6. Religious Statistics. Upon registration new students are asked to furnish certain information as to their religious preference. A summary of these statistics for a number of years is given below. 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 A poll of 1,885 students of all classes showed that 72.8% were church members, 23.4% expressed church preference, and 3.8% had no preference. Scholarship in Student Societies.-The offering of trophies to be competed for by certain fraternities by Professors Alford and Troop affords opportunity for a study of the scholarship of these organizations. Fourteen Greek letter fraternities are eligible to compete for the Alford trophy awarded on the basis of scholarship at the end of each semester. Seven honorary fraternities compete for the Troop trophy under the same conditions. In three years the Alford trophy has been won successively by Delta Tau Delta, Phi Kappa Sigma, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Alpha Tau Omega, Alpha Tau Omega. The Troop trophy has been won by Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Zeta, and Alpha Zeta. The competition thus stimulated among these societies has resulted in raising their general scholarship average to a noticeable degree, and has greatly improved scholarship conditions among their members. The public impression that fraternity life did not foster scholarship ideals has been growing and it is high time for these organizations to make a showing to the contrary. A study of the statistics of failures among these societies as compared with the University at large during the past year shows that among certain groups there is still something to be achieved. Thirty student societies composed of fraternities and social clubs, including in their membership 38% of the student body, yielded 41% of the non-passing grades in the University. Fourteen regular Greek letter fraternities, including in their membership 18% of the student body, yielded 28% of the non-passing grades in the University. Seven honorary fraternities, including in their membership 8% of the student body, yielded 2% of non-passing grades. Nine miscellaneous societies comprising 11% of the student body, furnished 11% of the non-passing grades. Military Instruction.-Nine hundred twenty-five students were assigned to military instruction during the year, and a considerable number more participated voluntarily. No one who is informed on the nature of this instruction can deny its great value to these students as individuals or its importance to the community in a policy of rational preparedness for national defense. It is unfortunate, therefore, that the facilities for carrying on this training at the University are so inadequate. During the year more than one-third of the drills must be omitted on account of the lack of an armory for indoor training. The instruction, therefore, falls far short of its potential value and forfeits much of the interest on the part of students which under more favorable conditions would raise it to a higher plane of efficiency. A battery of field artillery has been organized among students and instructors as a branch of the Indiana National Guard, designated as Battery B. While this has no official connection with the University, its membership is composed entirely of University men. At the annual camp of instruction held at Sparta, Wisconsin, the battery received the highest commendation from the officers of inspection and instruction. Hospital and Infirmary Service.-The third year of the operation of this department confirms its importance as a factor bearing upon the health of students. Not only does it afford a convenient. and inexpensive way for students to obtain medical advice, but the organization of the department provides a means of checking the spread of contagious diseases. During the year the total amount of sickness among the students was less as compared with previous years. There was comparative freedom from contagious diseases; no cases of diphtheria or scarlet fever occurred and only a few cases of measles, mumps and chicken pox, and one or two cases of smallpox; one case of typhoid fever resulted fatally and one case of incipient tuberculosis. Number of different students reporting to University Physician. 611 Number of times these reported for different ailments........ Total number of consultations Students in local hospitals Days of hospital service paid for by the University 745 .2500 50 316 Committee on Recommendations.-Over 300 inquiries for teachers were received by this committee which in turn furnished 199 recommendations. Requests for teachers of Agriculture, Home Economics, Manual Training, Science subjects and Mathematics were most numerous. The services of this committee are extended to both students and graduates, over 400 of whom have replied and filed the necessary information for the committee's guidance. Summer School certificates were issued to 137 teachers. From the Department of Education certificates of professional training as required by law for applicants for teachers' license have been issued as follows: For "class A," 2; for "class B," 5, and for "class C," 37. Certificates of the completion of one year's college work as the equivalent of professional training for "class A❞ have been issued by the Registrar to 24 persons. Student Christian Associations.-The two Associations of the Christian young men and women of the University are doing a commendable work in conserving the religious ideals of students and through service, exemplifying the Christian spirit. The active membership of these associations was over 600; their operations covered a wide range of usefulness to the student body of which the more important features were conducting weekly religious meetings; bi-weekly vesper services during the winter months; organizing a fraternity and club lecture course; student Bible classes; assisting students in finding rooms and boarding places; issuing a handbook of information to new students (2,000 copies); visiting sick students; securing employment (254 men helped to find work); maintaining a reading room; free telephone service; tutoring students delinquent on account of sickness, etc., etc. The influence of the Associations has been strongly supplemented by the appointment of Reverend O. F. Hall as student pastor by the Methodist conference. Student Affairs.-Various organizations and activities conducted by students play a large part in the life of the University and frequently acquire proportions calling for wise management and making serious drafts upon the time and energy of those concerned. It becomes necessary in order to avoid mistake or even disaster arising from the inexperience of leaders, to supply direction or advice in many cases; otherwise the credit of the organization or even the good name of the University becomes involved. It is claimed that the experience gained by students in conducting these enterprises, constitutes a part of their education. In so far as this is true, it becomes important that the training be along right lines and not in extravagance and wastefulness. Therefore, the faculty considers it a part of its duty to offer its guidance and advice on these matters or in some cases, its direction, not, however, in the way of repression but as assistance toward more satisfactory results. During the year attention has been given to the following phases of student affairs. I. Finances and Business Management.-The class organizations, student publications (The Exponent, The Debris, The Agriculturist, The Engineering Review), Glee Clubs, the Band, various annual enterprises such as the "Circus," the Junior Prom, Gala Week, etc., involve the collection and disbursement annually of large sums of money (in one case over $7,000). In all such cases the managers and treasurers receive instruction in approved methods of accounting from a member of the faculty; their books are audited annually and a report made to the faculty. In the case of class organizations serious cases of poor management have occurred. These are now required to select a financial advisor from the faculty without whose approval no contract or purchase involving any considerable sum is allowed. This plan has produced admirable results for which credit is due Professor W. A. Zehring, who has acted as auditor and advisor. With one exception all of these organizations showed a surplus of funds as a result of the year's operations. The Daily Exponent reduced its subscription price and after setting aside a reserve fund, divided a handsome sum among its editorial staff. The senior class, after winding up its affairs, was able to give $600 to the loan fund for needy students. |