Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-12-05
College D!scipiine-ani the Miadlebury Re-
heliicn

The Springfield Republican copies few
words from this paper, with the remark that
'.the Middlebury College rebellion appears to
have been watched with rather sinister in
terest from Burlington" So, during the first
reports of the troubles at Middlebury, the
Republican said that the Burlington papers
were already predicting that they would be
the death of the college 1t was not the first
time that the Republican has drawn on its
imagination for its facts No Burlington pa
per, then or since, has predicted the death
of Middlebury College, or made any sugges-
ton of the kind. So far rs We are concern
ed we are not aware Of having expressed any
unfriendv interest in that institution. Most
certainly we are far from rejoicing in trou-
bles, the management of which seems to us
likely to prove serious damage 10 the gen.
eral ealse of good order and wholesome dis
cipline in the American colleges. We have
been careful to say nothing while the trou-
bles were in progress which should agra
vate them, or retard their settlement.
Now that the rebellion is over, we may be
allowed the privilege of comment on some of
its extraordinary features Perhaps we
ought TO say in advance that we have no idea
that the Middlebury students are 4 particu-
larry lawess set They are, doubtless, like
the students of other American colleges a
set Of active young men, with many good in
s.incts and purposes, but immature in judg-
ment, realizing little of the care and anxiety
which they give to those who are RESPONSE
bic for their support and education, full oil
life, apt to 90 off at half-cock, needing the
pressure Of finn and kindly authority and
quick to take advantage of any lapse
of such authority. Middlebury College,
too, is supposed to be not an institution OF
the II. NJ 5 Pinafore stamp, where
all the students are courteous and sensible
gentlemen. of fixed characters and mature
Judgment, as able to decide what is right and
iudicious for them 10 do as any body is to
decide for them, and where consequently all
orders end with, IF You please" and are
received on the understanding that the
students will obey them if they please ;
but an institution Of the usual type OF Amer
lean colleges. where parents send their boys
to be under wholesome rules; where their in-
structOrs are expected 10 exercise something
of parental authority; and where discipline
and order are to he maintained at all cost
not to crafty any love of power on the part
of their instructors or to eXalt the dignity OF
the latter; but simply for the best good of
the students and in order that the objects
| for which they 90 to college may be ac-
complished.
/ Now, then, what are the facts of tins very
remarkable college disturbance? A student,
upon the uncontradicted statement Of one of
the Middebury professors in the New York
/ World had committed a series Of misdemean-
ors, one of which was kicking football into
the chapel, and another participating IN a
cane rush in the chapel, for which dement's
were properly charged to him, till they reach
ed number which, under Il standing college
rule, known TO every student required his
suspension. The other students, class after
class, resisted the infliction Of this penalty,
and as they put it went into voluntary sus-
pension" themselves or in President Hui
/ bert's words they Withdrew from all col
lege exercises"
After two days of such open rebellion, the
| faculty (on Saturday took action. They
required the students to return TO their duties
/ on Monday morning, each to apologize for
his conduct and pledge his future obedience
/ to the rules. An who 80 apologized, return
/ ed, aud promised were to he received back
on probation, with dement's charged for all
absences. Refusing to do any and all Of
these things they were ordered 10 90 at once
! to their homes: with notice that if within n
week from that date they did not communi-
cate to the Faculty their willingness 10 sub
nit in future to all college requirements, they
would be expelled
These requirements do not seem to us I'M
reasonable. How were they received by the
/ students? They did not return to their du-
ties; they did not apologize; they did not
90 to their homes. They signed paper I'D
/ dressed TO the faculty in which they said
they did not admit they had done wrong, but
they were willing to submit to future college
requirements, on express condition, however,
that no dement's be charged against Them
and that "all' their petitions should meet
with proper attention"
They we're all actually received back, after
about hall" Ind signed IA paper in these
words II wish hereby to cXpressmy willing
ness to submit in the future 10 all college re-
quirementa" the president giving TO them
written assurance that no dement, should
stand for their absences during the rebellion,
and that the faculty left the question of
right Or wrong to each mans conscience.
We do not Sec how anything can be madc
Of this but a simple and complete surrender
on the part Of the faculty. None of their
requirements were complied with, save one,
which was in fact simple repetition Of the
pledge to obey college rules, which every
student gives when he is admitted to college
From every other demand they backed down.
On the other hand the students carried every
point. Their comrade who was suspended,
we understand to be not suspended. They
receive no punishment for their disobedience
and rebellion. They make no apology. No