t 546 FAMOUS LIVING AMEBICANS institution is more in danger of the sin of complacency than an institution of learning. Add to this a loyalty and devo- tion to alma mater that has seldom heen equaled and we have the Princeton that Wilson found on his hands to administer. But not only did he call for improvement in the method and quality of the work done, but he announced that the univer- sity should turn out men who differed in point of view from the past generations of Princeton men. The younger genera- tion should have on them the stamp of the newer democracy, and in their hearts the awakening of the new social conscience that the outside world had already felt. Here was the announcement that education should prepare men for participation in the new and fresh life of the twen- tieth century. The two distinct steps in this direction were a revision of the course of study to make it conform to the de- mand for accurate knowledge in some one field, and the pre- ceptorial system, which would bring the instruction of stu- dents into their everyday life. More intellectual work by the student, a better coordination of his work, and intimate and dose supervision of his study were the three things that came out of these first reforms that the new president instituted. These changes, startling as they were, and handling the tra- ditional repose of old Princeton roughly as they did, could not but command support and cooperation from the faculty, the board of trustees, and the more alert alumni. They were too rational and too obviously needed to permit of any suc- cessful opposition. But the next step struck at a more tender spot and was complicated with so many other vital problems that it was destined to have open and bitter opposition. This step in- volved a reorganization of the social life of the students. Princeton had always prohibited college fraternities. But there had grown up in their place exclusive eating dubs, with sumptuous quarters, and with all the snobbishness that wealth and exclusiveness can engender. These clubs included in their membership slightly more thaai half the two upper classes. The other half were left in the outer darkness of sodal oblivion. The freshman and sophomore dasses were
