Princeton Applauds

The resemblance of this plan (the House plan) to President Wilson's will be readily perceived. In explaining the "Quad System" in 1907 President Wilson said it was an attempt "to draw the undergraduates into residential quads in which they shall eat as well as lodge together, and in which they shall, under the presidency of a resident member of the Faculty, regulate their corporate life by some simple means of self-government."

Wilson's plan was, however, complicated by the firm roots the existing club system had taken in Princeton life. In order to win to his plan the club members, especially the graduate members, he proposed an involved and never completely formulated plan whereby "the clubs should gradually allow themselves to be absorbed into the University by the natural process of becoming themselves residential quads, and so retaining their historical identify at the same time that they showed their devotion to the University by an act of supreme sacrifice." How them, should selections be made? There is the obvious objection that all the evils of the club system would be only magnified by such a plan if the clubs pursued their present method of election. Wilson's solution, implicit though never spoken, was to make intellectual and not social raport the basis of selection.

The Harvard plan is a compromise between the two. When completely carried out, it will naturally have a grave effect not only upon whatever clubs exist at Harvard but upon University athletics and all University extra-curriculum activities. A new inter-house athletic system and certainly a good amount of inter-house rivalry in other departments will come to take their place, or at any rate be added to them. Inter-class distinctions will be lessened; and there will be a closer contact with the Instructors and tutors who live in the new Houses. The individual will receive more attention, and social distinctions will be materially lessened.

To the Princetonian all of these considerations appear in the light of definite advantages. The only disadvantages which could be urged are the practical ones; and these Mr. Harkness has largely set aside by his generous promise of more funds when they are needed. The process of selection will be a difficult one, and will involve a certain number of mistakes. There is the danger on the one hand of uncongeniality; on the other of too great accord and insufficiently diversified interests. To be successful, the Houses must function as something considerably more than mere dormitories or common eating halls.

It is, obviously, a grave experiment, and one whose outcome will be eagerly awaited. But it is, we feel sure, a step in the direction which all progressive universities must take if they are to avoid the consequences of overgrowth and standardization. The situation at Princeton is less pressing than at Harvard; Princeton has neither Harvard's severe growing pains not its noticeable lack of essential unity. And yet Princeton cannot be excepted from the observation that our leading universities must find some method of justifying their leadership if this leadership is to remain more than purely nominal; somehow they must provide a noticeably superior education. Mr. Barkness and Harvard's plan certainly may be regarded as working toward this. --Princetonian.