New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-14
THE EuEUrE At BILLIAllS COLLEGE.

A letter to The Springfield Union, giving an
account Of the revolt OF the Williams College students
against the rule Of marking all absences from recta-
ons at zero has the following concerning the action Of
Of the students in Withdrawing from the college
At second meeting Of all the students held this even
ing the same place and hour tie committee reported
and the following resolution after preliminary where,
similar 10 the others, was unanimously sShcu anu
Hoia Tbs, w. students Of said William, College declare
sbal repeal The aforementioned rule"
BY this course an the students withdraw themselves
entirely from all college exercises until the time men
toned in the resolution and II the law Is not repealed
finally second resolution declaring the intention OF
the students as a body Of young men" to remain III the
neiQhborhood until settlement Of the difficulties. and
TO abstain from any disOTdcry conduct was also un
mously adopted In short the whole aHaiI was coiuuo
The objections of the students the law briefly stated
somewhat thus: They deem UNJUST that man VINO
has been sick for weeks OF has been absent IN teaching
school, should have TO make up all the ground passed
by the class In the interim lat such une as inc
officer Shall appoint" addition t0 the regular term
examination, which the same ground Ihey deem
II also unjust that man falling under these peculiar CIR
cumstauces to make an recitation should receive
mark at all for hls pains Ihey ma tue TACT staring
them the face that 10 absence, except from serious
sickness or teaching school will be considered as case
when it was impossible attend. To illustrate the prc-
teal workings OF this by recent example; Last fHday
a student was summoned home by letter from ms
parents, and excused To 80. On his return ne
inquired in regard 10 making up ms Rotations nut was
told IL the new law was maintained his was not an inos-
sibe case and his TeCtatiOus could not be made up
Thus such are placed on the same lever plec'cy
with the men who absent themselves totally without
excuse They deem it unjust that even impossible cases
arc at the option" Of the individual Professors who
are but human and have their preudices. To combine
all In ODe they deem 1t "a blow aimed al ther pcsOui
honor and manhood
A Harvard Senior, writing to The Boston Advertiser,
shows that the rule which the oppressed students OF VIII
nams regard as a elbow aimed at their manhood and
personal honor stringent than the rules applying
10 similar or ses at Cambridge. The Adrescr thinks the
defiant attitude OF the students very unWise. II says
They not Onlv protested against the rule, but per
empOrly called upon the faculty Of said Williams Col
lege to annu IL the faculty had been less
sured position and had desired 90 reconsider the
question: they could not recognize demand made In 50
summary and mdefeusble manner. Ii was IN the Ian
guage OF defiance; Of man engaged IN lie or death
struggle, to his enemy The students mlsconceiyed tht
situation They not driven half so near TO the wal
as they thought they were and they lost the advantage
which rational and patient remembrance might
have given IL would have required much more serious
situation make their perenpOry manner eHpedien or
efecve and the faculty very naturally determined 20
await the Of President Hopkins before giving the
request final consideration. The return OF President
Hopkins, whose absence only temporary, VIII prob
ably lead settlement OF the difficulty without prciu-
dice the institution dish0nOr 10 the studcns Their
true would be 10 Tetrace their steps In manly
way the point where their first demand was made aud
seek by the usual means the redress 10 which they nk
they are entitled.