WORKING FRIENDSHIPS

Men who fail to make a success or to find friends at college, often complain that friendships are made before college and that there are no opportunities for the stranger. In other words, it is the old cry of "Drag" and "Cliques." But it is indeed an old cry--one so often repeated that it has long since lost its meaning. For one disgruntled upper-classman there have usually been ten men who came into college friendless and unknown, yet were able by their merits to win the recognition they sought.

The competitive system, for example, is open to all and fair to all. Any man who really wants acquaintances is sure to find them if he will only enter some competition. Several weeks active work in friendly rivalry with classmates is a crucible in which friendships are naturally fused.

We do not mean to imply by this that competitions are intended primarily for social purposes. The work is both hard and exacting and he who undertakes it merely to enjoy himself is bound to be disappointed in the results. Opportunities for forming friendships are nonetheless offered--but they are a "by-product" rather than the chief purpose of the competitions. To the Freshman or Sophomore who comes out for the CRIMSON competitions which begin this evening we can say two things: first, he will find he has a worthwhile job on his hands; and second, he will probably discover in the process of carrying through this job that it is in common work that the strongest friendships are formed.