves have a chance to; plays their
Victrola and scratches their best records.
A bore talks hours at a time about people
whom you have never heard of and in whom
you haven't the slightest atom of interest.
She relates in detail the tamest of personal
experiences. Incidentally, she is avoided as
the plague.

You will have to learn to bend to the wishes
and inclinations of others occasionally, and
the sooner you learn to do this gracefully,
but without losing your own personality, the
better it will be for you. Be a good sport.
It is the sum-total of all that is desirable in
a Michigan Co-ed.

HOW ABOUT YOUR ROOM?

As soon as you reach Ann Arbor, you must
have a roof to shelter you. Do not go about,
haphazardly choosing the first house you see
with a "Rooms" sign hung in the front win-
dow. Think a little first. That's what you
are coming here for — to learn to think cor-
rectly. Start in early.

Go to the Union first. Here you will find
a list of all the houses in which there are
rooms for rent. Also, a large map of the
city will be found in this room.

Decide in which section of town you wish to
live. Then choose the streets in this section
which are near the campus.

Devote a little thought to choosing your
rooming house. It is a matter that is more
important than you think. Remember you

will have to keep the room that you engage
until February. Use your head at first and
you will not be kicking yourself later for a
foolish blunder. Select a list of a dozen or
so houses in the vicinity in which you pre-
fer to reside. Then set out and visit each
of the twelve or more places.

Compare each in regard to the following
facilities. How far is it from the Campus?
Is it on the side of the campus where the
college you will enter is situated?

Find out how many other roomers will be
in the house, and attempt to discover what
class of students live there. Are they work-
ers — or men who come here to spend the
winter? Find out their moral qualities if
possible. Remember the adage "As the
twig is bent, so is the tree inclined."

Consider if there will be any outside disturb-
ance, any street cars, trains, etc.

Take a good look at the landlady. Find out
if she looks like a respectable human being,
or like a near relative of some other family.
Notice the cleanliness of the house in gen-
eral. You may be glad you did, later. All
this refers to the house.

Now consider the room itself. Regard it
carefully in respect to heating and lighting
facilities. Here you will spend one-half of
your time in the next eight or nine months.
Will you be comfortable ? Will you be satis-
fied with this room along about next Febru-
ary?

Notice the number of windows. Light is a
great aid to cheerfulness. Remember also
that it may get warm along in May and June.
Are there plenty of windows? The win-
dows also tell another tale. You may judge
partially at least, the character and general
habits of the owner, by noticing whether the
window panes are transparent, transluscent,
or opaque. Take a look for your own good.

-87-

Meander down towards the bath room. In-
quire about the bathing facilities, whether
the water is heated at all times or not, etc
Notice how easily accessible the bath room
is from your own room. Look at the lava-
tory carefully. Is it clean and sanitary?
How does it compare with that in your own
home.

If that part is satisfactory, go back to the
room again. See how it is furnished.
Notice the taste and neatness of the furnish-
ings. Will it be attractive to you or not in
February ?

See how the room effects you psychological-
ly. Do you feel that you are in the proper
atmosphere to do your work to the best of
your ability? If not, you had better look
further, until you do find a room that effects
you in this fashion.

After looking over a nimiber of rooms, care-
fully compare them, and choose the room

-38-

which is the most satisfactory to you. Then
grab it quick before some one else does.
Settle down promptly and prepare for the
strenuous duties to follow.

I hope that I have shown you a few of the
more important details to be considered in
choosing a room. If so, I hope you may
follow them to your own advantage.

^9-

SNAP INTO IT!

Start your work with a bang! Start with
the very first lessons and get them. The
first few lessons are rather easy but that is
when you get the ground work and the habit
of studying. Knock 'em cold from the shot
of the gun.

If you played football in prep school go out
for the AU-Frosh. Be there the first day.
Be there every day. Work hard and you
will see that your energies are not unreward-
ed. You are judged closely during your first
few days and the first impressions are often
very lasting.

Begin to get acquainted immediately. Make
it a practice of remembering the names and
faces of those you meet and come in contact
with. It will make you feel at home and at
the same time increase your popularity. It

-40-

is also a fact that the friends you make
during your freshman year are the ones that
stick with you thru your college course and
thru life. Start making friends early.

Don't begin the year by loafing. It is the
easiest habit in the world to get and the
hardest to break. A movie a day won't give
you an education. Enjoy yourself, but put
the real things first.

Remember this. The first few days are un-
doubtedly the most important in your college
course and probably in your life. Live them
right and get the jump on the gun.

-41-

WATCH YOUR STEP

Before coming to college, have some definite
idea of what you are coming for. Do not
let other men of your acquaintance talk to
you and tell you that college is just one joy
after another. I know from experience
what this means, because I had that idea in
my mind, I didn't come to work, I came to
have a good time.

But much to my sorrow, I found that I had
to do some work in order to even "get by".
And the quicker you find that out the better
oft* you will be.

College life had been painted by fellows
from my home as a place of good times and
little work. I tried this out my first semes-
ter and found that it did not work. A per-
son should come to school with the idea
firmly fixed in his mind "to work.'*

Your good times will follow. You will enjoy
them more if you have been working and
have not been loafing on the job. A fellow
will feel ashamed of himself at the close of
the semester in February because he will
then see that his poor grades are the result
ol his folly.

It has often been said that you can "get by"
in this school by putting an hour or so on
your studies each day. Do not believe any
statement of this kind because it is only true
in very few cases.

Do not attempt to engage in too many activ-
ities outside of your school work. Prepara-
tion for your daily work will keep you quite
busy. Take my own experience for ex-
ample, because I believe I possess the aver-
age amount of intelligence. At the opening
of school last October I tried out for Fresh-
man football and practiced each evening
until six o'clock. I also did outside work to
pay part of my expenses. I made a trial

for a position on the staff of the Michigan
Daily. In order that I could do all of this,
something had to give way, and consequent-
ly I let my college work slide. Final
examinations soon came and I found myself
way in the rear with many others tvho had
not yet realized the true purpose of college.

