The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-03-30
College Life OF To-day.


A very remarkable revolution seems to be
taking place In the relations between the
faculties and students Of some Of our col.
leges. Formerly the professors, In ac-
cordance with the theory that they stood In
the place OF the parent, regarded 1t as their
right and their duty to watch over the
morals as well as instruct the intellect Of a
student. They treated their pupils as young
fellows requiring discipline aud restraint.
admonition and punishment.
Now the students are changing all that,
and. In truth, inverting those relations.
They are keeping sharp watch over the
conduct Of the faculty, and do not hesitate
to rebuke and reprimand their preceptors In
terms Of great severity and contempt when
ever they seem to them to deserve 1t.
We observe, too, that the teachers submit to
this discipline Mt the hands OF their scholars
with much meekness. They only ask to be
heard In their own defence, and to DO excul-
pated II nothing censurable Is proved against
them. 1t must be said for the boys, also,
that they do not refuse to listen to explana-
tions and apologies, and that they generously
acquit their preceptors II the charges arc
not sustained. They arc severe. but not In
exorable. judges.
Not long ago tho students OF Princeton
College. 1t will DO remembered, resolved In
mass meeting that DR.. McCosH and his 1850
clates had behaved in tho most shameful
and contemplate manner. They accused
their professors Of listening at keyholes to
| find out what tho boys were doing and talk
| ing about, OF stealing their playing cards,
| and OF sneaking around the college grounds
like spies and detectives. They said that
the faculty bribed BARRIERS and shop clerks to
assist them ut the disgraceful business, and
In many ways had so demeaned themselves
that they had forfeited tho respect Of decent
students.
But tho boys were fair enough to give the
faculty a chance to set themselves right be-
fore committee OF investigation; and when
that committee reported to another mass
meeting OF the students that tho charges had
not been sustained by sufficient evidence, q
resolution of exculpation and Of rather
grudgin9 apology was passed, after debate.
Bnt the boys put In tho resolution that there
was ground enough for the suspicious to
justify the formal inquiry Nor did they
pretend to DO altogether satisfied with tho
course Of the faculty, though they withdrew
tho words contemplate and disgraceful as
applied to their conduct.
Now information comes from Princeton
that the students think that their violent
remedies are working Improvement In tho
administration Of the college. At least for
the time the patient is calm.
The faculty OF Hamilton College are also
passing through trying period Of discipline
inflicted on them by their pupils. That col
lege, situated ut Clinton In this State is an
old and conservative institution, In which
religious influences have always been strong,
and where the theory that the college stands
in place of the parent is still undsturbed, ac-
cording to the general belief.
Tho funeral Of DR.. NoHTH. a former Presi-
dent OF the college. was to take place on Tues
day, the 18th Of February, and the students
asked that they b. released from work both
on that day and on Monday. The faculty
would let them 20 on Tuesday only. There
fore the boys rebelled, bolted their rccita-
tions, and gave themselves q holiday on
Monday. The faculty, to punish the revolt.
suspended two students OF tho senior class
and one Of the junior class as ringlenders.
After some parleying. the seniors then voted
to leave the college In body until their dis
missed mates were restored.
The faculty declared that they would re-
ceive the class back on no other terms than
those OF unconditional surrender. Finally,
about the middle OF March, tho boys did con-
sent to sign an agreement to obey tho col
lege laws, and apoloSizlng for their conduct.
Thereupon despatch signed by Prof Hop
KINs Of the college was sent to the Associated
Press. to the effect that the class had return
ed ION the original terms set forth by the
faculty" every effort which a class could
possibly make to secure changes or conccs-
sions In the original terms has been made"
said the despatch, but without effect"
Tho restored students received this with
indignation. and published statement In
which they denounced 1t as both "boastful +"
and "false" 1--WE could not and did not
accept the original terms" they declared,
and to enforce the truth OF their denial they
gave the terms as proposed aud the modified
terms as signed. 1t seems that they were
willing to apologize for Mondays bolt, but
not for leaving the college In resentment for
the suspension OF their two comrades
Moreover, they said that they were assured
by seven out Of the ten members OF the
faculty that II they returned their comrades
would be restored within week. They
went back on that understanding, but the
two suspended boys were not restored.
Accordingly, their statement announced their
purpose to bring the faculty to account be-
fore the trustees Of the college. "Iet the
faculty clear themselves II they can, of their
seeming false position" said the paper.
I'VE will make our charges openly"
1t will be seen that the Hamilton students
charged their professors with lying and
having broken their pledges. Boiling from
recitations on single day, 1t seems to us,
was small matter compared with the max
ing OF such accusations. 1t appears also
that the faculty looked upon II rs a very
serious imputation, but they did not again
| undertake to punish the boys. This
charge was one which the faculty could not
leave unnoticed," We were informed In an
Official despatch sent to the press on Thurs
day. Accordingly, the professors called
the Executive Committee Of the class" be-
Nhat, IL