DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 101 



lu view of the fact that five out of the twelve members of the depart- 

 ment were new to the work, I feel that the department has had an un- 

 usually successful year. The friction caused during the preceding year 

 by two or three drastic regulations relative to the work of students has 

 entirely passed away. The students see that these regulations are for 

 their own good, and without dissent have come into harmony with 

 them. The result is that many students are acquiring an accuracy in 

 writing, spelling, etc., which otherwise they would not have acquired. 



Again this year ceriain work in letter writing was presented to a 

 large number of short course men by the department, I believe that 

 this is as profitable as any work that is done by the department. Per- 

 haps it would be a good thing if more time could be given to this work 

 and a larger number of the short course men could have an opportunity 

 to profit by it. 



For the first time our students have taken part in an inter-collegiate 

 debate with Alma, On April 28tli the two teams met at our armory 

 and debated the question, "Resolved, That the Federal Government 

 should retain ownership and control of all coal lands now in its pos- 

 session, or hereafter acquired.'' Our team, made up of Messrs, G. H. 

 Gollingwood, G. H, Myers, and J, I), Fletcher, took the negative side 

 of the question and were so fortunate as to secure a decision in their 

 favor. Mr. Gollingwood is a senior forestry student, Mr. Myers a sopho- 

 more engineering student, and Mr. Fletcher a sophomore forestry student. 

 The judges were Messrs. Lawton T. Hemans, Mason ; W. G. Goburn, Battle 

 Greek, and E. O. Shields, Howell, and to them I wish to express the 

 thanks of the college and the department for their willingness to serve 

 us in' this way. On May 6th, Messrs. G. G. Wilcox, G. H. Gollingwood, 

 and Isaac Margolis, debated the same question at Ypsilanti in our 

 annual debate with the State Normal Gollege. On this occasion our 

 team defended the affirmative. The debate, hoAvever, was won by the 

 Normal Gollege team. In this debate Mr. Gollingwood took the place 

 of Mr. R. W. Powell, who because of illness was unable to occupy his 

 place on the team, Mr, Margolis is an agricultural freshman and Mr, 

 Wilcox a sophomore engineer. 



These men secured their places on the team by going through a series 

 of preliminary debates, which were participated in by a large number 

 of students. 



The annual oratorical contest was won by Mr, K. D. Van Wagenen. 

 He consequently represented the college in the State Gontest, and won 

 second place on the contest, the highest place that has been won by this 

 college for a number of years. 



For the first time an oratorical contest, open only to freshmen, was 

 held during the year. This was participated in by six contestants, first 

 place being won by Mr. Robert J. McGarthy, and second place by Mr. 

 Edwin J. Smith. Later in the year our third annual sophomore oration 

 contest was held. In this contest nine men took part, first place being- 

 won by Mr. Wendt and second place by Mr. Smith. The Peace Oration 

 Gontest was participated in by six men, first place being won by Mr. 

 E. G. Douglas, and second place by Mr. K. M. Klinger. Mr. Douglas 

 therefore represented the college at the State Peace Gontest,^ which was 

 held at Hillsdale, This contest will be held with us next year. 