KITE-STRINGS

I looked out my window and saw a kite soar-
ing high in the heavens. Long it floated
in the breeze as I watched it. I saw it dance
and jerk as if it were impatient to go higher,
then it pitched suddenly to a lower plane.
But each time some steadying force calmed
its actions and it floated majestically in the
breeze. As I watched this apparently help-
less frame, buffeted by this wind and that,
steadily retain its lofty height and mount
higher, I marvelled at the sustaining and
guiding power of a string which held it fast.
Soaring high in the heavens, the kite climbs
and dives, now and then standing still, with
its long tail dancing in the breeze.

The president of the "First National" tore
the big "27" off the calendar and with a
sheepish shrug of surprise smiled down at
the "28" before him, — it was his birthday!

By noon his wife wodd have been reminded
of the fact by some little incident of the
morning. The other members of the family
were so busily occupied with their own af-
fairs, — but why should he expect them to
remember so trivial a thing as his birthday ?
And he wasn't a boy any longer, he told him-
self as he stood morosely reviewing the
accumulation of papers on his desk, looking
the glum resentment he felt towards the dull
details of the day's routine. But then he
noticed his own unofficial name sprawling
lazily across a huge grey envelope on the top
of his pile of mail.

"Hm!" like a thud, "five hundred dollars in
two months is too much."

He knew that the only three letters Tom
had written him had been appeals for money,
and the thickness of each letter had varied
according to the amount of elaboration used
to make impressive the immediate necessity
for this money.

-46-

But today he passed successfully from the
"Dear Dad" stage to the inside of the folder
with but one discussion of financial affairs,
and that one was the reduction of his room
rent. By the time he reached the second
page he was chuckling over a "pretty good
one" they pulled off while practicing for the
opera and on farther came an interesting
conversation Tom had had with the Dean,
who had been one of his own instructors
back in '95. He passed from one interesting
detail to another until he had reached the
end, — four folders and there wasn't even a
hint that his account was getting low! He
read it again. It did change the day for
him, there was no getting around it. And
he hadn't expected Tom to be thoughtful!
'How much more so could he have been than
to send him such a splendid letter for his
birthday ?

But to tell the truth, Tom had simply struck
a letter writing mood and would have been
unable to tell even the date of his father's

-47-
birthday.

However, the pleasure a letter brings to the
folks at home is not the only reason why
college students, and freshmen in particular
should write home. Just as a kite, soaring
in the clouds is helplessly unable to control
its course without the guidance and limiting
power of the string that holds it to the
earth, so a freshman in his flight of new ex-
periences and independence needs the
direction and leveling influence gained by
his home letters. Detailed accounts of one's
daily life can be made the kite-strings to a
clear conscience and a sense of well-being.

SORORITIES

"Omicron chapter, Alpha Gamma Beta, in-
vites you to become one of its members/'
How many girls who come to college receive
one of these engraved white cards, about
two weeks after the beginning of the school
year ? Only a small per cent and why ?

There are many fine independent girls in
school, and they have just as good a time as
the sorority girl; but there is something to
be enjoyed in life at a sorority house that
cannot be secured anjrwhere else in the
world. And down in her innermost soul,
every girl who comes to college, cherishes
the hope that she will be a sorority girl. It
isn't simply because she wants to wear a pin
with Greek letters, but because of the last-
ing friendships and associations which are
formed; also, by living in a sorority, a girl
learns to know the finer things of life if she

-49-

hasn't before; the little formalities of eti-
quette are stressed. In after years, sorority
spirit still remains and gives her an active
interest in her Alma Mater.

Don't join a high school sorority, or club,
with a Greek letter name ; it is a Pan-Hellen-
ic rule, that if you do join such a club you
can never join a college sorority; and after
all, it means more to be a sorority girl at
college than in high school.

While you are being rushed, just a few
don'ts which may help you.

When you are at the Theta house, don't
mention how many times you have been at
the Alpha house ; don't be like the girl, who,
when asked where she was getting her
meals, answered, "Well, really, I've been
invited to so many sorority houses to eat,
that I've decided not to look for a boarding
house at all."

-50-

Don't try to sell yourself ; you don't have to
tell how many high school activities you
were interested in; they will find it out for
themselves, just as they will find out what
your father's business is. Don't brag; it
doesn't pay.

Be interested in the girls; ask them things
about school life, the customs and traditions ;
show them that you want to know, and are
willing to learn ; don't pretend to be all-wise.
It will please them and help you.

Don't tell, at a rushing dinner, how many
rules you have broken and how many
"dates'* you have had. A sorority does not
want girls who break rules, and thus lower
the sorority's standing. And altho they are
glad to have popular girls, still they did not
bid the girl who remarked, "I frankly con-
fess girls bore me; I like men much more
than I do women."

While you are being rushed (and afterwards
too) be sure to have all your "hooks and

-51-

eyes" on, (both literally and otherwise) ;
have your shoes shined and your hair net
intact ; remember that you are on exhibition
and you want to look your best ; a mere trifle
Ifke a missing hook often is the reason why a
charming girl does not "make" a sorority to
which she has been rushed.

In joining a sorority, be careful. If you are
being rushed by only one and you do not
especially care for the girls, do not take it,
if you are bidden, simply to be a "sorority
girl" and wear a pin with a little chain dang-
ling from it. If you are, bidden to several,
take the one whose members most appealed
to you, and which has a good campus stand-
ing.

Above all while being rushed, be yourself,
but be your "best" self ; be natural for it is
far better for the sorority to know you for
what you are before bidding, than after-
wards, when it is all over. Be natural and
your own true self.

-52-

BEING RUSHED

Many of you fellows will, upon entering
college, be rushed by different fraternities.
Of course it is not necessary that you be a
fraternity man, in order to make a success
of your college and after life, but it is a
privilege that all members of the University
of Michigan do not enjoy. The fraternity,
as well as all other things, has its advant-
ages and disadvantages.

