DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 25 



SENIOR. 



First Term. — Two essays, on assigned subjects, or debates ; public orations. 

 Second Jerm. — Two essays on assigned subjects; public orations. 

 Third Term. — Two essays; public orations. 



Public Exercises. — Upon each alternate Wednesday, members of the 

 Junior and Senior classes deliver orations in presence of all the students. 

 Two orations are to be thus presented by each student during his junior year, 

 and two during his senior year. 



Upon each Wednesday not thus occupied, some member of the faculty or a 

 gentleman from abroad lectures to the students in a body, upon some topic 

 connected with their course of study or their work. 



Labor. — Each student, not exempt on account of physical disability, is 

 required to labor three hours each week day (except Saturdays) in those seasons 

 of the year when labor can be furnished. Students receive remuneration for 

 most of their labor in the quarterly settlement of accounts, at the close of 

 each term, at a rate depending on their ability and fidelity, the maximum 

 being eight cents per hour. The labor is to some extent planned with refer- 

 ence to illustrating and applying the instruction in the lecture room. The 

 work during the junior year is performed on the gardens and grounds. Six 

 hours are spent each month, without compensation, under direct instruction 

 in practical horticulture. The Sophomores work for the year on the farm ; 

 the members of other classes are assigned to the farm, the gardens, or some 

 other duty. 



Select Course. — Persons of suitable age and acquirements, who desire to 

 pursue one or more of the branches of study more closely related to agricult- 

 ure (such as chemistry, botany, animal physiology, apiculture), may be receiv- 

 ed for a less time than is requisite for the full course. By reference to the 

 scheme of recitations in the catalogue any person desiring select studies can 

 ascertain whether the classes are so arranged as to permit him to pursue them. 



club system of boarding. 



The students' organization, a society consisting of all the students, held a 

 meeting in the College chapel Nov. 13, 1882, and adopted a plan for a club 

 system of boarding and submitted it to the State Board of Agriculture for 

 approval. After careful consideration the Board adopted the plan, and 

 authorized the students to divide themselves into five clubs, to elect stewards, 

 and begin on the new system with the opening of the spring term, 1883. 

 Three club dining rooms were made out of the one dining hall in Williams 

 Hall, and two out of the old armory in Wells Hall; rooms were assigned to 

 the cooks in each hall, and a committee of the faculty was appointed by the 

 board, with whom the club officers could consult. President Abbot, Dr. 

 Kedzie and Prof. Carpenter constitute the committee. The general arrange- 

 ment of room, disposal of college property used in the old system, and many 

 other matters of detail, were committed to the charge of Professor Carpen- 

 ter, with whom the students had taken frequent council in maturing their 

 plans. Mr. Carpenter continues to be the chief adviser of the stewards, and 

 the success of the system is largely due to his assistance. 



The club system has been tried for one year, or for the spring, summer, and 

 autumn terms of 1883, with very gratifying success. 13oard was at once 



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