New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-21

Princeton. X j. Feh. - CspecisDs-The most ois
s,nctlvs feature Of Princeton Univerfity - "at >
,-.-.-suv known ss the honor system When
her are Guarding their students on eNsminsuohs
with the utmost 20 prevent any al'ellp. a.
chez ting the Princeton men are workins mus
sriously their papers. each being se4i-apl
% proctor and often Il happens that there IS no
professor IN tho room FOR some time. The marked
sucoess of TIE system In the recent mioyear exam
nations when some papers secured ron 1ie
printing Office by unscrupuous men were sold 70
few freshmen or the border OF hunking. mas
brought the svstem before the public eye.
d. Az the name signifies the basis OF the scheme IS
honor and when a student is on examination he
- entirely on his honor 20 see that he resorts
20 no unfair means OF securing information. end
every student s morally bound 70 report any vio-
lntions OF this principle that NAV come under ms
notice The undergraduates hold this as a sacred
trust 20 preserve she system intact. ana IL Is
through their instrumentality that an offender
Re brought Justice
The scheme was instituted IN the early eos
/. when cheating examinations was prevalent. and
. number OF fragrant cases had caused much con-
III oerp among the student body well the fac
uity. A number OF professors talked the situation
over with some OF the prominent students. and they
decided under the prevailing conditions. II was ao-
--assab bic 20 try the honor system" which Pro-
lessor woodrow Wilson strongly advocated. he
Fad seen il successfully tried al the University OF
virginia The students. meanwhile. met and
sinoer the leadership OF James H. B-odnaz. a. oe-
.-clared openly for the Innovation
- The faculty seeing that they felt 50 strongly on
+he matter allowed Il 20 be tried but required
that every man sign the following pledge. which is
rtiu one OF the restrictions: Il pledge my honor,
ns a gentleman. that during this examination
-- have neither given received assistance
- This demonstration occurred In 1894. and many OF
- the conservatives at that time felt scepucal when
they thought OF six undergraduates taking such an
important responsibility on their shoulders But
rhts etusent court. composed OF the presidents OF
she four classes and an extra senior and junior
member has always had the backing OF the stu
dent body
- soon after its organization the system had a Sc
we're test when a student who had been found
- guilty by the committee and been duly eKpeHeo
refused 70 leave town. At the end Of three days a
crowd OF serious students marched 10 his room'
packed his trunk before his eyes. carried MIN 10
the train and put him on board with tlchet 10
his home. He has never been seen around Prince
- Ton since.
The chairman OF the tribunal now is Howard II
- Henry. Of Philadelphia, who was right end on last
. GEARS varsity eleven. When charge OF cheating
made all the facts are learned from the accuser
and his name Is kept secret while the offender Is
Immediately arraigned and faces the committee
- armed with the particulars regular eNaInina-
tlon eusues and IL the student is found guilty MS
expulsion Is az once requested from the dean The
dean takes the matter before the faculty. and the
action Of the student committee is sanctioned with
l. out oueston-often the professors not even know
ing the names OF the guilty parties.
T. One professor OF prominence. who did not wish
. said. Il believe Princeton is OF the few uni
Hersities where the honor system has worked sue
cessfully. and al proud OF IL. ] have been
places I'm tho United States where Princeton is
known better by this than by any other feature
we all have perfect confidence in the student
committee. and believe IL deserves great praise
\ for the mastery way in which 1t ferreted out
IN the cuprits IN the recent infringement OF securing
vi examination papers In advance In this case. how
ever Il Is satisfaction 10 note that the who
Welded all in their first year in college and
had not been sufficiently impressed with the grav-
ity OF the crime: and IL Is also OF significance that
the plot not a direct violation OF the pledge
which each student is compelled 10 sign after every
examination. Yet I confident they suffered the
proper punishment for their deed. inasmuch
they violated the spirit OF the law
Another professor, who In Princeton az the
time the system was organized said: 4 remember
of only one case where who had gone
through the freshman class yielded. and that
CURED ten years ago 10 senior who needed 10
pass only examination 10 secure his diploma.
He was detected and reported by a fellow student
Expulsion followed. and 20 this day he is not
garded by his classmates one OF their members
Realizing the probability that freshmen recently
come from prep" schools where it is the fashion