There are many fellows who are invited
around to different fraternities who would
like to become members. Because of lack
of advice upon how to act upon such occa-
sions, however, they have failed to make a
hit with the members and are thus dropped
from the list of future members.

I might explain that rushing, as they call it,
is really a process of taking your measure.

-53-

If you have close friends or relatives who are
members, you are then sort of bom into the
fraternity, but if you are a stranger, you
may rest assured that you are going to be
subjected to a pretty stiff inspection. The
points that count most are money, personal-
ity, athletics, and scholarship. The real
walue of the fraternity depends upon the
order in which these points stand in the
policy for selecting new members to the or-
ganization.

If you are rushed and desire to become a
pledge, then watch your step. Every act
you make in their presence counts either for
or against you. If you are blessed with an
abundance of money, don't advertise it. It
will leak out in time. If you are exception-
ally witty and bright, keep the dimmers on
until the proper time.

If you have made a brilliant scholastic re-
cord elsewhere, wait until the end of the first
semester and then knock them cold with all

-54-

A's. Be modest and don't bask in any an-
cient glory you may have won in high school
athletics. If there is any real stuff in you,
they will find it out without your blowing
any trumpet or paging yourself, for he who
blows his own tiiimpet generally plays a
solo. The best advice, that I can offer, is
that upon such occasions just act natural
and be your best self.

DAME FORTUNE AHEAD

It will most likely be necessary for you to
decide soon after you are at school whether
or not you are going to spend the next four
years as an amateur gambler.

You will find plenty of fellows willing to aid
you in mastering the intricacies of "African
golf" or to teach you the Queensbury rules
for "Stud poker." But remember that their
friendship and boisterous "glad-handing"
will last only as long as you are willing to
chance your bank-roll in their game.

Whether gambling is morally right or wrong
you must settle with your own conscience.
But, please believe, it is a habit far more
costly than you can afford. The money you
lose, you may be well able to waste but the
sleep you lose, the strain you put on your
nervous system, the habits you acquire, the

-56-

time you waste, and the reputation you get
— you, or no one else, can afford

Some fellows quickly lose their first month's
allowance but a month of dodging their land-
lady and stretching their boarding house
credit is lesson enough — and then they are
through.

But far too many try for the ancient "come-
back" — take up the old pursuit of Lady
Luck — with Dame Fortune always about
two leaps ahead.

The danger of gambling at college lies in the
fact that you can never tell where, and what,
it may lead to. It has led many to disgrace,
and not a few to dishonor. You will lose no
friends by refusing to gamble; and a real
friend was never made at a crap game.
Gambling doesn't pay — you will realize it
some time. Let that day be now.

-57-

LEARNING TO LOAF

Here you are, a freshman at Michigan.
You are going to find many problems in your
first year, but the biggest, perhaps, will be
that of spending your time. You are your
own boss. The habits that you get into now
will probably stay with you.

You are here to learn something. The
University of Michigan is not a means of en-
tertainment for the younger generation.
You are not taking a course in billiards,
dancing, or fussing.

Your main point of interest should be your
studies. You will find that, if you con-
scientiously do your work and take an inter-
est in it, your instructors will help you and
will make the course interesting for you.
Go get 'em.

Don't forget that the human body needs
plenty of sleep. The city council does not
need any more nightwatchmen. There are
plenty of night owls on the campus as it is.

Don't be a grind. Don't put all your time on
your books. Find the happy medium. "All
work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

On the other hand don't live in a poolroom.
Have a little game once in a while, but don't
make it a habit to go to a billiard parlor
when there is nothing else to do.

A very dangerous disease in a college town
is the movie mania. The movies have been
the ruination of many a good student.
Don't make your sole purpose in life study-
ing fussing at the movie. Don't spend all
of Dad's money on a fairy tale — on the
screen or otherwise.

Be a good mixer and go to some of the
dances, but know where you are going.

-59-

Don't let it get to the point where you are
willing to "toddle your evenings away" at
any dance hall and with any girl, no matter
what her reputation is.

Are you forgetting what you came here for?
Do not let your mind be always wandering
to women. Fussing is a bad habit to get
into. Look out for the consequences.

The habitual "fusser" is the worst campus
pest. Avoid perpetually escorting a co-ed
around the campus. It is positively sickish
to see a college man studying in the library
with a co-ed. You inspire thoughts of mur-
der in the breasts of other students by your
silly giggling, gabbling and gawking.

Do away with the idea that a young man
has to "sow his wild oats." Some stu-
dents come here hoping to see how bad the
world can be and go much farther than they
expect. Terrible diseases are in many cases
the result. Think of the folks at home.

-60-
Remember your Mother.

The street comers were not made for sup-
port of loafers. Don't spend your spare
time leaning against a pole and commenting
on the passing co-eds.

If you are a smoker it is none of my busi-
ness, but don't get the *piir habit so badly
here that it will be said at home, "That's
what he learned at Michigan."

You will probably hear about the "student
stills." Please remember that it is not
necessary to be "stewed" to be a "stude."
If you have heard, resist the temptation.

Once in a while you will unexpectedly run
in on a bunch at a little game. Remember
how Dad worked to get that money. If
you earned it yourself don't waste it on
"paper queens." Often the students try to
see on how thin ice they can walk, but in
most cases it breaks through.

-61-

I have been speaking of a lot of ''don'ts/' so
I had better change the subject.

In the evenings when you are finished with
your lessons take a run into the library and
you will find much good fiction and all the
magazines.

You will probably find lecture and concert
courses advertised. You will always find
the best artists are brought here.

If you desire more bodily exercise, the gym
is at your disposal. Make use of it.

In the warmer weather there are many
pleasant walks around the city.

If you are an athlete you have an opening
here. It is your duty to present yourself if
you have ability along any line. We can't
win Conference Titles without men.

