The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-04-30

h Mn. hDlr,n -rea al absorbing .topic,
for the past week Has Been tie junior
Exhibition and tbe'4eonsequences that
have followed it. The discussion for, and
against in the manner -of, discipline. the
Rams and other matters, has been quite
general, apd, by no mean, confngd to the.
friends and patropss Of the college. Ev-,
eryouc has been more or less interested,
for they ali filt that the turn affairs
have taken, had made important issues
upon which we were called to pronounce
Judgment.
1t has come to this. Shall the civil
authorities interfere with the tmeworn
customs of the students, With customs
that have been a part of the College ex-
ercises for years, or shall they be allowed
to keep good their sports, amusements, no
matter how or to what end they may car
ry them. -r,Ha,s'l .@- m.sl ..i
1t certainly seems an innovation to call
upon the police, to assist in suppressing
that which has become go much part
and parcel Of college exercises as to be re-
garded by many as originally instituted
by the founders Of tho institution f'i'.
1t is claimed, and justly too, that the
students should be allowed to have their
own fun and deviltry, aud oe governed
by their own officers. No one will hold
to this stronger than myself, so long as
they keep it. within their own boundary.
Yet when the students 80 far forget their
duties as citizens as to bring themselves
within the pale of criminal law, it is time
they were checked. ao.iar las .i.. g7s
The Rams which everyone expects at
the Junior Exhibition, and are 10 be dis
appointed if none are issued, we're former
ly confined to hits at the College and
members Of the Faeultyla So long as
this was dopp, else. which they lose their
ancient prestige, and become simply the
organ thrQughlwhich personal spite may
be vented upon those who Intentional
ly or not, may have given offence. No
one outside could find fault Or deny them
the right to issue.,j,.a. ssa.5 a,..t ,t
But when they contain coarse and
lpointless ratings against the character of
private citizens, and even make the ladies
/ butt for their Jokes, simply because at
some period some one was snubbed q lit
tie, they throw down, the gauntlet. Can
they wonder it should be picked up when
such sheet as the Syringe" is issued,
defaming in the, most violent language,
some OF our public officers, and coupling
| the names of our first ladies with the
most obscene illusions. Certainly it seems
as if they, could only imagine they were
exempt from the laws that govern ALL
Students are regarded as citizens, and
subject 10 the laws as much as anyone,
and should consider this. in their doings.
Oar laws. have. been called upon to pro-
teet them, in their rights, aud in turn our
laws mist be used to punish them when
they err. .....'-l5 .-,........- .---..."
+ We hold then chat 10 tho prosecutions
that has. followed the distribution Of tho
Syringe that while our sympathy is nat
urally excited FOR the lew who were do
tected and made to suffer, the ends Of the
law have been oply reached and justice
administered. 1t is due also these few
while condemning the Syringe and ex-
pressing regret that they should have.
anything TO do with such paper, to com:
plimeht the pluck that induced them in
the face Of the whole Faculty, to carry
out the5pan in which the whole class
were honoraby bound to- assist.
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