Almost every year at least two or three men who would be almost certain of places on the University athletic teams are either barred from taking part in the all-important contests or else are not even in a position to train for the teams, because of being put on probation for deficiency in college work. If a man of some athletic ability comes here, interests himself in things which will be of benefit to him alone, and is unwilling to do what he can just as well as not to help a thletics in the University, aside from what he will get out of it for himself, he is rightly looked upon as a thoroughly selfish and ungrateful person who cares only for his own good. And yet this apathy cannot be regarded with any more contempt than that of the man who comes out for a team, shows himself physically worthy of a place on it, and, just as he is beginning to be relied on for steady work, allows himself to be put on probation because he has not enough real interest in the wellfare of the team and the University to do the small amount of work necessary to keep up in his courses.

Many of the men in training for the crews and teams never realize until it is too late that they are not only under obligations to themselves and to the others on the teams, but also to the whole student body which they represent. It ought not to be necessary for a head coach to keep constant watch of the records of his men at the Dean's office to see that they do not cut their lectures. It is almost incredible that men should be so careless of the good of every one concerned.

When a member of a crew or football eleven is disciplined in this way it is especially hard on the team because the men must be picked early in the season in order to have as much time as possible in which to get together. There is always the question whether to keep the man with the hope that he will regain his standing before the race or final game, or to substitute another in his place at the outset. In view of his lazy attitude as compared with that of the others on the team, it would seem at least just to drop him for good and to let him understand that he has shirked his duty just as much as the man who has broken training.