Last (you'll learn in rhetoric that such a po-

-62-

sition is for emphasis) are the campus activ-
ities. If you have ability along the news-
paper line don't delay in offering your serv-
ices to one of the Campus publications. You
may have to work hard but you will do much
good both for yourself and your Alma Mater.
Be a leader in your class.

-68-

A WORD ABOUT THE CO-EDS

Fellows, when one of your friends returns
from college and fills your eager ears with
uncomplimentary stories of Michigan Co-
eds, make up your mind that it is because he
belongs to a so-called anti-co-ed fraternity
or else because he holds an individual grudge
against some one of them.

There is little if any truth in what he says
and at least keep your mind open until you
reach college and can form your own ideas.
Of course, you are free to draw your own
conclusions but keep a few things in mind
while doing so.

Try and remember that these girls are as
good as your own sisters and that they are
other fellow's sisters and treat them accord-
ingly. When you come to Michigan you are
aware that it is a co-educational institution;

-64-

do not come bemoaning the fact and "sob-
bing" about it. If you do not wish to have
girl friends, that is your own affair and the
girls will probably recover from the blow.
If your principal fear is that you will become
a tea-hound, put aside such childish
thoughts. If you are not built on the
lines of one, in all probability you will be
able to struggle thru your four years and
still be known as a man's man.

Be courteous, polite and act as a gentleman
should to all ladies and you will hold your
own self-respect and that of others. Every
man and woman admires and respects a
truly polite man. It is a mark of good-
breeding and if you haven't got it, get it.

Girls have a right to the University. It is
a state institution and the taxes which keep
it up are levied against the women as well
as the men. Their right to an education
goes unquestioned.

-65-

When you are a freshman don't be afraid to
make friends with the girls of your class.
Those friendships will be better appreciated
in later years.

Be a good fellow, a regular guy, but don't
forget that in the making of a man, courte-
sy and respect to women will carry you far.

-66-

KNOW YOUR UNIVERSITY

Get acquainted with your university. Know
its history, (a new history has just been
published), know its traditions, and above
all, know it from personal contact and obser-
vation. You are here with a big job on your
hands. It is going to mean work, and lots
of it. There are always some days, how-
ever, when you have little or nothing to do.
Make these days count. Do not waste them
in idle P-talking up in your rooms or in
standing around on the street comers,
watching the people go by. You have two
good eyes ; make use of them.

The University has an abundance of inter-
esting places. Go over and look at the
wonderful paintings in Alumni Hall. It is
your chance to see some of the most beauti-
ful work of art in existence; and yet over
half of the students who come here go bliss-

-67-

fully on their way perfectly unaware that
such a privilege is open to them. See to it
that you are not counted among their num-
ber.

The Museum of Zoology, through whose wel-
coming doors a student occasionally finds his
way, presents some really enlightening sub-
jects. The collection of Chinese specimens
is one of the best in the world and is exhibit-
ed in an attractive manner, as are all the
other exhibits.

Hill Auditorium houses a collection which
shows the evolution of musical instruments
of every description from pre-civilized days
to our present period.

You may be enrolled in the Literary College
but that does not preclude your going to the
engineering buildings or the medical school
and becoming acquainted with them. Visit
the medical museums. If the attendant
tells you they are only open to medical stu-

dents, tell her you are a pre-medic. A little
bluff goes a long way sometimes providing
you don't go so far that you reach the preci-
pice.

Find time to make a visit to the hospital.
Be able to tell the folks back home of that
wonderful institution.

You can boast of your associations with your
fellow-students, but some of the biggest and
best lessons are to be gleaned from our sur-
roundings if we only open our eyes to them.
There may come a time in the near future,
when you will be called upon to uphold the
honor of Michigan from a historical stand-
point. Are you going to be able to show
yourself a credit to your Alma Mater, or are
you going down in disgrace?

-69-

DON'T BURY YOURSELF

When you first start in with your college
studies, you will feel that you are over-
whelmed with work. But as the weeks pass,
you will learn to manage more efficiently and
you will find that you have quite a little
spare time.

Now, if you are a girl, you may knit during
your spare time; if you are a boy, you may
play poker ; or no matter which you are, you
will go to the movies.

But why not read a bit ? Not "Life" or the
"Red Book" all the time, but something
worth while. When you were home you
read the newspaper. Why not do it here?
Keep up with the world. Don't bury your-
self in college. Read the current events
magazines. Read up on some subject in
which you are especially interested. If you

-70-

hear people talking about something of
which you are ignorant, read up on it. And
next time don't be the dunce in the crowd.

Read stories, if you like, but be sure that
they are worth your time. Read poetry, if
you like; it is indeed soothing. And if you
have nothing better, read the dictionary.
It is very interesting.

But make it your motto to read something
and learn something every day. You will
be surprised at how well-informed you be-
come.

-71-

CAMPUS TRADITIONS

"Campus traditions" — . You have heard
these words since you first began to consid-
er college. And now that you are here, you
are wondering just what this mystic phrase
means. Exactly what are campus tradi-
tions ?

Campus traditions are the little customs and
practices which have grown up in your col-
lege through long observance, — which super-
ficially seem so trivial, but in reality are the
essential factors in making your Alma
Mater what it is today. They are certain
unwritten rules of conduct which were set
down long ago by some of your alumni, and
which have been adhered to and respected
ever since by the succeeding generations.

Perhaps, the other day, you were greatly in-
sulted when a sophomore contemptuously
ordered you to "Frosh, take that pipe out of
your mouth and don't let me see you with it

-72-

again." Back in your home town you would
have been perfectly justified in being insult-
ed. But you are now a student in a Uni-
versity. It has been an unwritten Iaw for
years that a Freshman must not smoke a
pipe on the campus. This is a tradition.
Wearing your little freshman "pot" or cap is
also one.

