College News, 1928-10-17, Vol. 15, No. 02

              :a
o-       *
4. *
*.
�  .
The Co
� i.
News
VOL. XV.   No. 2'
BRYN MAWR   (AND WAYNE).  PA..   WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 17.'1928
PRICE.  10 CENTS
Nancy Woodward
CAN WE CONTROL
THE HUMAN WILL?
Three Sides to Question Pre-
sented Under Dr.
.   Hart.
OUR   ATTITUDE   ALOOF
Woodward, Becket and Collins
Elected After Stormy Sessions
The mature judgment of the class of 1929, ripened through four stormy
class meetings in the course of the past week, resulted finally in the re-elec-
tion of two of last year's officers, and the choice of-a new Vice-President,
Jean Becket. It took a long time for the class to realize how satisfied it
was with what it already had.
Nancy Woodward, 1929's choice for President, at first declined to run.
But when an apparently unbreakable-deadlock ensued, and it appeared that
her candidature was the only way to unite the class, Miss Woodward with
great public spirit allowed herself to be drafted, and was elected amid great
enthusiasm by a large majority, at the close of the second meeting last
Wednesday.           � ,
On Thursday the opposing factions lined up again on the question of a
Vice-President. No decision was reached till the third ballot on Monday
when Xean Becket received ""the requisite majority. Miss Becket has won
public recognition as Chairman of the Cut Committee, swims, plays Tftrosse,
and in a variety of ways has upheld the honor of '29.    *
It took only two ballots and about five minutes to re-elect Katherine
Collins to the position of Secretary. She was cheered out of and into office
and the seven days' struggle wa^ at length brought to a satisfactory conclu-
sion. Miss Collins is chairman of .the social service branch of- the Bryn
Mawr League, and last summer was the Bryn Mawr representative at Junior
week. She also stars in archery, sandwich-selling, and raising money for
the Art Club.                   .                                             �^-
H
"How can the human will be.free?"
was the subject of the talk given by Dr.
Hart at the Sunday evening service of
the Bryn Mawr League, October 14, in
the Music Room of Goodhart Hall.
The purpose of these meetings, ex-^S
plained Dr. Hart, i* not that we should
assemble in order to convince somebody
of something, but to stimulate a capacity
for thinking together. One person can-
but formulate another's creed; an in-
dividual .must evolve her own, and this
can best be accomplished by hearing th:
frank and fearless experience of others.
The subject�How can the human will
be free?�is one which is stirring all
science of the present day. The first
rpproafch we,may make ia an attempt to
tec Just'what freedom means. Ninc-
tcnths of the argument on the subject
is due merely t& one person's trying
t< prove incorrect a theory which an-
other -person doesn't even hold. The
argument is distinctly a three-cornered
one; but one in which everyone sees fit
to take sides.
Does Nothing Affect Human Will?
In the first place there are those who
n.aintain that the human will is affected
by nothing. Our purposes do nQt re-
art to various stimuli, but are quite in-
dependent. If, however, an individual is
fiftected by no causal circumstances
whatsoever, he is generally considered
"queer," e. g., if a man who is asked
whether he doesn't think the weatheF is
splendid answers by stating that he has
had bananas for lunch, it is the the usual
assumption that the individual has no
pnwer of direct response and he is quite
often assigned to the nearest asylum. We
s re not seeking that sort of freedom.
After we graduate we shall see that a
transformation has taken place in us. Our
courses,  the
people with whom we have come in con-
tact have all been influences leading up
to this gradual transformation. Can we
gay, therefore, that the human will is
nee? But this is only^one side of the
argument.
In   the   second   place   arc   those   who
aj-gue that consciousness is merely an off-
shoot  of  causation,  i. e.,  the conscious
processes   are   afterthoughts.     Take   the
�  CONTINUED  ON    PAOB   5
Bang on the Board
The -Vfiw is glad to announce
the'election of Vaung Tsicn Bang,
'30. We expect that the addition
of. Miss* Bang Jo the Board will
add �professional note to our
amaTewish chorus a- she has taken
a course in Journalism at Colum-
bia, and last summer was a re-
porter for the Syracuse Herald of
Syracuse,- New  York.
The Stars Watch
Excellent     Freshman     Singing
"Marks Warm Lantern
Night-. -
Not
year
Vociferous Support for
Al Evinced at Meeting
"Al Smith, Al Smith, he has won the
day!" So sang the ardent supporters of
the mair in the brown derby, gathered
in Denbigh Hall on Monday to organize
the Bryn Mawr branch of the College
League for Alfred E. Smith for Presi-
dent.               Upwards of forty Smith
supporters, summoned at short notice by
Kila Horton, '2<J, gathered in a small
room which soon proved too small to
hold them and devoted a half hour to
^earning their campaign song and laying
plans for the future. Forty may be a
small number for a college of 430, but
:ounting in those who were unable to
//me, and those who are constitutionally
iverse to attending meetings, it was an
extraordinarily large showing for a first
meeting.
