Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-24

students:
"While just, we desire also to be
courteous, duly approaching the rela-
tionship which exists between US as
students and the faculty, our instruc-
tors; between us an organized body and
the Regents, our directors, and always
mindful of that respect and considera-
ton which is due from us to them, by
reason of this relationship"
The following is full text of the
rule or resolution criticised:
x x + X
/. Concerted action from any appointed
duty by class or any number OF students to-
gether will be regarded as a great violation of
order and will be followed by suspension or
dismission at the discretion of the faculty.
The presentation Of petitions or other
papers TO the Board of Regents by a stu dent
in regard to the government OF the University
or as to appointment or dismissal OF professors
or officers, and the holding of meetings by
students to critzise the government of the
University are regarded as disOrderly, and any
student who engages in such practices may be
dismissed from the University by the faculty of
the department to which he belongs.
3. The publication by any student or stu
dents of any book, pamphlet, periodical, chart
or other production bearin the name Of the
University or purporting to eminate from 1t is
forbidden unless the publication Is previously
approved by the President.
The passage of the resolutions
occasioned surprise at the time and
they were then, and have been since,
the subject of much comment.
The authority which the passage of
one clause assumes was seriously ques
toned the provisions of another were
considered arbitrary the adoption of
the rules as a whole was deemed un-
called for, and it was thought that
difficulty would be experienced in their
enforcement.
"When the publication of an Annual
was decided upon by the junior class,
some weeks ago, the Board of Regents
agreed to contribute fifty dollars tow
ard it and to allow the use of the cuts
of the new college buildings. On
being asked last week for the money
and cuts, the member of the board
approached called attention to the last
clause of the resolutions and refused
to furnish either money or cuts except
on condition that the Annual be sub
mitted to a member of the faculty for
inspection before its publication. The
class refused to accede to the demand.
They were perfectly willing to submit
the Annual to the faculty or anyone
else, as far as anything which it con-
tanned was concerned, provided it was
an act of choice and not of necessity
on their part. But they did not care
to be bound in the matter by what they
deemed an arbitrary rule, rule virtu-
ally establishing a censorship over a
free right, and against which their
sense of justice and independence led
them to revolt.
Meetings of the class were held and
the matter discussed. Several inter-
views were had with two of the
Regents, but no concessions on their
part were made, and their stern threats
to enforce the law to it's fullest extent
at one time, and their attempts to
construe it in way which might
release them from the embarrassing
position which they occupied at anoth-
er, but served to deepen the feeling of
resentment and dissatisfaction in tt q
minds of the students.
The class then decided to publish
the Annual without submitting it.
They afterwards reconsidered the mat
ter, however, and finally, following the
advice of President Bascom, passed a
vote of protest against the resolutions,
and voted to drop the Annual. TX x X
''But to return to the resolutions.
The first question which arises in con-
nection with them is, what was the
reason for their adoption ? What past
conduct of the students in the matters
to which they pertain, created the ne
eessity for their passage? As to "any
concerted action from any appointed
duty by class or any number of
students together" as far as our
knowledge goes, in recent years at
least, there is no instance of such
action. This provision, however, is
not an unusual one, and perhaps no
particular occasion was needed for its
adoption.
AS to the qualification by any stu
dent or students of any book, pamphlet,
periodical chart or other productions
bearing the name of the University, !"
we know of none such which has ever
contained objectional matter, or none
upon which any serious criticism could
be passed. We are somewhat at loss
to account for the adoption of this
clause, except as it is supplementary to
the one preceding it.
Now regarding the other clause !:
Have the students ever petitioned the
Board of Regents in regard to the
government of the University? No.
Have they ever presented petitions to
the Board of Regents pertaining to
the appointment or dismissal of pro-
fessors or officers of the University,
or held meetings for the adoption of
such resolutions? They hare, and