Or, possibly, when the opposing team came
on Ferry field at the football game last Sat-
urday, you did not rise. On the contrary,
you remained seated and hissed them. A
chorus of "Pipe down and get on your feet,
Frosh," greeted these actions. You felt
crest-fallen. You had only meant to show
your support for the Varsity by hissing the
opposing team. You, of course, did not
realize that custom had made an unwritten
law that the visiting team was to be welcom-
ed from a standing position; with cheers—
not hisses.

Probably you wanted to go to the picture

-78-

show a few evenings ago. The upperclass-
men in your fraternity or rooming house for-
bade your going. You became quite indig-
nant; but all to no avail. Freshmen have
always been held down and made to study in
your University. That is your primary pur-
pose in coming to college. But you could
not be expected to know this.

I could go on indefinitely, citing different
campus traditions. However, the foregoing
are fair examples, and will suffice my pur-
pose. But do not allow all of these strange
matters to worry you too much at first.
Campus traditions will soon become familiar
to you and, after you have learnt them, abide
by them religiously and honor them as you
do the laws of the Bible. Instead of the
three "r's" of your grammar school days —
"reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic" — , remem-
ber that all campus traditions constitute a
part of that great whole symbolized by the
three "S's"— "SPIRIT, SPORTSMANSHIP,
and SCHOLARSHIP."

-74-

CAMPUSER, GRINDER OR FUSSER?

Why do so many freshmen flunk?

If every college freshman was able to
answer this question, there would be many
less, failures than at present. After having
spent nearly a year here as a freshman, I
have arrived at the following conclusion.

The reason is not that the brain of a fresh-
man is immature, but that he is bewildered
at first, by the combination of work and
play. If he does not get some active help
from an upper classman, time alone will
teach him the proper mixture.

A freshman generally comes to college with
a vague notion of how he must apply him-
self, and after a few days decides either to
work ceaselessly, or to have a pleasant social
diet. The former means that he stays in

-75-

college, the latter that he takes an undesired
trip home. Yet such a decision, to spend all
the time on grinding means a great loss also.

If you are planning to come to college,
you will find that college life is divided
into three parts: studies, campus activ-
ities, and social life. These are all import-
ant, and the problem is how to mix them so
that the results will be beneficial. Of
course, your studies come first. To be suc-
cessful in them should be your greatest aim,
and accordingly you must plan to do some
good hard "boneing." But there are many
hours in the day and your studies won't take
all of them. So you are left a few hours a
day of spare time. Now, while at college,
time slips by rapidly, and it is very easy to
waste these spare hours doing nothing.
These hours should be used to advantage,
and that is where the campus activities
come in. The first year is the time to build
the foundation for your future school activ-
ities. During your extra time you can work

-76-

on various college publications^ and while
you thus enjoy yourself, you are preparing
for your senior year.

#

The social side of college life is also a thing
which should not be neglected, for a fresh-
man, who isolates himself from this part of
his education, is cheating himself. College
men are noted for their social polish, and the
ease with which they conduct themselves at
any gathering. This polish comes from
meeting people on the social basis, so do not
fail to mix into this pleasant side of college
life. But just a word of warning. Do not
try to get all of your polish in your freshman
year.

Remember, future "frosh," the three sides
of college life, and do not forget that a good
mixture of them is necessary for the best
results.

-77-

GOOD HEALTH

You are away from home and Mother now,
and "on your own." One of the most im-
portant thmgs that you should remember, is
your good health. It is the same old story
you say, but not until you are actually flat on
your back or feeling rotten, do you realize
how vital it is.

In the first place, you must have your health
in order to do your best work, which is the
first thing you owe to your parents who are
spending their money to put you through
school. Keep this is mind and use your
common sense. Proper clothing is the first
requisite. Don't go around in the middle of
winter with low shoes and silk socks just be-
cause you think it is a fad.

Your food is your fuel. Be as particular
about it as you are about the grade of gas

-78-

you put in your machine. Wherever you
eat, get good wholesome plain-cooked food
and eat plenty of the right things. There
are plenty of good boarding houses in Ann
Arbor so avoid the cheap greasy restaurants.
Lay off the pie and candy and other rot be-
tween meals; and get some good exercise.
It pays big dividends. Don't bolt your food
to make that eight o'clock. Better to lose
a few minutes sleep than have indigestion
for the rest of the day— and maybe for life.

Eight hours is the time you should sleep.
Remember that an hour before midnight is
worth two after, and plan accordingly.
Don't study until three o'clock in the morn-
ing and then sleep the next afternoon. You
can't "get away" with it. Both you and your
work will take a big slump.

Mother is not here to tell you what to do
and when to do it and then make you do it.
You are old enough now to take a little re-
sponsibility and look out for yourself. The

-79-

Health Service is here in case of anything
serious. It is at your disposal. Use it.
Now, in all the rush and jumble of things,
don't forget this vital point. Watch your
health!

-80-

STUDENT PUBLICATIONS

Student activities have been taken up in an-
other part of this book. I want to go into a
particular phase of this subject — student
publications. Although it is highly desir-
able that you give as much of your attention
as possible to your school work, nevertheless
a little time devoted to some particular line
of activity is never wasted. The student
publications offer an extraordinary oppor-
tunity to the man who is willing to get out
and devote some hard and consistent work
to them. Campus publications are contin-
ually on the lookout for good material. Pos-
sibly you are the very one they are looking
for. Give it a try!

Three varied and distinctive types of publi-
cations are usually open to you in the aver-
age college. If you are interested in the
newspaper game — go out for your school

-81-

paper. Or if your particular taste does not
run along that line, there are probably the
humorous and the more literary magazines.

At Michigan, all of these three opportunities
are open to you. The "Michigan Daily" is a
real, live-wire newspaper. A freshman who
tries out for the "Daily" must devote a limit-
ed amount of hard work to it every week.
But the reward is well worth the work. You
leam all of the "ins" and "outs" of the mod-
ern newspaper — how to "cover" and "write
up" a story, how to read "proof", how to as-
semble a paper, and so on.

