A petition asking that the Glee, Banjo and Mandolin Clubs be allowed to take their annual western trip during the next Christmas recess was presented to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at their last meeting and was referred to the committee on dramatic and musical entertainments. The latter, we understand, will report on the petition at the meeting of the Faculty this afternoon.

We believe that the discussion of this matter will bring under consideration one of the most important questions arising from the relations of Faculty and students, namely, as to whether it is best, as the Graduates' Magazine puts it, for students to be dealt with as organizations, or as individuals; and if as individuals, as to how far the supervision of University authorities ought to extend in matters not connected with college duties.

The normal official attitude of the Faculty toward student organizations, we believe, should be one of quasi-indifference, not unlike that described by Professor Taussig, with regard to athletics, in the June number of the Graduates' Magazine. We can see little occasion for their coming into any but personal relations with student organizations, except in one instance, and that is when an organization, as such, does distinct injury to the University. In that case, its existence would rightly be prohibited. But if any individual student fails to meet the requirements of his college work he should be brought to task individually, whether his failure is caused by the excessive demands of a club or by his own neglect. This in general seems to be the policy of the University, but we bring the matter up now because we believe that the recent vote of the Faculty directed against the Glee Club and the Hasty Pudding Club is in violation of this policy. This can hardly be denied on the ground that the University is injured by these clubs. In the case of the Glee Club, strong testimony has been given by the Harvard men of the cities visited in past years, showing that the concerts and the general conduct of the students giving them, have reflected credit on the University. In two noted instances the Glee Club concerts have been the occasion of the founding of Harvard clubs and invariably they serve to strengthen the relation between the University and the graduates.

Whether the Christmas trips are best for the members of the clubs hardly seems to be a question for the Faculty to decide. As a matter of fact this question has always been answered by the families of the men themselves,- usually in favor of the trips, sometimes against them. Why should this not be left in the same hands in the future?