The night was warm and soft,
a bit like the Lantern Night of-a
ago, when 1930 and 1931 huddled in the
ample folds of their gown and clung
tightly to their caps lest the wind blow
them away or cut uncouth capers with
the tassels. The stars above the cloisters
blinked in wonderment. Whence came
those enormous fireflies that once a year
danced back and forth in measured tread
around the  fountain?
Poor, ignorant Venus, Sirius, Jupiter,
Orion, and all the rest; quite unknown
to them is the college ceremony by which
the Sophomores welcome the Freshmen
to the Bryn Mawr academic life. Of
cour?c they were puzzled. How could
they know that it < was 1931 carrying
1932's lanterns that they saw, and then
they were much too far away to. hear
any of the sing'ing.   The slumberous note
CHINESE EDUCATOR WILL
^� DISCUSS MASS EDUCATION
Mr. Yen Gets Inspiration for
Mass  Education  Move-
ment During War.
DELIGHTFUL      SPEAKER
Y. C. James Yen
of "Pallas Athena thea"�which on Friday
night began rather weakly but soon rose
to proper heights when the two lines of
Sophomores found the same pitch�,
never penetrated as far" as the stars; and
Getting down to business, the |the dirge-like measures of Sophias philai
newlv formed league elected Ella Horton | paromen, which  the  Freshmen   rendered
president and E; Linn secretary of their j beautifully,   was   too   SOOn  tort  fa   the
organization.    They   resolved  to  hold a
rally iu the near future ai;d to sponsor a
debate   on   Wednesday.   October   24,   at
which the opposing factions will-have an
opportunity to set forth their, views. E.
Litane, '30, and F. E. Fry, '29, were
chosen to uphold the Smith side of the
debate Plans were then laid for the
final rally on October 81 when'outside
speakers will be invited. Pictures, stick-
In the midst of the proceedings a great
rcise was made outside by a group of
Hooverites. But those within, disdain-
books   we   have   read,   the 'ing" to  close   the   window   or   the  dooT,
successfully drowned out the opposition |
with a free version of "the Sidewalks
of New.York." The announcement that
Miss Park alid Mrs. Manning were also
supporters of Smith was greeted with
loud applause and went far to hearten
the fearful. The words of the song are
as follows:
Try Again
Thursday and Friday, October
2�") and 26, a second straw vote
will be held in the college. The
conviction that some opinions have
been modified this summer and the
addition of 127 new active, if
youthful, minds to the college has
aroused a demand for a new cen-
sus. Faculty, graduates' and under-
graduates will be asked to vote at
a table in Taylor, making on their
ballots whether or not they actu-
ally intend to vote.
whirring noise of passing freight trains.
But some of the- audience which the
Philadelphia Pubb'c Ledger describes as
"hifndreds of visitors�attracted to the
campus of Bryn Mawr College to wit-
ness the picturesque annual Lantern
�Night Ceremonial" must needs have car-
ried away with them the echoes M the
two Greek songs and quite unexpectedly
they will, on occasions, individually break
out with an "Elpis megale" or a "Hiereu-
sousai, soi, deine" that will serv,e to re-
mind them of one of the most beautiful
and stirring customs which^ Bryn Mawr
possesses.
Hot-blooded Politicians
to Fight on Hockey Field
Political spirit has fermented dur-
ing the summer. The college now
boils and bubbles in an unprecedented
way.    "All  for  Al,  and  Al  for all!":
Al Smith. Al Smith, he has won the day.   "Hoover for this home, and this home
We
of
want  him  in  the White   House
our good old U. S. A.
If we work together,  he will win in a
walk
He'll make his way to the White House
from the sidewalks of New York.
A formal communication announcine
the^formation of the Bryn Mawr branch
was sent to Miss Ely, vice president of
the College League.
The one fly in the ointment was the
youth of the gathering. So lew are
>oters.
"Get after the faculty; they're all of
?ge!" said one enthusiast. So. it might
be added, are the maids and porters. A
few converts could be made over the
morning   coffee.
for Hoover!"�the smoking rooms re-
sound to the stirring struggle. Mere
talking and singing are not enough,
however. The fermentation has gone
too far. Alas that the days of politi-
cal duelling are gone! But bubbles
must escape, and the rival factions
have agreed to fight out the battle on
the hockey field. Next Tuesday is
the day set for the fray. All hot-
blooded Democrats and Republicans
who wish to wield a hockey stick in
an honorable cause are urged to give
their names to Becky Wills. All hot-
blooded P's and R's who do not
choose to' run but would like to shout
will be welcomed to the cheering sec-
tions.                                               <
World's Student ^?nion
Outlined by Visitor
'� Miss Amy. Elizabeth Sharpless was
the guest of honor at a tea held in
Wyndham Monday afternoon " under
the informal auspices -of the Liberal
Club.     Miss   Sharpless   came   to  Bryn
Mawr as a representative of the
World's Student Union, an organiza-
tion which has hitherto been chiefly
confined to the colleges of Southern
California, particularly the University
of California at Los Angeles. The
idea in its specific form was born five
years ago; but of course the idea q�
promoting closer - international har-
mony is at least as old as Christianity.
