Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-12
HAZING AT WEST POINT
Efforts Made to Suppress This Breach of the
Regulations.
The COmmandant of Cadets FavOrs
the Administration of an Oath to
Entering ClassMen.

Col. Mills. superintendent of the United
States Military Academy at West Point,
reports to the War Department regarding
the efforts made for the suppression of
''hazing:"
During the current year policy combin-
ing strict discipline with largely increased
privileges has been followed, and with
beneficial results. believe
I'm precision Of movement and general
excellence in all drills and military exer-
cises in which instruction is given, the dis
cipine Of the battalion of cadets has been
all that could be desired throughout the
year. In the higher requirements Of dis
cipline those demanding cheerful compl-
ance with the proper wishes of authority.
the usual satisfactory response Of cadets
has been wanting in the single matter of
the treatment accorded new cadets by older
cadets. In recent years a system Of inter-
ference with new cadets, or haZing, has
come into existence at the academy, which
is harmful both to the name and work Of
the academy. and in cases has been carried
to cruel and brutal extreme.
In the endeavor made to stop the prac-
tice spirit Of resistance was shown among
older cadets not creditable to proper dis
cipline. The spirit first showed itself in
two serious acts of INSTRUMENTATION, COM
mitted by members Of the first class. and
which would have included probably ma
jority of the class had not summary action
repressed it. Sixteen cadets, numbering
among them the six highest cadet officers,
were directly involved, and their conduct
emboldened the members of the third class,
the cadets who usually engage In the OBJ
noXious practice. The matter is treated at
length in the report of the commandant of
cadets, hereto appended. While strict meas
ures and severe punishment decreased and
controlled hazing, they did not completely
stop 1t. They, however, with other meas
ures under consideration, together with the
growing opposition of cadets themselves,
will, it is believed, put absolute end to
any treatment of the new cadet which will
do harm to a proper self-respect, insult
him or endanger his physical well being.
Col. Helms Report.
Lieutenant Colonel o. L. Helm, command
ant of cadets has made special report on
the same subject, in the course of which he
says:
HHzinE in Camp.
THE discipline of the corps of cadets
was strictly enforced in accordance with
the requirements of the academic regula
tons, United States Military Academy, and
standing orders, United States Corps of
Cadets blue Book, and showed marked
Improvement during the year, with the ex-
ception of a large number of breaches Oh
the regulations forbidding hazing, and one
serious act Of INSTRUMENTATION during the
summer encampment. The latter resulted
from the unwillingness of certain members
of the first class believed to have been act
ing under bad advice, who had been reSu-
larly detailed in turn according to roster
to perform the duty Of company command
er, to comply with an order having partly
for its object the more stringent enforce
ment of the regulations forbiddng hazing,
and to sign a report upon the completion
of the duty Similarly as in case of inspect
ors of subdivisions that they had per-
formed the duty of company commander IN
cOmpliance with said order,
1T may be added that stricter repressive
measures against haZing had become neces-
sary. as number OF cases OF brutal haz-
ing had been perpetrated and those out
RACES were believed to be on the Increase.
These measures consisted of a large aug
mentation of the guard and sentinels posts
in the company streets of the camp. on the
TANKS Of the latter over the sinks etc.
with strict orders to the sentnels to care
fully observe and report every case OF
harassing or annoyance of new cadets; the
placing of the tents of fourth classmen on
limits for upper classmen, and those of the
latter off limits for the former, and details
of company commanders, who were given
orders to permit annoyance of or IN
reference with new cadets or fourth class
men, and to report all attractions of these
ORDERS and to report In writing their per-
Torrance of the duties of company com
rnander. In accordance with the orders
given them.
..The tactical officers were required to
make frequent inspections of the camp, for
the special purpose Oh pledhluB up TIC
practice of hazing, and the instruction of
new cadets before mentioned, was
placed entirely in the hands of reliable in
structorS.
Remedy Proposed.
."These measures resulted in the punish
nent Of a large number of cadets, and de-
crease of hazing, but did not succeed in
stamping out the practice. In my opinion
the only effectual way to suppress this
evil is to make the punishment for those
found guilty of it summary dismissal, and
to require ell candidates for admission to
the academy to subscribe to oath that
they will abstain from the practice of any
form of hazing while at the academy.
The general improvement in discipline,
with the above mentioned exceptions, can
be traced to the policy Of intrusting a
larger share of responsibility and command
to the members of the first class while act
ing in the capacity of officers and assistant
instructors in the performance of purely
military duties; also to the wise policy in
augurated of combining stricter discipline
with greatly increased privileges and to the
revival of the wise regulation promulgated
by General Thayer, who for so many years
was the renowned superintendent of the
Military Academy and surnamed It's father
which required all excuses of cadets for
delinQuencies to be in writing, and to be
made In other manner, which regula-
ton constantly teaches cadets to be care
full and accurate in their statements, sub
serves a iuster administration, and is more
in accordance with the customs and
quirements of the service in the matter of
explanations.
The important notifications of para
graphs $50 and 3i4, regulations United
States Military Academy which make the
action OF the commandant of cadets final
on the explanations of cadets for offenses
and which fix a definite period within which
appeals for reconsideration of reports must
be made to the superintendent, have great
ly strengthened the hands of the COM
mandant-the officer Immediately RESPONSE
BILE for the discipline of the corps Of cadets
in the enforcement of discipline
1.-The requirement of the cadets of the
first class of each company to perform in
turn the duties of company commander.
the tours Of duty beginning at retreat and
ending at retreat on the following day, and
to act as inspectors of subdivisions and
commandments of tables in turn, has also
had a salutary effect upon discipline, while
serving at the same time to train the men,
bers of the first class in the exercise of
command and responsibilities.
THE unenlightened, generally obsolete,
and vicious practice of hazing has not been
suppressed, but it is believed to be on the
wane, in consequence of the more vigorous
methods which have been taken to eradi-
cate it. and it is hoped and believed that
the growing opposition Of cadets themselves
IN thie uppoaplv and unSoldier1y nra ctica