The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-11-21

TThe unfortunate troubles at the
college are source of regret to every
friend of the institution. No one
who hears the whole story can feel that
the blame is wholly or in great part
confined to one side. The action of
the faculty in several particulars can
hardly be called judicious. Young
men like the average college student
are not to be governed by system OF
repression such as might succeed in a
school of young boys. 1t is better to
let the spirits of the students have some
vent like that afforded by cane rush
or tin horn serenade. No harm ever
results from such diversions, and it is
the part of dignified faculty to take
no notice of such things save as they
lead the student into actual conflict
with wise regulations. 1t is true, as
the faculty claim, that students have no
more legal right to kick football into
the chapel or indulge in q cane rush
there than they would have in private
house; but all the traditions of the COL
lege are the other way. The chapel has
been the scenes of conflicts innumer-
able, and the writer has seen pro-
fessors looking OH and enjoying the
fun, and the students certainly respect
ed and liked them none the less for it..
But If the faculty on any ground see
fit to interfere with these frolics, it GER
tainly would seem the part Of justice to
to give fair warning, and not allow
the rule 10 be violated repeatedly after
warning. Neither does it seem neces-
sary to punish the first offence taken
notice of with the severity manifested
In making new rule the first infrac-
tons should be punished most certainly,
but they should be punished lightly.
The students are reasonable beings, if
somewhat thoughtless. A new rule
which forbids customs before allowed
should be adhered TO from the time it
is announced, and if the first infrac-
tons were noticed and punished mod
erately the rule would soon be obeyed.
fit were not, the student at least could
not justly afterward complain if disobe-
dience were punished with greater Sc
verify. In this case the fact that very
student was engaged in the revolt
shows clearly that they felt the treat
ment of Leavenworth and the Sopho-
more and Freshman classes TO be ex-
cessively severe. In every class there
are sure to be some cool-beaded, sensi-
BILE fellows, who do not engage in seri-
ons matters like this revolt without feel
ing sure they are justified in SO doing.
But admitting all this, the faculty had
an undoubted right TO make such rules,
or to carry out old rules which had be-
come obsolete by neglect. 1t seems
that in all these cases they did give a
warning which they doubtless thought
ought to be sufficient, and the punish
ment which they inflicted was not for a
single violation, but for repeated viola
tons of those rules. The students de-
served the punishment, though they
might object to its manner. Leaven-
worth had had warning which he should
have needed. The president had mott.
fed the classes early in the term that
disturbances in the chapel would be
discountenanced in the future. There
fore 1t cannot be denied that they had
the right to infiict punishment. The stu
dents, If aggrieved by their action, had
q right to demonstrate, and if dissatis-
fed with the result, to withdraw from
college. When they combined with
the intention to coerce the faculty into
compliance with their demands, they
rendered II impossible for the faculty
to treat with them. They became
rebels against the college laws, and I'M
der those laws the faculty have acted
as they should. The proper punish
meDt for their offence, when persisted
In as 1t was, is expulsion.
1t is to be hoped that the students on
sober thought will see the necessity
which they have forced upon the faculty,
and as 1t appears that the latter have
made all the concession possible, that
they will be met more than half way.
The difficulty is an easy one to settle i'll
only the students resume their college
relations. If this is done, we have 1T
tie donbt that the faculty will act with
the needed wisdom and satisfy the re-
quirements of justice toward the ag-
grieved students and of obedience to
the regulations. Mutual concessions
may be necessary, but out of those con-
cessions we believe will grow a better
feeling, and renewed respect for the
college laws. The students will not be
likely TO put themselves In the like po-
sition sgaiu, and no harm will be done
II the fscultyhaye learned lesson like
wise.