The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-29


their action in suspendipg one member of
the class was we'll or Ill advised, whether
ii was the result of haste or deliberation
1t is enough to know that they acted within
the scope of their authority and that they
believed they had just cause therefor. If
the class were dissatisfied with the action,
there were only two courses open to them.
They could seek by respectful protest and
petition reversal of the action, or they
could leave the college. They ore there
voluntarily they cannot be forced to re-
main and they can leave at their own
sweet wills, always providing their fathers
will let them.
The former course would have been the
true and manly one in fact, the only one
BETTING young men enjoying the advanta-
ges of collegiate instruction and from
what we know of the faculty of the col
lege, we have reason to believe that their
protest and petition would have received a
respectful consideration and, If right and
proper, would have been needed. If on
the other hand, which we do not deem
probable, their interference had been re-
sented, il the faculty were shown to be
clearly in the wrong, then they might with
propriety have severed their connection
with the college. Such course is always
| Unstable with or without cause, but re-
bellion never. We think we can under.
stand how these young men felt and acted
we have been there ourself and know
something about it. Some hasty members
of the class, probably some so-called lead
ers, doubtless proposed the rebellion, anc
the other members of the class joined will
them because they had not the moral cour
age to do right to be men. But If the facul
ty arc true to themselves, true to the col
lege, the case can have but one result, ant
that is the class must yield. If they d.
not, then farewell to all discipline, and it il
to be hoped that with discipline the collcg
will also go, for it will be worse than use
less without discipline. Far better that tn
year 1877 should pass without commence
mcnt exercises than that the college SHOULD
be governed solely by the whims of the stu
dents.
1t is not many years since that college
were governed in the same manner as dis
trict schools, and based upon the idea tina
the students were mere children and shoul
be treated as children. A change has
however, taken place, aud college student
are now treated and regarded as youn
men, subject only to the restraint of sue
rules and regulations as would be necessar
in any community of young men. Th
principal reliance to secure obedience
. good habits and proper attention to til
prescribed studies has been upon the homo
, and ambition of the young men, and b
seeking their love, respect and confidence
/ Since this change, there has been marke
! improvement in the demeanor and schola
ship of students, and every friend of ed,
cation has reason to believe that honor, n
spect and confidence were the real incel
tives to right action to be placed befoi
, these young men. Is it reserved to til
sophomore class of Middlebury college t
teach us that we have all been wrong
that college students are nothing but mel
children and can only be treated as such
, Surely, only children or moral coward
! would act as they have done. They ma
y think that they are displaying high ar
commendable spirit, but they will fir
d otherwise. The faculty have but to
: firm and do right, and they will do n
e only these young men but colleges ever,
v where real service.