Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-12-10
"smAL. THE noYs RrN THE COLLEGE


SHALL THE RoYs RUS THE COLLEGE,
Editors RHlud H,yad Noticing in
in your columns a short time ago, an
article entitled Shall the boys run the
College" and thinking that the impress
sion, which that had tendency to CON
yey, was derogatory 10 the reputation
which the students of 'William,' have
always borne, we deem it not only ad-
visable, but necessary that such an im-
preston should be corrected.
II some of our views may seem harsh,
we plead in extenuation the article which
calls them forth. Although the trouble
upon which your correspondent dilates Is
all over. and the excitement consequent
upon il subsidized. it would seem indeed
that we were guilty of the grave charges
he prefers against Us, il such one sided
opinions should 20 unnoticod.
Editorials and articles in our favor. and
against US, have appeared in the leading
newspapers of the country, OF these ",
have read not one which has so entirely
misrepresented us, or which seemed $,
utterly devoid of candid and imparua
Judgment.
= The tirst part of your correspondent
Communication does not relate to vii
liams, SO We pass it over in silence. Hi'
first statement on this subject, is in reg rd
to the design Of the college faculty in pass
ing the Objectionable law. This rule miy
perhaps be as well understood by giving
it intact:
Each absence from any recitation
whether at the beginning Of or during
the term. whether excused or uneXcus ed
will count a. zero in the record %
standing In eases, however, in whicN
attendance shall be shown by the student
To have been iHposSt1if, each officer shall
have the oJatoR of allowing the fecita-
tion to be made up at such time as he shall
appoint and no mark shall be given to
such recitation, unless ii shall amount to
substantial performance Of the work
omitted"
The injustice OF thi> law comes IN at
these two points-vil at the word .7
possible, and at the clause making it "p
tional. On the part Of any professor
whether a student shall be permitted &
make up and recite those studies gone
over by the class, during his absence
Nearly every student. at sometime ol
other during his college course, finds il
necessary for him to be absent during
term time In many eases, in all cases
except severe sickness. he would be un
able TO render the excuse that it was i'm
possible for him to have been present. IL
who STAYS out to attend the funeral ot {
relative, or to teach school, cannot be per
mitted by this law to make up his recita
tions, but he is marked zero in all HI
studies. As a consequence he Is eithe'
obliged, from <eaing fallen below tn,
standard to leave college, or else is mucs
lower on the graded lisH thar those not a
conversant with the subjects passed over
but who were present at ever,1 recitation
Although young man does not 90 to Col
lege for marks, yet the outside worl'
judges of his ability by his standing. Al
the honors conferred by the college res
solely on his grade.
Some professors would not take adyan
tage Of the clause, giving them exclu-iy
power to determine whether student
should be allowed to make up his bacI
lessons: others, undor the same circum
stances, would. A practical example O
the latter case was presented. before an.
action was taken by the students.
Next your correspondent states that
upon the announcement of this rule tn
whole college rose in rebellion. An q
! f6HStce protest was sent to the Faculty
and because the'professors did not, at ono,
yield to the wishes of the students, tn
latter declare their intention to Withdraw
from the college, until the obnoxious Law
shall be annulled."
] We do not know where he obtaine
this information, but must say that what
ever its source, it is untrue. When I'll
rule was promulgated, a petition was sen
to the Faculty, but not till five days after
wards,was the final action taken, which h
facetiously terms rebel ellion. Even the
it was not because the Faculty would nc
sat once gield," but because they refuse
to consider the petition, intimating tina
the students had no right to petition tn
Faculty. They also refused to suspen
the law till the return of President HoI
kins, who,at the passage of the law, wa
at the West, and who, it was well known
was opposed to any such measures Tha
the Faculty did not, when it was frs
presented, consider it an offensive pre-
test" is shown by their own words. The,
speak of it as a request.
| Your correspondent then discourse
learnedly on the necessity of laws, and G
their enforcement, and also upoii whom
devolves to make these laws, and Sc
that they are lived up to. All of whic
is perfectly reasonable, and mus, be a,
sented to By every candid person
i But when be states that II il the oBl