The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1880-06-08
III fiipFFsifII lai'Ig ]
NOR OWN. VI. sv
COLLEGE MORALS
BY DAVID MURRAY.

- ss3t AAcASA fAtllC1oGt4 ~ MINI
paratiyely few years very marked
change n what may be termed Goiiege.
morals. This change has l1Rpg pace with
the elevation Of the Colleges ii learning
and educational facilities. It is change
which has not attracted as much atten-
ton as the multiplication of professor
ships, and the increase Of endowments, I,
but is nevertheless not less important than
either AS the moral training Of a young
man is more important than his. intellect
ual;; as what he Is, Isl a more momentous
consideration than what he kaozvs, it fol
lows that an Improvement ii College eth
les il more to be rejoiced At than their
growth in numbers or scientific reputa-
ton.
The code Of morals in American Col
leges was derived in great measure from
the traditional system in the. great Eng
lish Classical Schools, The mutual rela.
tions which existed between teacher and
scholar in these schools were not conflden-
tial, but antagonistie The brutal prac-
tees Of tagging and hazing among Stu
dents were allowed. The higher classes
exacted humiliating attentions and meni4
al services from the lower. Similar acts
of Difference from the lower towards the
higher classes were actually enforced BY
faculty regulation in the early history Of
American Colleges The hat was to be
carried under the arm while passing a
Senior The Freshman might be called
4 upon BY bis superior to perform mental
duties. These and such as these were
usages which undermined the spirit Of
mutual helpflfness which ought to. pre-
vail among those brought together il. the
same institution. They produce the same
kind Of arrogance and cruelty on the one
hand, and Of rebellious opposition on the
other, as the system Of slavery produces
in country.
@ The spirit Of antagonfsm between facul.
ty and Students was perhaps a growth ofl
the effort to enforce these unWise regula-
@@tions Between students, and to carry out
a system Of offensive espionage with RE-
gard TO their conduct. Natural fro1ic- 1
somencss, reckless daring, unrestrained
depravity, all had their share in widening
the breach,between them It grew to, BE
asettled tradition among successive classes
that their professors were their natural en-.
emies. and each class felt that it would
lose its claim to respect If it did not carry
a on the war which had been bequeathed to
It. They felt that in this war every ex-
pedient would be honorable, and every
outrage justifable. They formed for
themselves, therefore, a code Of morals
for their lives in College, different from
that which they had practiced before com
ing, and different from what they expect
ed to conform to after they left. The
maxins Of truthfulness which they deem
ed in ordinary life binding upon them, III
College life they took the libertyof mod
flying So as to permit evasions, prevarica-
tons and receptions and when hard
pressed. ain occasional fiji. The golden
rule, which III their CHRISTIAN homes they
had been taught torevefence and square
their conduct BY, they now interpreted
not to include their professors, and hence
not to forbid concert Of tin-horns under
their windows, and the frightening and
Notifying Of their families by annoy anees3
and insults. Their principles of honesty
were so far relaxed as not to Interfere with
stealing the Presidents chickens, or with
mutilating and defacing any property
/ which happened to belong to their great
inearnate oppressor and eneny-the Col
u lege corporation.
This decentralization. had not only affect
cd the body Of the students, but had ex-+
/ tended to the communities in which the
u Colleges were located. It was not only
implicitly, but explicitly understood that
College students were not to be held to
the same rigid accountability for breaches
Of the peace as other men, Reputable.
members Of society were found ready to
apologize for and defend the offences Of
students as less reprehensible than the
same offences III others. The reckless
and criminal skyiarking Of young men ii
Colleges was treated among respectable
families as IA capital joke when the same.
misdemeanors committed by others would