Colleges and the Public

To the greater percentage of the American show-going public college life in one long, gloriffed vacation according to an editorial in the Daily Northwestern Movies like "College Love" and "The, Collegians" provide people with the most distorted idea of a student's career. Novels such as "Fraternity Row" do their bit to add to these impressions. Even the well-meaning "College Humor" gives a one-sided picture.

The newspapers are an important factor in the prevailing misrepressentation of college and especially university existence. There seems to be a malge in the word "college" which puts the most trivial incident upon the front page." Unimportant happenings and silly pranks which-pass the unnoticed in a college town are seized upon and played by the newspapers. Almost up played by the newspapers. Almost invariably they are things which will add to the current impression fostered by the press.

Mere publicity cannot be objected to. But the publicity, whether it is in move form, orange-covered novels or newspaper headlines, makes a never-ending stream of unconscious propaganda. It is the constant propaganda which has attached the word "collegiate" with "whoopee." It has given false connotations to every term in school usage.

The serious, work-filled life at a university might almost as well be non-existent. Exploitation of collegiate Fords, fraternity, parties and infractions of rules has created an impression on the public mind that is pitiably false.

So the lamentable thing goes on, and when any triffing incident occurs, public opinion lifts itself spectrally and says "I told you so." Daily Illini.