CLUB

Object

THE object of the Cosmopolitan Club is to unite for mutual benefit, socially, intellect ually, and morally, students of ltl l nationalities in the colleges, universities and professional schools of New York ; to promote friendly relations bet w en foreign and American students: and to bring foreign students in contact with American home life.

History

This year, 1922-1923 is the thirteent h continuous year of the club, which really had its origin in a friendly "Good Morning" spoken to a l onely s t udent from a foreign land shortly ,aft,er the opening of college in the fall of 1910. This stu dent said that no one had greeted him in any way during the thr1-:e weeks he had been in New York. An investigation was made, which proved that these students who come many thousands of miles to study in America -only a few of them then-were really "lost" in the great City of New York, with little opportunit y to discover beneat h its surface any real American life. An invitation to an informal Tea in Earl Hall on a Sunday afternoon met with such a hearty response that a series of Sunday suppers was planned, and these in • -Tii rn prov ed So successful that a further progr·am of hospitality and service wns projected. Through the co-9peration and in- terest of many American friends this has been improved upon and enlarged, year by year, until now the club has an active student membership of over 629 from 65 countries, studying in 42 col es an pro ess10na schools in Greater New York, its work fairly bursting the walls of Earl Hall, and a wonderful home center, through the generosity and international-mindedness of Mr. John D. Rockefeller ,Tr., soon to be realized: Does it not give us faith in the possibilities of kindness and good will when we see how a morning greeting can develop into an opportunity for world friendship?

Activities

Sunday Suppers

Throughout the college year a series of _ SunSu}fyer: 1 are held in Earl Hall, Columfiia six o'clock, preceeded by a reception at five-thirty. After supper, a program of speaking and music is .enjoyed for about an hour. Open forums are sometimes held. in which men1bers discuss common problems. Most of all it is a friendly gathering.

National Nights

On Saturda y nights, at intervals of every two or three weeks, enjoyable social meetings, lcalled National Nights, are held . These ocV casions afford the opportunity of exhibiting the music, manners, and customs of different nations and are always very enjoyable.

Meetings In Homes

One of the most successful activities of the chili consists of introducing its foreign members to American home life. Social gatherings, dinner parties, afternoon teas, and week-end visits are arranged in the homes ol' friends, particularly at the 401iday time.

International Student Assembly

The International Student Assembly i~ a miniature World Assembly which has been formed within the membership of the Intercollegiate Cosmopolitan Club and patterned somewhat after the Assembly of the League of Nations . Each country or nationality in the Club, of which there are this year 65, elects two representatives to the Assembly. The names of the representatives are denoted by asterisks in the list of members. Its purpose is to permit of discussions bearing on world affairs as they would be conducted jf the Cosmopolitan Club were managing them. Questions are approached from the point of view of making the world a safe, friendly and better place in which to live, rather than from the standpoint of economic aspirations, national ambitions, or political considerations. The Assembly has absolutely no connection with the propagandic activities of any group outside of its own membership. It exists solely for the benefit of the Club, for the enjoyment of its members and their , friends, and as a place in which international affairs can be discussed with freedom and honesty. It meets monthly throughout the academic year .

Interest Groups

The Club's large membership is divided into small Groups along lines of scholastic and professional interest for the object of affording opportunities to students of all lands to meet and know one another more intimately and get better acquainted with each other's viewpoint. These Groups meet at frequent intervals fo_r discussion and socials. At present tlle followmg Groups have been organized: 1. Business and Economics; 2. . Political Problems and International Relations; 3. Education; 4. Social Work and Public Health· 5. Artistic Values; 6. Religion; 7. Science ~nd Engineering; . 8. Industrial and Social Problems.

Excursions

Saturday excursions are made to different places of interest-up the Hudson River, so fine a spirit of neighliorliness and comradeship among so large a group of young people who are so heterogeneous in respect of national heritage, religious tradition and belief, economic status, and social rank. The Club's guests testify time and again to the reality of this spirit, and of course the members themselves know that it really exists.

The answer, perhaps, is two-fold: First, the Club has never been afraid to emphasize the need for uniting its members morally and spiritually, as well as socially and intellectually. No member has had to apologize for his religious belief, and he has been left free in an atmosphere of toleration and reciprocity to pursue it. This has given the Club a dignity and kept it on a plane the character of which is unmistakeable. The second reason may be answered under the general heading of

How The Club Functions

The Club is a student organization. In spite of its size, the students feel that it is their club. This is partly due to the informal, yet democratic way, in which it is organized. There are four interlocking groups of control.. First, the student members, who are the body politic; then the Cabinet, elected by them as described on another page-the legislature; the Directors and Staff who constitute the executive; and finally the Governing Board, corresponding to the Supreme Court of the American Government. The Club functions more nearly like the British form of government, because, like the latter, it has no constitution. Of course, the legal incorporation prescribes a charter, but this is of a general character and leaves the activities of the student bodies within the limits laid down in the general object. This means that such things as membership, admission to meetings, etc., are matters of tradition and experecne to be worked out, changed and improved as time goes on by the several interlockng bodies-members, cabinet, staff, and governing board. This organization has worked, is working. It is simple, efficient, flexible, and essentially democratic.