The World's Studfcit Union propnsrs
to attain its end by an organized edu-
cational    movement.      In    order    to
Mr. Y. C. James Yen, general director
of the Chinese National Association of
Hie Mass Education movement, will speak
in Goodhart Hall Friday-evening, October
If, under the auspices of the Under-
graduate Association.
Mr. Yen is a graduate of Yale Uni-
�irsity� an "American product,"' so his
countrymen term him. Mr. Yen has the
optimism of an American and the
caution of a Chinese. �In his college
day_s-r4hat was more than ten years
ago�he was said to have remarked
philosophically�"! atuw very hopeful
;-l�nit China's future. But T am hot in
a hurry to see any drastic change. It
las to come slowly." That was the
tine when China had just overthrown
the Manchu Dynasty and the new re-
public was tottering under the monarchi-
cal rnlership of.thc Yuan SKih-kai.'
AfteV graduation Mr. Yen went to
1 ranee and visited the Chinese workers
on the battlefield. Their eagerness for
news from home, hampered by inability
�o read, grieved him very much. When
he went back to  China, he started the
broaden   its   sphere   of   action   it . has
arrange to amalgamate in  December   Now  System of Marking Makes
with the  National Student Federation
of America.
According to the very flexible plan
sketched out by the backers of tht
Union, chief among whom is Mrs. W.
C. Rieber, of California, each college
which takes up the idea will he given
a free hand to stimulate the interna-
tional spirit in its own way. Through
the Liberal Club, The Art Club or the
Dramatic Club the life of other coun-
tries will be brought to the attention
of the student body. This could be
done by means of moving pictures,
concerts, plays or discussion groups.
One college in Kentucky had a~ Rus-
sian week to teach itself more about
Russia; and in California they arc now
planning a Mexican Week.
The supporters of the Word Union
have laid practical plans for financing
their activities. Every student who
joins the group will pay one dollar a
year to her > college organization.
Miss Sharpless. who like so many
workers for international fellowship, is
a member of the Society of Friends,
spoke briefly of hef experiences at the
I'cace Conference in Holland this
summer. Five hundred students from
thirty-one countries attended. "Any
consideration of means . to end war
must always come back to education,"
said Miss Sharpless; "that is why
some student organization like the
World Union could be of such value."
The outline of the plan of organi-
zation   is as follows:     '
CONTINUED  OX  PAOB  4
iii;iss   education   movement.
This mass education movement is
free from any political control or inter-
ference, as Mr. Yen told the people of
Springfield, where he spoke two weeks
ago. While civil wars waged and in-
dustry and trade suffered under the
clash of bayonets, no factional strife,
no machine guns had been able to stop
ihe jrrogress of  this  movement.
CONTINUED  ON  PAOB  3
Conditions
�It Harder- for the
Lazy.
Hoover Is Coming
In the interest of the impartiality
of the press we promised to pub-
lic some campaign material on
Hoover this week. Let it not be
thought that we are going'back on
our promise. We are deluged with
Smith material; but try as we
would we were unable to secure
anything on Hoover in time to be
printed this week. Apparently the
literature is scarce. Better luck
next week.
"It seems to Ije my fate to use chapel
tor very practical *wwuuncemcnts," de-
clared Dean Manning on Friday morning.
Forthwith Mrs. Manning launched into
an explanation of the new system for
condition examinations.
For a long time the faculty has felt
that our condition examination system '
('id not meet all case's. There were stu-
(ints who did not succeed in assimilating
enough material to show that they had a
I roper grasp on the course, or those
whose lack of correct presentation in
the final exam counted heavily against
them. Then there were other students
who were quite unsuccessful in finding
�.u� during the year what the course
was about. And finally there were stu-
dents who had obviously done no work
a: all.
Under the  old system  in all three of ,
these cases the device of re-examination-
at-a-later-period was used.    If the sloth-
iul student eventually passed, "no more
was said about her bins."
Consistent with the changes made in
tht specifications of the Language Ex-
aminations a reorganization of the grad-
ing of all work under sixty has been
effected:
Students whose work has been unsatis-
factory but who are permitted to blot out
their deficiencies by passing a condition
examination are marked Conditioned.
tCond.)
F. F. Counts Heavily
Students who have done such unsatis-
factory work that no condition examina-
tion is allowed are marked Failed, desig-
nated F. F. "in letters of fire." Any such
failure will be counted against the com-
putation of merits, and the-Senate will
pobably regard an P. F. as much more
serious than a condition.
"Students receiving this grade of F. F.
-which I hope will be (riven compara-
tively seldom"�concluded Mrs. Mann-
ing, "must necessarily repeat the course
if they wish to cover the work therein..
However, the first mark will stand on
their records."        �  ,