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Show The Student Body {REVIOUS to this year, when membership in the Student Body was optional, a membership fee of fifty cents was required. Between two and three hundred students were then affiliated with the Associated Study Body. Many wondered why the majority of the students displayed such a monumental indifference to their own affairs. Was it that the majority of registered students regarded fifty cents too high a price for the privilege of membership?By an act of the Regents, affiliation with the Student Body Association became compulsory since every registered college student must pay a five-dollar membership fee.In spite of the large membership, the progress of this year showed plainly that only the same old two hundred and fifty or three hundred students cared enough about the Student Body affairs to attend meetings in which the most important matters were decided. Thus, it became necessary in the revision of the Constitution of the Student Body, to reduce the quorum to one-third of the active members. In the Spring election of 1910, after an active campaign, only three hundred and fifty-seven votes were cast.The fault does not lie with the Executive Board since that body has shown discretion as well as enthusiasm in the management of the affairs of this year. Besides, President Alley labored unceasingly to arouse interest among all students in their own affairs. That he failed to secure a larger reward is no discredit to him. The funds entrusted to the Board have been expended carefully; and, though the officers were not stingy they did, however, curb the slightest inclination towards establishing any precedent for recklessness of expense.But the Board did establish one precedent-that of impartiality. That they gave every one a square deal, the biggest knocker will not deny. The Board proved itself worthy of more loyal support than it received.To what, then, is the students' indifference and lack of cohesion due? There are certainly underlying causes, the discussion of which may not be touched upon here. Let us hope, however, that the near future may see a cessation of the feeling of distrust between faculty and student body, which has proved so irritating to all concerned. Let us hope that student initiative may be given more consideration by the University authorities, that all may stand together in a concerted effort for the advancement of our University.(119) |