Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-10-06
HAzING IS DENIED
MIDSHIPMAN A. 3. COURTS LETTER TO
SUPERINTENDENT BROWNSON.
Protests Against Reflections Cast Upon The
Honor Of The Second Glass
Forwarded To Navy
Department

Captain Willard H. Brownson, super
intendent of the Naval Academy, has
sent the Secretary of the Navy a copy OF
| the following letter, dated October I, from
Mid shipman A. b curt. president OF
the second class at the Naval Academy,
in regard to alleged hazing or running
at the Academy
IL have to call your attention to some
statements lately made in the press OF
the country that the second class at the
Naval Academy had. Notwithstanding the
agreement to the contrary, continued to
indulge in the practice of hazing, under
cover of remaining it running. Ii was
further stated that the authorities had in
vestigated very recently "a case of hazing
on the part of second classmen.
"The agreement entered into last winter
by the then third class. to put stop TO
hazing on the part of that class, has been
zealously adheredto. The term running
has been used for years at this Academy
to denote a mild form Of hazing; the
definition Of difference between them
shall not attempt. Nor is it necessary, for
in the agreement made by this class the
two terms were regarded as synonymous.
and at no time has there been shown
any desire by the class to violate the
compact in spirit or in overt act.
81 have the honor to protest against
these reflections upon the honor of the
class of 1905. This class would them
selves have put stop to any procedure
that would reflect upon their good faith.
and take this opportunity to inform you
that any statements to the effect that the
second class has violated its agreement to
stop the practice of hazing are incorrect. :"
Superintendent Brownson Endorsed the
letter as follows
"Approved and respectfully forwarded
for the consideration of the department
| am in entire sympathy with the mid
shipmen of the second class in the protest
presented in this letter. In January last,
the third class decided TO stop all 'haz-
ing and informed me that they would
not engage in it. This embraces run
ming, and interference with the junior
class in any way. The statement of the
midshipmen shows that they have kept
their faith with the agreement.
"A violation of it would no more be
tolerated by them than it would be by
the Navy Department or the superin-
tendent Of the Naval Academy. Recog-
nizing. as they do. that they. as class,
are the custodians of their own honor.
they are naturally quick to protest against
and to resent anything that reflects upon
it. have every confidence in any state
ment that they may make and know
that the class has kept faith with me.
"While do not deem it advisable as
rule to notice reports of this kind in
the public press. in this case they have
been SO widespread that the injury to the
good name OF the Academy will be so
great il the reports are allowed to 60
unchallenged that earnestly request the
department to take such steps as it may
deem proper to see that the midshipmen
are set right before the public. Occas-
ional breaches of discipline may occur at
times among them, and cause no disap-
pointment. as they are to be expected
among a large body of active. healthy
and iull-blooded young men, but l can
assure the department that nothing that
reflected on the integrity of the midship-
men would be tolerated by them.