New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-20
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
THE DISORDERS AT DARTMOUTH
PRESIDENT TUCKER EXPLAINS THE SITUATION
AND THE METHODS ADOPTED
BY THE FACULTY.

bf HE rf''f'ii'
To the Editor OF Tho Tribune
Sir: As considerable attention has been called
through the public prints the treatment attend
irg a somewhat peculiar case Of disorder at Dart
mouth It may be Of interest TO the public to know
IN an authorized way the course Of action pursued
and the result reached.
There had existed for long time a custom, or.
served with more less frequency. of "hornng" an
instructor when certain members OF class wished
to express their dissatisfaction with him. Hornng
usually meant noisy and insulting demonstration
against the instructor at his office or at his RESI-.
dence Sometimes it was attended with damage OF
property but not with violence to person As any
college man knows. college custom, whatever II
may be- will gather certain amount OF sentiment
about II and may he recalled with degree of lem
iency II not of appreciation, thing of the past.
But II is evident has been proved by the calm
fterthought OF the college itself that whatever may
have been the origin Of this particular custom or its
Mace in the past 1t did not belong to the college
of the future.
When the custom in question first made its appear
ance under the present administration the position
was at once taken that it should be referred to the
student body; that is. that 1t should be brought be-
fore the tribunal of college sentiment There was no
desire to avoid discipline but II was felt that such
a matter ought not TO be allowed to become mere
question of discipline, and although no judgment
was asked for in that case the principle was laid
down that the one body capable of dealing with the
custom and from the very character OF the offence.
entitled 10 deal with it. was the student body The
position then taken has been the ground OF all SUBJ
seauent action: the premise in the logic OF events
which has followed
I-n,n the recurrence of the practice, in the recent
disturbance as 1t found that the college sentl-
m,nt was not sufficiently organized TO meet ths
nmnreency il became Necessary 10 introduce the
college authority. This was done, however, not IN
the way of meie conventional discipline, pul III
wav 10 bring the whole college-presldent, laCu!ty
and students-face to face with me custom ala ~
cidents ard accessories OF the dlsturDlc, ho"cse'
e%TraVatng were held in allegiance during the m
vestipation The one issue was KEPT steduly al tts
front When a conclusion was reacfieu IL eii3"so
- afix a penalty for the offence which snouid be
significant not from it's severity ou, ioi .,V =, r
chile which II involved. The penalty OF sepdIs,
n, vas chosen TO express the single idea that any
one who under the present cohIl'IonS anu ~. eae
iSee sentiment chose to uphold IN MS own p er,son
the custom at issue, did not peIons ~ "av nj coS
,niiowsbin ~ long as he held that view anu Soii-
nitted himself to the practice me sns IN or i've
Separation imma teral proviae1 ,nr LON
u,a NOT confused with that OF ordinary SUI
"T r. no annIinaton of the penalty disclosed sese
~ intusrice among the students, owing 10 .hr La
,bat ,hev knew that some had escaPed 'illoue ,a
evasion The students then began 10 .V G 80
with faculty in mak.ns ne was preferred
that the penalty already applied be rec
as the main question at isSue M@S ,m mo- ..bornne
,ho 95rss,dent was obliged to decline the request
unless preceded by clear expression 81 IN, advisea
dsIiheration and careful study OF ire proper
method of satisfying grievances an, ~, fpatarni,iss
and finally mass meeting OF si""eh's. As q
rssuli resolutions which have READY peen pup
ished we're unanimously adopted cominittihs me
noiisea 70 the abandonment Of this custom am
providlng a proper substitute Tor H. wneN ms
nosI,on had been fairly taken, the request TOT a
change of penalty met. not by the REDUCTION
If r. but by the removal OF i; ana eacn STUDENT
Who had been separated was permitted 10 resume
his place In class upon conforming TO me no" or,
gan,zed college sentiment. College sentiment hai
now come in to take TIE place OF college authors
~ For the college authority TO perpetuate itsef
under the conditions would have been irritating
and ungenerous. ,,, - 49,,
Further details in regard 10 the disposal OF TINS
lent m say that the experience through which the
student body OF Dartmouth has passed in this
season OF self-educatiOn and self-goyernment con-
stitutes one OF the most honorable chapters in the
history of the college. desire to acknowledge the
full right and duty OF the press to discuss coege
disorders and misdemeanors Nothing Is gained
by any conceament OF wrong-do.ng But greatly
deprecate the. unnecessary and unauthorized pub
cify which has been gwen 10 the names OF those
connected with this disturbance.
WILLIAM J. TUCKER, President
Hanover " H., Feb. is. 1896