Princeton Intramurals Are Found Better Organized, More Spirited Than Houses

Almost universal undergraduate support and a closely knit organization are the most prominent characteristics of Princeton intra-mural athletics when contrasted with the present House sports program at Harvard. When a Princeton man gives up a weekend in New York in order to play in an inter club hockey game, as has actually been known to happen, it shows that there is an enthusiasm present which the House system has so far been unable to arouse.

The Princeton system is organized independent of varsity sports under the impressive title of the Intra-mural Athletic Association. Within the association the eighteen clubs are the basis for competition among Juniors and Seniors, while the Sophomores, who do not join clubs until Spring, are organized according to dormitories. Each club appoints a sports director and in each dormitory there is a Sophomore appointed by the central committee. Three of these sophomores are elected in their Junior year to the central committee and remain on it during their Senior year with the addition of another member of their class. Thus the governing committee consists of four seniors and three juniors each year as well as a faculty advisor, usually one of the coaches. The director of Physical Education acts as a chairman exollicio.

Besides unifying the intra-mural system this central committee also manages the annual cane spree and some off-season varsity sports such as spring soccer and fall crew.

Sports Program

The small size of the clubs makes inter-club football impracticable but touch football is well organized, a complete pamphlet of special tough rules for the association being published by the governing board. During the winter basketball, squash, and ping pong are carried on while inter-club hockey in the Hobey Baker rink has proved to be the most popular. Swimming is limited to three meets in both the club and dormitory league in which all members enter contestants at once, while in Wrestling and Boxing there is an open University meet as at Harvard.

Comparisons

The fact that the Houses are so much bigger should enable them eventually, when the new plans for central organization mature, to carry on intra-mural athletics more successfully, as is already the case in crew and tackle football. Princeton's rink gives them the edge in hockey, and the popularity which this has received as an intra-mural sport should be an added argument for a Harvard rink.