If the Michigan freshman does not like
"Daily" work, there are still two other
chances for him. The "Chimes" is our liter-
ary magazine, containing articles of student
opinion. The freshman going out for
"Chimes" is assigned stories of his own com-
position to write, and is given other contri-
butions to read and criticise. Thus, he re-
ceives training in writing from two points

of view — that of the writer and that of the
critic. Futhermore, he is taught how to
arrange a magazine and how to assemble
it in the most artistic and attractive manner.

Then, too, there is the "Gargoyle" — Mich-
igan's humorous publication. The "Gar-
goyle" is very similar- to "Life" or "Judge",
being the outlet for all the various types of
college wit. The freshman who is talented
in writing humorous skits, will find that the
"Gargoyle" is an open door thru which he
may step to college prominence.

The business staffs of these publications off-
er mediums thru which a man may show his
business ability. Nothing affords better
general experience than getting out on the
street and selling advertising. That is not
all. You meet people. You learn how to
approach a person and how to talk to him
with ease and self-confidence.

Space is entirely too limited to take up this

-83^

matter in any but a superficial manner. But
just one more hint on this subject of stud-
ent publications. If you should not be ap-
pointed managing editor of the publication
the first month, do not become discouraged.
Just remember that success is never attain-
ed without work — that possibly there is
someone else on the staff who knows a little
more about the work than you do. Do not be
too free with your advice — take careful heed
of any instructions that may be offered to
you, and STICK TO IT.

PIPE DOWN

Blessed be the Freshman, who knoweth that
silence is golden, for he alone will be esteem-
ed and happy.

I don't mean that you should never say any-
thing for that is, in the first place, impossi-
ble; and in the second place, unnecessary.
What I do mean is to learn to know what to
say and what not to say, who to say it to
and who not to say it to.

Don't tell your troubles, especially at night,
for what seems to be the calamity of your
young life at midnight will not be half as
hard to tackle at seven o'clock the next
morning.

It never paid to say a mean thing just be-
cause someone said one to you. We're all
human — ^forget five times as much as you

remember in the way of hurts, insults and
slights ; and I'll guarantee that you'll be ten
times as happy. I know because I tried both
ways.

But if someone confides in you, be wise
enough to keep such confidences to yourself.

If you want friends, don't boast. Some fine
day don't mention casually to your fellow-
promenader when you see a Marmon pass,
"Gee, I wish I were home with my own little
Marmon."

Don't lie — more than you can help. It's dis-
astrous. Every lie you tell requires ten
more to get you out of it, and then each of
the ten have to have ten and just think what
that means in the way of wasted time. Of
course, use sense and if a girl tells you she
bought a green hat, don't tell her that she
looks hideous in green.

Don't try to tell your professors all you

know the first week or two. With two
hundred other Freshmen trymg to do the
same thing, you will be a pleasant shock, if
yon tell him something he hasn't heard be-
fore.

Yes, if you really want an "A" in your
course in "Folksology" keep your mouth
shut, discriminately and discreetly.

-87-

HOLD YOUR HORSES

At last you're free ! What are you going to
do with yourself anyway? Going to take
one grand fling at college life, and call it
square? Or are you going to buckle down
and show Dad and Mother, and the rest of
the folks back home, the stuff you're made
of.

Now, advice is cheap, we know, and we're
not going to hand down a paternal *line"
about morals. And don't think that we're
saints because we write about The Church.
We're not. Here's our advice, straight from
the shoulder.

When you leave home you will be strongly
tempted — as we all are — to drift away from
the church. Don't do it. Stick to your
church. Meet your minister and student
director. They are college men and under-

stand college men's problems, so naturally
they have a personal interest in you and in
your activities. Youll find them fine fel-
lows.

The Church is not a "cold storage warehouse
to preseve traditions which would perish in
the open air." Neither is it merely a head-
quarters for missionary sewing circles. But
the Church IS a real, virile, red-blooded in-
stitution. Those of us who have been here
a while have found out that the principal
reason for the existence of the Church is
to help us make this old world of ours and
especially our campus, a better place to live
in.

We are told on every hand that the need of
the hour is "More Religion." Now just
what is religion, anyway? Is it putting on
a clean collar every Sunday morning and go-
ing to church? Yes. Religion is that —
and a lot more ! "Religion is the power that
makes a man choose what is hard, rather

-89-
than mean or selfish/'

So when you "pull in" to Ann Arbor this fall,
don't sit back and say, "Here's where I take
a good long vacation from going to church."

Decide to make your association with the
church stronger than ever before. K
you're a man, go over to Lane Hall and reg-
ister in one of "Father" Iden's Bible Classes
that meet in the "Upper Room." If other-
wise, go over to Newberry Hall. Not until
you get into one of the many little circles of
the religious students of the campus can you
truly understand what is meant by the "The
Religion of a CJollege Student"

If you would like to get some of the finest
possible training and at the same time per-
form some mighty good work, get into the
extension service of the Student's Christian
Association (known as the S. C. A.) Perhaps
you would rather join one of the many stu-
dent gospel teams that are sent out from

-90-

Ann Arbor Churches throughout the state,
preaching Christianity and Michiganism.
At any rate do some definite piece of Chrtst^
ian work.

For your mother's sake, frosh, be a man,
and, above all, don't lose your religion.

^91-

KNOWING YOUR INSTRUCTORS

AH professors are not disguising a cold and
clammy eye behind thick glasses, or hard,
sarcastic lips beneath a moustache or Van
Dyke. A diligent attempt to know the real
nature of these men will disclose, in a ma-
jority of cases, many unbelieveable things.
The afore-mentioned eyes may be found cap-
able of a most likeable twinkle, the beard
may part to disguise a most winning smile.
It is possible to attain really sincere and life-
long friends among these of the faculty you
happen to meet. In any event, the total re-
sults of your university career depend large-
ly upon your relation with your instructors.
By that I do not mean a relationship of the
professional hand-shaking variety, for the
campus is already sufficiently burdened with
these hypocritical politicians.

