The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-15
0vERWORKED
A Rest Would Be
Beneficial.
What is Thought About
President Andrews.
Developments in the Brown
University Trouble.
Growing Belief That the Penalty
Was Too Severe.
Growing Belief That the Penalty
Was Too Severe.
Professor Lamont is Relieved of all Re-
sponsibility in the Case.

Is President Andrews overworked?
There is a growing notion about town
that he is and that lie should axe a rest.
The trials and tribulations of the stud
ents on the hill have not ceased or less
ened. Last night was fraternity night at
Brown and all the fraternities discussed
the matter OF suspended students. A
petition was circulated among the differ
emit fraternities addressed to President
the penalty as being out of proportion to
the offence. The general feeling seems to
be that the petition will be of no avail, as
the President has been flooded with petit
lions. There has been some talk of an
inter-fraternitv convention TO discusswhat
steps can be aken. President ]. III. Gam
well Of the senior class is at the head of
the movement, and he states that the
meeting will not be held until the first of
X week. Any action that could be
taken today would probably be of little
avail. il was announced that President
Andrews would reply to w. $. Learned
and John ID. Rockefeller, Jr., today AT II
o'clock about the junior class petition.
IL was thought advisable to await the de-
cision on this point and several other
matters which are now pending, before
inter-fraternity action be taken.
PRESIDENT Andrews sent the following
communication TO the student body to-
day through the Brown Daily Herald:
To the Editors of the Herald:
l beg 70 say that Professor Lamont is in no
sense responsible for any of the suspensions
which have occurred. He has not so much
as suggested the suspension OF any student.
and probably did not know that any one was
TO be suspended. He has simply, with com
mendalls fidelity. obeyed the printed rules
and raufIlofinna NJ thn faonlfv ~ rnnartfp
with evidence, cases Of fraud occurring in his
department. Gentltmen have BET n suspended
pursuant to the following faculty vote (passed
On February %. ley5, before Professor Lamont
joined u.s., which singles out fraud in exam
nations ana IN compositions a.. more than
any other offense, high treason 60 college
order. The faculty recommend 70 the Dresl-
dent 'to enforce ths penalty OF permanent (sic)
separation from the university upon tudents
detected in gross dishonesty in exsmina-
tions. Also, amy student detected in pre-
Reniing ns his own nm essay or other produc-
tion of which he Is not the author shall be
treated rs If he we're dishonest in examina-
lions" Soon after, viz. when two gentle
men were in chapel publicly reprimanded for
dishonesty in examinations. this faculty ac-
ton was carefully stated aud explained. lt
was also explained why these gentlemen were
let of with a frepriiDand, namely, because
the purpose OF the faculty. 40 recently ex-
pressed. had been unknown 10 them. but III
delivering this public reprimand the president
gave explicit notice that subsequent offenders
would have to be dealt with in the tenor OF
the faculty resolution. The course thus midi
Gated has been consistently pursued since,
though the full rlgor Of the faculty rule has
not vet been reached.
The feeling OF the student tody "a to
the injustice of the matter has been very
clearly summed up and expressed by a
member OF the junior c'ass as follows:
1.-THE recent stir in college and city
circles, caused by the suspension of seven
memters of the class of 97, seems to call
for n more pronounced expression of
opinion thar Il has yet provoked. WHAT
ever u~npopuiarity the method pursued by
Professor Lamont may have created, by
requiring for a one hours course six or
eight hours preparation, by refusing to
accept papers presented in good faith five
minutes after 2 O'Clock, by attempting to
correct disorder by fiunking those who
participated in IL, although the standard
OF their work may have teen exception
ely high, this, of course, cannot excuse
dishonesty on the part of the student,
although 1t may be partly accountable
Tor il.
"But when it is inquired to what extent
these men were actually dishonest, we
find that i'm most instances, at least, they
were, at most, thoughtless and innocent of
righteousness in their trespass. Why
then 1t may reasonably be asked, should
such a blasting punishment be visited
upon them2 A punishment hat exceeds
in severity any imposed upon much more
serious and fragrant breaches of college
discipline, which have brought public
disgrace and disrepute upon the institu-
tion; a punishment which is practically a
calumny, and which Is not only likely to
prevent the mems return to Brown, but
Will put a blot upon their names through
life2 is cribbing such n rare fault at
this college that this least and most triv-
ial instance must be caught up and the
offenders SHOWN TO tie world as glazing
instances of deceit, %falsehood and treach-
cry? Never Before have such extreme
measures been adopted in like cases, and
there are instances cited where even
cheating i'm examinations has been pun
isbed by nothing more than Chunk"
notices. Such severity is wholly unprece-
denied and unjustiiiable, for published
regulations inc former instances OF dis
cipline are alike wanting in giving and,
intimatioa TO the student BODY that 90
slight an ofiense could involve so ruth
less n measure of correction.
"The indignation has already spread be-
.yond the waits Of the college aud the sup
porters OF Brown in this city are very
pertinently questioning the justice, rs well
as the policy, OF the action of her execu-
tive head.
''It seems an ill-timed and ill-judged at
tempt to exercise In its minutest letter a
~prerogative which no considerations of
policy or ultimate good can justify
Juniors" reference to the spread of
indignation throughout the city. seems TO
be justified from what IHE NEWS can