Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-18
STILL DIVIDED.
Continued from page ~

Eonored usage carries with it a certain
pardoning power of its own and that
college boys should not be punished SO
severely for mischief of this sort as for
something of their own invention. The
customs of every college are dear to the
hearts of it's graduates and under
graduates and they cling to them with
remarkable tenacity. They claim that
the only way to eradicate them is to go
about it carefully and gradually. A
great many of the rougher customs
have disappeared and at Colby there
are not so very many now in force
Few who are not college graduates can
realize the influence and power of an
old custom peculiar to any one college.
SO at the start this question of the
character and status of the old custom
comes up and is perhaps one of the
most difficult to settle. This has had
considerable influence on the present
trouble.
The boys further claim that the in
discriminate punishment of the sopho-
more class was not just nor fair. They
claim that there may be perfectly inno-
cent ones in the class who will have to
most guilty. Some claim that the
class as a whole was responsible for
whatever was done at the reading and
that those who happened to have the
more active parts were the agents of
the class. They also claim that the
suspension of the class at the close of
the year when all of the examinations
would have to be postponed until the
close of the summer vacation, was too
severe for the affair which con-
sisted chiefly in the carrying out of an
old custom.
They also claim that members of
other classes outside the sophomores
had a prominent part in the disturb
ances at the church and that they
should be punished as well as the
sophomores and they seem to have
good evidence to support this claim
They believe that if any were to be
punished for having a share in the
trouble at the church all ought to be-
regardless of the classes.
Those supporting the faculty claim
in opposition to this that President
White afforded an opportunity for the
guilty ones to declare themselves and
thoS RiNNtill Tic VI llic III
nocent ones and that as the class chose
to assume the responsibility as a whole
the punishment was inflicted on the
whole. Thus the innocent ones have
no case, as they decided to share the
guilt of the guilty ones.
That the punishment was considered
too severe by the other three classes
is shown by their action of the past
few days. 1t is not a common thing
for the other three classes to support
the sOphomores in a case of this kind,
this being perhaps the most peculiar
feature of the present difficulty. Even
the freshmen, against whom all the eff
forts of the sophomores We're directed
at the reading, supported them against
the faculty.
1t was also a great surprise to q
great many that the girls with but
very few exceptions support the boys
in their position. Almost invariably
the girls have no part in the carrying
out of the old customs and are very
rarely, if ever, disciplined for any ac-
ton of this sort. They have their own
mild customs which they carry out as
rigidly as the boys but these are not
of character that require the atten-
ton of the faculty.
Their action in this instance affords
some of the best of evidence of the
very unusual feeling aroused among the
students by the action of the faculty
regarding the sophomores. The action
| of the students all through has been
remarkably unanimous and this shows
how deeply they have been stirred,
whether justly or not
As to the severity of the punishment
| inflicted on the sophomores, those sup
porting the faculty claim that the stu
dents have no right to judge as to the
character of their punishment. 1t is
| not for them to say what shall be
done with them. but when they have
done wrong either to take their punish
ment or get out. They do not think
| either that the students are in a po-
sition to decide on the seriousness of
| their offence, whether it be in obedience
| to a custom or not.
The boys claim that they have not
been treated fairly since taking the
first step in support of the sophomores
1t seems to be generally admitted now
that they went too far in fixing any
|
in this they We're too arbitrary, while
It is claimed that in withdrawing this
they did what they could to right the
wrong they had done.
They say that so far as they car
see their petitions have been simply
ignored by the faculty. They claim
that action had been taken which they
considered unfair and that they made
n request that this be rescinded. They
believe this, barring the time limit, tt
have been their privilege and that theil
requests should have been given som,
attention and some effort made to IL
the matter up.
They claim that not only was thei
first petition ignored but also afte
they had taken back q part of 1t anC
shown a disposition to meet the facult.
half way.
But those on the other side take TIL
position that the college is in a stat
, of rebellion against the duly constitutes
= authority and as rebels" the student
have no claim on the faculty for con
sideration. The faculty, as the onl.
legal party, as it were, has taken it
position and the students as rebels