Talk with them frankly, do not be afraid to

^92-

divulge your ambitions and inner feelings,
and, if you show a sincere interest in your
work, the results will surprise you.

Custom has decreed, (and conmion sense
should dictate) that we show respect to our
elders, so it is not considered good form to
hail an instructor publicly by his given
name, or any other familiar term, no matter
how intimate one may be with him. It is
permissable for a freshman to do this in pri-
vate, if he so desires, and if the instructor
obeys that impulse, and cuffs the freshman's
mouth, another important mile-stone on the
road to knowledge will have been passed.

Few people, and no freshmen, recognize the
position of a professor or instructor in the
foundation of our social structure. Unfort-
unately, most of the world, never coming in
contact with him, is apt to know very little
about him, and incidentally care less. A
few words on his work and its reward will
show the mistake of this attitude.

-98-

A professor is naturally above the average in
at least one subject, and usually in mental
ability as a whole. So, if he had tried to
conquer the world, as you are probably plan-
ning to do, his chances of success would have
been very favorable. Instead, he chose the
task of making the world better for his hav-
ing been there. His whole life is devoted to
this objective, the value of which cannot be
estimated. In return, aside from a negligi-
ble financial pittance, all he receives is the
satisfaction in his knowledge of what he has
given the universe.

In your relation with the men of the faculty,
bear this fact in mind; their greatest satis-
faction comes from helping you. If all
freshmen would appreciate the importance
of the above truths, the success of their
university training would be assured.

-94-

FOUNDATIONAL FRIENDSHIPS

Man, by nature, is a builder. The structure
he builds is that of happiness. Many are
the materials he uses, and chiefest among
them are friends.

What one has most, one appreciates least.
What joy would have been Robinson Cru-
soe's had he had even a single friend! He
was "monarch of all he surveyed," but it
meant nothing to him, for he had none with
whom to share and compare ; and one appre-
ciates values by comparison.

Those about us, — ^what they have and what
they do, are the standards by which we
judge our possessions, our doings, and our
dealings. We are contented with our
possessions when they compare favorably
with those of our friends. We are happy in
our doings, when we share them with our

-SB-
friends.

We judge what we shall share with our
friends, by considering their individual nat-
ures and their individual interests. We
have, after all, a friend for each occasion.
There is the friend whom we make the
Friend of Gladness. And there is the friend
whom we make the Friend of Sadness. And
there is the friend who is friend and foe to-
gether, as occasion dictates.

Honor, distinction, joy, these we share with
our Friend of Gladness!

Failure, sorrow, death, we carry these
troubles to our Friend of Sadness.

But, the routine, the monotony of life — this
we attempt to dispel by our constant asso-
ciation with that Friend- Acquaintance ; who
is a friend today — and foe tomorrow.

Three distinct types of friends are these;

-96-

and their true selves can be discovered only
by trial and test. Time brings forth the
true nature of each, and the time required
is often very, very long.

If college life means the making of friends,
surely then, the structure of friendship must
be begun early. A friend made in the third
year, may be a wondrous pal, but two years
is often too little time to seek out the true
worth of that pal. An acquaintance made in
the fourth year is a great asset, but ten
school months are all too little to discover
base qualities.

The early bird is given credit for getting at
the worm. Truer, yet, is it, that he gets at
the pick of the worm. He hunts out many,
he separates the well-fed from the un-fed,
and he takes to himself the fattest.

In the early dawn of your college life, you
should acquire a wealth of acquaintances,
and in the fullness of time, you will make

-97-

some of these, friends. Four years is hard-
ly too long a period for the true testing of
friends. Who is worth while and who is not
worth while can be found out only by seeing
him in various moods, at various times, and
in various places.

Foundational friends are the structure upon
which we build in our four years at college.
We learn in this period, what fronds we can
build on, and what friends will not stand the
strain.

Test is a matter of time. The earlier the
start, the surer the test.

Choose your friends, now.

-9»-

YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS-.

Make the most of Ann Arbor's opportunities
for instructive entertainment. There are
several institutions about the campus be-
sides the Maj and the Arc. Don't limit your
view of Ann Arbor to your rooming house,
the Wuerth, Huston's and Rhetoric Hall.
Crawl out of your shell, and see what we
have!

Do you know that every year the Oratorical
Association brings a number of world-fam-
ous men here to speak in Hill Auditorium?
Soon you will see a list of these speakers
posted in the University Hall. The subjects
of these men range from law and politics to
literature and humor. Whatever course
of study you expect to pursue, these lectures
will be of value to you. Think it over !

In your whirl of studies, movies, friendships,

-99-

and fraternities, don't forget to see a few of
the campus theatricals. Dramatics is an
important college activity. There are many-
good plays given during the course of the
year. The productions of the Comedy Club
and the Players Club are always of a high
standard. Don't fail to see the Michigan
Opera. You'll never forget it.

But most important of all these various en-
tertainments, is the series of concerts given
at intervals thruout the college year, and
culminating in the May Festival. Ann Ar-
bor is world-famed for the quality of these
concerts. The world's greatest musicians
come here for our entertainment. Altho,
right now, you may not see the value of all
this musical activity, yet in the years to
come when you look back on these glorious
Ann Arbor days, you will appreciate the
wonderful concerts which you have heard.
Resolve, now, to attend some of these con-
certs. Develop a musical taste !

58^2,1

-100-

If you speak to the average freshman about
securing his ticket for a series of lectures or
concerts he will probably reply that he would
like to go but doesn't know whether or not
he will have the time. Now don't commit
this mistake. Don't let the seemingly end-
less round of duties into which you are so
suddenly plunged bewilder you. You will
soon become adjusted to all the various ac-
tivities of college life. You will find plenty
of time for your friends, the movies, the
football games, and all the other big campus
events (perhaps even a little for study) and
still have some left for the other things
which have been mentioned: lectures, cam-
pus theatricals, and concerts. And if you
don't have the time for them, take time!

