Plans of Council of Federated Clubs

The Council of Federated Clubs is now in definite existence. The preliminaries of drawing up articles of agreement between the component clubs, deciding on the form of organization, and electing of officers have all been satisfactorily accomplished. The work of the officers this year has been to inform the clubs and organizations, throughout the University, of the nature of the federation and urge them to ally with the central council. This effort has met with exceptional success. There is a natural tendency among clubs to hesitate before surrendering a part of their power to a new organization. This conservatism is encountered everywhere. The need for some sort of a directing and systematizing body has been keenly felt in the University. Most clubs have realized that this federated clubs council is to help them and accordingly have become members.

Having made its position this year, next year the council will begin its real work. Details will be worked out with time, but the general plans have been determined. First, the secretary of the council will keep a date-book. Members of the council will be required to file notice of their meetings. The date-book, or a duplicate, will be kept in a convenient place, such as near the notice box in the CRIMSON Office. Conflicts in dates will easily be seen and avoided. The council thus proposes acting in cooperation with the official book of dates kept by the Recorder, to reduce conflicts to a minimum. Second, the council will act as a sort of general clearing-house. If one club is to give a lecture of interest, other clubs will be notified by the secretary. The council will represent any member before an outside organization, and also if any organization outside the University desires to get into communication with the society representing a certain interest, and does not know the proper club, the council will bring the two together. Third, if a question of general significance to the University arises, the council will call together all component clubs, or a number of them, to discuss such an issue in common, thus helping to form and guide undergraduate opinion. It is hoped that questions may be referred from the Faculty or from the Student Council. Fourth, the council will endeavor to keep in close touch with the club situation in the University, to encourage the clubs in their individual work, to prevent needless duplication, and if necessary to decide disputes as to jurisdiction. Finally, the council will issue a pamphlet giving a general detailed account of its work which will be available to all members of the University.