New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-14
UNFAIR, SAY THE STUDENTS.
COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL MEN MAKE
KICK.

THEY SAY THAT SOME OF THE BEST WORKERS
ARE CONDITIONED WITHOUT REASON
good deal Of dissatisfaction has been expressed
by the students 4 Columbia College over the ia"u'e
OF a large number OF the applicants TO pass sat's-
factory examinations in the Law School IL IS
charged that these failures are largely due 10 'he
officers Of the school. and II has been suggested
that the affair should not be allowed 10 drop Win
any expression Of regret on the part OF the
students. bot that "A thorough investigation of tho
whole Law School should follow The students
who have failed to pass the examinations without
conditions evidently have the support OF their TEL
lows. who not at all hesitant about expressing
their disapproval OF the management OF the Law
School
or the forty nine members Of the graduating class
OF tho Law School eighteen have been conditioner
or allowed TO proceed with their studies subject TO
conditions not imposed upon the other students
Besides this. OF nineteen seniors In the SchooI OF
Arts who have elected courses In the Law School.
eight have been conditioned. The classmates or
these unsuccessful men are unanimous IN declaring
that the conditions imposed unfairly. ana that
the men have been treated shamefully. II Is de-
clared that these men are not poor Students bu,
among the best in their class.
BY the elective system adopted for the upper
classes in Columbia College. II is optional with
the senors &c select various studies In studying
for the degree OF Bachelor of Arts. long as they
elect enough studies TO MI out a certain number
Of hours each week. 1t has been customary for a
number OF students in each senior class 70 elect
the law school course. In the present senior class
nineteen have elected the law course for Their
last year in college bu; some OF them failed TO
pass an unconditional examination. As one OF
the indignant students expressed it. the unan'-
nous opinion Of the classmates Of the men who
have failed is that so far from being deserving
of the treatment accorded them they were among
the brightest and most conscientious men In the
class Furthermore ii seems 20 he the unanimous
opinion of every one who has any knowledge Of the
situation that The surprisingly large number o!
men reported deficient reflects on the faculty no;
on the students and certainly that IS the way
things look unprejulced observer.
An editorial in a cent ISSUE Of THE Columbia
Spectator" a periodical published by the students
OF the college. makes savage attack on the facul-
~ Of the Law School. The editorial says:
Five OF the artsmcn conditioned have never failed
in an examination before. Yet Of these hv' ore
subjects and one In orc subject How came IT,
is the question one h.ars everywhere. that the
tons which seen, e. be on everyhody's lips are
Has professor a right 20 condition men "hen Ae
has been extremely slipshoi in his own work
Has professor the right TO cut ire4yYen's ana
dent no rights which professor Is bound 10 re-
spe,t?'
This expresses the sentiment OF the majority Of
the seniors against the ction Of tn" faculty IN CON
d.tioang so many men. The editorial concludes
We invite the attention Of the trustees 10 these
questions For ourselves We have never bceh IN
rectations with the men who failed. but surrey
their classmates not all fools. There seems 20
be nothing 10 be done now. The men have. W. rear
los, their degrees and we know that We are bui *
pressing the sentiment Of the college at large "Hrh
extremely sorry for them
Seth Low presldcn; Of Columbia College. could not
be seen yesterday by Tribune reporter. lie = busy
making his arrangements 20 SAT- with hts family on
Wednesday FOR Europe. William H. II. Bcebe. the
presidents private secretary. said 10 Trbun" f"-
porter In reference this feeling the part 81 the
students There Is almost certain 70 be some *
preston OF disappointment among the students who
have failed In the examination. In fact we come 10
regard {, as n par; o. the examination. 10 ioi
be,.ev4 that the examinations were c)nluci" IN m"
least unfairly The facts probably ar thai me "a.
dents who ia not pass .avorah.e examination nag
not been studying enough FOR y IN the :"w pTcc'l
Ing months They probably were Attending % oihcr
things besides studies. 10 not lpiT"henl mar
there Will be any investigation on the part or thc
trustees in the matter for the srnpe reason that
there e nothing 80 Investigate. ]! there was any
fault % find aside from the poor examination papers.
IN. college authorities would very soon IND II on,
and probe Il 10 the bottom. The talk about the ex-
arnirers being slpshod IN their work and unfair n
.he.- cxarnlnations is al nonsense Tier" u noih.
iny in the who,c except he expression =
: disaupo,nfin-n, OF few students who ia not
propery prepare FOR their examinations.