Preliminary practice for the swimming candidates began last week. It has been found impossible to arrange a Christmas trip, but a long schedule of games has been planned for the regular season, which opens on January 13, with a water polo game with the New York A. C. entries from Yale will also be made in the National A. A. U. championship at the New York A. C. and in the Metropolitan championship at the same place. The usual western trip will be taken during the Easter vacation.

The University basketball team has begun its season and the team for this year promises to be a strong one. Arrangements have been completed for the southern and western trip, which will be taken during the Christmas vacation. the team will visit thirteen cities, playing fifteen games with teams representing Y. M. C. A.'s, athletic clubs, two smaller western colleges and Syracuse University.

Candidates for the freshman crew will be called out on January 12 and for the University crew on the 17th. The outlook for both crews is very promising. The late fall rowing served to bring out much new material. In the first half of the annual contest for the University "Y" and freshman class numerals a. C. Gilbert M. S., won the greatest number of points. Of the freshmen entered, R. Barlow made the highest score.

Treasurer Lee McCiung, in his report of the finances of the University, showed an increase of $1,347,135.59 for the year 1904-05. This increase is by far greater than in any previous year, and is primarily due to the generous gift of $1,000,000 made by Mr. John D. Rockefeller. The academic debating team won the interdepartment championship by defeating the Divinity school team.