Advisory Conference Committee at Williams.

The Advisory Conference Committee was organized at Williams in March 1884, and was only temporary, it being expected that as soon as the trouble arising from cane-rushing was settled, the committee would cease to exist. The original committee consisted of three men from each class, and three or four from the faculty, including the president, and the students on the committee were expected to be perfectly free to express their opinions in all discussions. The faculty hoping to thus obtain a better understanding of the views of the students, and a better means of communication with them. The committee was given none but advisory powers, but its suggestions were influential in the conference and the questions were settled in a manner entirely satisfactory to both sides. As this plan had worked so well, it was thought best to make the committee permanent, giving it as before only power to advise.

Since the permanent committee was established its influence has not been so apparent, although, perhaps, none the less real. The committee has met about once in two months, and matters of college policy have been discussed, and there is little doubt that the liberal action of the faculty in regard to foot-ball and base-ball are to a considerable extent due to the influence of the committee and the better under standing that exists between the faculty and students on account of it. The committee has lately been reorganized, and now consists of twelve students elected by the different classes as before, and four members of the faculty, not including the president. It is to meet once a month, and though its powers have not been changed, it is expected that, in the discussion of the questions that are so frequently coming up between the faculty and students, the work of the committee will continue to be powerful influence in making Williams a united college.