FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES WILL RESPOND TO CALL OF THE WILD - The college authorities have decided to try push ball for the annual class scrap between the freshmen and sophomores this fall.  The contest will take place tomorrow afternoon on the college campus.  In years gone by the enmity between the two classes lasted throughout the entire term and hazing continued as long.  Finally the college authorities decided to take the matter in hand and settle all class disputes at one time by a contest.  The first contest was the painting of the class numerals upon a big sign board.  This was not satisfactory and the following year a tug of war at Briley's pond composed the contest.  Last year a trench was dug and filled with water for the tug of war and an admission of ten cents charged.  [view images] Students kicked on that and now the classes are to have a push ball contest.  This contest consists of a large ball twelve feet in diameter and an endeavor on the part of each class to push the ball over a given line.  The class doing so first is declared the victor.

OUR FIRST LOOK AT PUSHBALL - Tomorrow afternoon rain or shine the big pushball contest will take place on the athletic field at the college to decide the annual freshman-sophomore class scrap.  The ball is similar to a basketball only larger.  It measures 6 feet across.  The classes will be divided into teams of 50 men each and the contest will be decided in 5 pushes.  Best 3 out of 5 wins.

The ball will be placed in the center of the field and football methods will prevail.  At a signal both teams will rush for the ball and 25 minutes will be allowed in which to push the ball over the line.  No admission fee will be charged and a large crowd will be the consequence.

Dear Bill, ....Last night I had to stay up nearly all night writing an essay on "Why I came to I.S.C." for my English class.  A week ago last Friday we had our class scrap with the Sophs.  They let us out of school and told us how we should act.  They say this class scrap is necessary to take the Freshmen down a few notches.  Well, we got taken down a little.  The scrap was carried out by a pushball contest.  The Sophs beat us 10 to 1.  This made them feel so good that some of them sneaked around under the bleachers and stole our colors from the girls.  We were afraid to start a scrap, because they know each other and we don't.

Did that stop the class scrapping?  Well, I guess not.  They get some of us out nearly every night and make us do all kinds of stunts for their amusement.  I had to bark at the moon, climb telephone poles while they helped me up with paddles, and did a lot of other things I hadn't better tell about.  They say this hazing will stop soon.  That sounds good to me.

Thursday night a bunch of Freshmen went down and painted big "13"s [class of 1913] over the "12"s which the Sophs had painted on the railroad bridge.  It's a great looking sight now.

Now this is a long letter, but I wanted to let you know what college life is like and how I was getting along.  Gee, I wish I was back at home sometimes.  Tell my folks to write oftener.  Yours, Pat.

THE FRESHMEN-SOPHOMORE PUSH BALL CONTEST

The accompanying halftone shows three different pictures of the recent class scrap which was decided by a pushball contest in which the sophomores won over the freshmen by a score of 9 to 1.  The ball was borrowed from the state university of Iowa in order to test the popularity of the game before investing in equipment for the sport.  The popularity of the game as an enthusiasm reducer in time of class scraps was proven at the finish of this contest when all of the boys were footsore and weary to say nothing of being half naked - for clothes certainly suffered during the contest.  This picture shows Trainer Jack Watson in the act of firing the pistol at the start, the gang in action with the big ball, and a little side play - two sophomores holding down two obstreperous freshmen near the finish of the game.  Push ball has come to stay, at the Iowa State College.

THE SOPHOMORES ARE THE MONARCHS - FRESHMEN GO DOWN IN DEFEAT AND HUMILIATION

...Both teams diplayed much vigor and determination to win but the 12's had the stronger team.  The ball used was similar to a football only much larger - six feet in diameter.  It was placed in the middle of the field and each team stationed at each end of the field.  At a given signal, both teams charged toward the ball, the first one striking it bounding backward with a tremendous force.  The object then was for each side to push the ball over given lines and to the goal line.  Certain men were delegated to break the line of the opponents pushing force which was extremely hard on clothing, many leaving their shirts in shreds upon the battle field.  The Dutch band was out Friday and did its best to cheer the preps by playing "Home Sweet Home," "Nearer My God to Thee" and "Just Before the Battle Mother" before each "Push."

An unusual sight was the number of ministers who attended the scrap Friday.  Methodist ministers who were here attending the conference skipped sermons, committee meetings and conference business to see the class scrap.  Much enthusiasm was displayed by the rooters, the east bleachers being reserved for the 13's and the west one for the sophomores.

CLASS SCRAP BREAKS CHAPEL - PRESIDENT STANTON GETS INTO THE GAME, LANDS A FEW - Wednesday morning occurred quite a lively, excitable "class scrap" between the classes of 1914 and 1913.  It began about 9:30 o'clock and lasted throughout chapel period until the appearance of President Stanton and a few other professors of the college.  The fight was at its hottest when the president rushed into the midst of the crowd, commanding attention.  After more or less time, the crowd quieted sufficiently to let the president address the student body concerning their honor in connection with affairs of that order.  The students finally dispersed and were fortunately no more than ten minutes late at classes.

The entrance of the president into the game was not looked for and the crowd was greatly surprised that he could handle himself so well in such a mix up.  If a general surrender had not taken place when it did there would have been a number more who would have found the sore spots where the chief executive touched them.  He is as familiar with the handling of his hands as is Teddy himself.  He acquitted himself with glory and came out victorious in the first and only round.  One of the most amusing remarks in connection with the event came from Margaret Hall when a near sighted young lady seeing the president in the center of the opposing classes, exclaimed, "Oh, kids, let's go out and see the push ball game.  See, they are playing now."

THE BIG PUSH BALL GAME OCCURS TOMORROW ON THE CAMPUS - The annual class contest will take place on the State Field Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  There will be five contests with fifty men on a side.  Prof. Samuel W. Beyer will be the official referee.  The umpires will be Butch Coover, Fred Law, Hubbard and Jack Watson.  A great contest will be pulled off.  Everybody is invited.  Free admission.

For several days the feeling has been running high among the two classes and frequent disturbances have been noticed but nothing serious happened until yesterday morning when a general mixup occurred near the chapel and President Stanton got into the game and settled the affair with his fists and then with his oratory.  It is hinted that the president's fists had more to do with quieting the contestants than the talk.  However, there were no reflections cast upon the oratory.  Tomorrow will close the contest.

THE SOPHOMORES WON - In the push ball game Friday the ground was strewn with the remnants of the clothes of students of both classes.  It was a regular wind fall for the rag pickers.  The game was fierce especially on the side.  But the Sophomores outgeneraled the Freshmen and won by a score of 17 to 0.

SOPHOMORES WIN ANNUAL PUSHBALL CONTEST 28 TO 5 - GREAT THRONG WITNESSES ANNUAL CLASH OF THE UNDERCLASSMEN ON FIELD THIS AFTERNOON - The usual throng of students, college people, townspeople and excitement prevailed at the annual pushball contest this afternoon.  The high school students were excused at 2:00 o'clock in time to be on hand when the first signal was sounded, and these youngsters with the people from down town made up a goodly number of the crowd.

As was announced, the freshmen met at the Campanile long before the appointed hour, anxiously waiting while the sophs congregated near the Engineering hall.  The preps were then trade marked so there would be no danger in confusing one of the "green" from those of the "greener".

...The freshies had the advantage of the larger number to pick from and as a result, bigger and huskier men made up the five teams that represented the '19s.  The sophomores showed more intelligence of the game and used more trick moves to throw off their opponents.  They had last year's experience to fall back on.