The vote of the faculty raising the requirements for the degree "cum laude in general studies" and making the award of the degree optional with each department, will be received as a move in the right direction. The so-called "general honors" degree has been for many years a back door to scholastic distinction, more and more out of keeping with the concentration and tutorial systems. The great cause for regret is that the faculty did not see fit to adopt the recommendation of the division of History, Government, and Economics that the degree be abolished altogether.

Whether the compromise solution means the virtual abolition of the degree depends entirely on the departments. It may be that some of the progressive departments will have the courage to declare that the award of the degree will be restricted to really "exceptional cases." But is seems likely that the prevailing spirit of competition for concentrators will lead many of them to recommend for the degree all who have fulfilled the requirements.

The provision that candidates for honors in their own subject shall be disqualified from receiving honors in general studies is apparently aimed at those men who have fallen back on the latter after failing in their own field. Unless it has the effect of cutting down the number of honors candidates, it should go a long way toward closing the "back door." It is clear, however, that the eventual solution must be the complete abolition of general honors. While the opposition of many of the senior professors undoubtedly blocked such a move at this time, there is reason to believe that, if the President is willing, it will sooner or later be accepted.