-101-

FRESHMAN RHETORIC

Freshman Rhetoric is something that you
can't slight during your first year. In other
words, it is compulsory so you had better
make up your mind that you are going to like
it. Don't take, "Grin and bear it," for your
motto, either. That is absurd and wouldn't
get you anywhere, besides. If you are not
naturally inclined towards the literary part
of your course you can take this bit of con-
solation — there are many others like you.
On the other hand, if you have had rhetoric
in a "prep" school, liked it and, incidentally,
received good marks that is sufficient indi-
cation to prove that what little time you are
required to spend on Freshman C!oIlege
Rhetoric will not have been in vain.

You will be expected to express yourself and,
incidentally, show your ability chiefly thru
theme writing. Once you have written

-102-

three or four themes, they wfll cease to be-
come burdensome and, in fact, grow to be
quite a delightful occupation, and at the end
of each semester you will invariably find
yourself rushing over to West Hall to rescue
the said themes for future preservation, be-
fore the janitor finds, probably, a better use
for them. The best way to "stand in good"
with your "prof is to hand in your themes
on time. Too many delinquent themes
make a poor showing, however good they
may be. It is better to stay up the night
before, if need be, and compose one. Of
course there are exceptions to this rule.
Right here, it would not be out of place to
suggest, in case you have not already been
told, that your work had best be original. It
is considered "bad form" to haunt an upper-
classman — until that individual feels that it
is his "religious duty" to write your theme;
it is equally as improper to deliberately copy
a theme from a friend "who has gone be-
fore." Dire and awful consequences have
resulted for those unfortunate, indolent.

-103-

creatures who think they are clever enough
to "get by." You may be one of the clever
who could "get by" and then again you
might not. You had better play safe.

Freshman Rhetoric is too often apt to be
taken as a joke by the entering freshman (a
bit like Gym, if you please). It's import-
ance can hardly be emphasized enough.
Suffice it to say, that some poor Freshmen
discover the truth of that statement, sad to
say, about time the semester grades come
out.

Equally as important as "liking" Rhetoric is
liking the "prof" who teaches it. If you
take it into your head that he is trying to
put something over on you, for instance, if
he should assign oral talks, which are to be
given before the assembled class, don't im-
mediately proceed to get weak in the knees,
blame the "prof," and bring down invectives
upon his head. That's part of the game,
and, if you don't play — that is, if you feel

-104-

that it would be better to bolt class instead— »
you will not only be considered a "dumb
head** by the instructor but a poor sport by
your fellow sufferers. Some day you may
be called upon very suddenly to express
yourself in a crowd of people and the situa-
tion would be extremely embarrasing if you
couldn't do so. This is where you acquire
that much coveted "requisite for success" —
self-confidence.

If it should be your fortune (or misfortune)
to be under a "prof who "leans toward"
poetry, take it calmly. You're not expected
to be a Shelley. If you have never had the
inclination for reading really good stories,
your taste will, undoubtedly, be cultivated
here for good books and plays, and you will
learn to appreciate them. You will never
regret having read any of the outside read-
ing reports. The "profs", as a rule, are con-
siderate and select only those readings
which they think would be the most inter-
esting and helpful.

-105-

Choose the "prof you want if you are able
to do so. If not trust to luck that he will
be to your liking. And by all means, if you
find that you don't like him, don't show it.

May you never be compelled to sit up too
many "nights before" composing those
masterpieces lightly termed themes!

-106-

IT IS UP TO YOU

No matter what you have done in your life,
whether you have worked away from home,
or whether you are just fresh from the high
school, when you enter a University or Col-
lege for the first time it is "up to you" in a
stricter sense than ever before. In the com-
mercial world, you either had no great re-
sponsibility at all and could rely on someone
"higher up" to help you out in a pinch, or you
were doing work of an inferior kind. In
High School, you had the helping hand of
teachers, whose advices and warnings came
out of a clear sky at the most opportune
moment, and always saved the day.

You will notice a difference here. There is
no one to tell you that you are slipping un-
til you are in danger, and then it comes by
mail. The letter tells of your poor showing
and the consequences of a continuance of the

-107-
same. Then — ^its up to you !

Don't let this happen. Get a good start.
The champion dash man attributes much of
his success to a good start. Why shouldn't
a good start help you? He also puts his
whole energy into the race. Why shouldn't
you put your whole energy into your work
here? It is up to you!

You are a student today. Tomorrow you
will be a man, and have a man's problem to
face. Many men can testify that their suc-
cess has been due to something that gave
them a start, and equally as many can say
that the way you start your college career is
a very important factor in your later life.
It's up to you!

Now, for the first time, you are a free agent.
You come and go. No one seems to care
what you do. The worst thing you can do
is to satisfy yourself with "getting by." Do
you know of business men who even try to

-108-

"get by ?" If you do, can you truthfully say
that they are successful? Think it over.
It's up to you!

Remember, the men who run this institution
know more about it than you do. They have
spent time on their education, and are pre-
pared to give you all the knowledge that you
are able to absorb. Don't try to tell them
anything. As a general rule, they are spec-
ialized men and much better informed than
you. It's up to you!

Don't sob because you are required to take
some courses which have no bearing upon
your chosen profession. I know men, high
in their profession, who can't write an in-
telligent business letter, and they have de-
plored the fact, times without number. The
irrelevant courses help to round out your
education. Get the most out of them.
Your success in life as an engineer does not
depend upon your ability to write a good
business letter, but it is a great asset. It's

-109-
up to you!

If your attitude toward your work is favor-
able, you will find yourself growing in knowl-
edge, and it will be a pleasure for you to do
hard things, and to face the larger and
more important problems, which are sure to
confront you in later life. In school you are
building a foundation, on which will rest the
super-structure of your success in life. The
super-structure is as strong as it's founda-
tion. Make the foundation a help instead
of a hindrance. It's up to you!

•

THB NBW YORK PUBLIC UBRARY
RBPBRBNGB DBPARTMBNT

This book is under no oironmstanoes to be
taken from the Building

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