New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-17
TAGGING AT STANFORD.
English College Custom Introduced
at PaJo ditto University.


1t has been the custom here for number Of
years to have an annual rush between the fresh
men and sophomores. This rush took place in
Eucina Hall. under the supervision Of the upper
classmen. The object was to put each other IN
the tub and the class whose members suffered
least in this respect was declared the winner by
the upper cIassnen. In the last few years there
has been strong sentiment IN the faculty against
this annual rush. so this year Professor R L.
Green. head of the expulsion committee, an
nounced that If there was rush in Eucina, or
If any freshmen were "tubbed" the ringleaders
on either side particularly sophomores. would
be expelled. On account of this edict. together
with the fact that there are only about thirty
or forty freshmen in Eucina this year. because
sophomores ana upper classnen had reserved the
rooms early, there was rush and few fresh
men have been put in the tub
Consequently, the sophomores had to resort to
some novel scheme Of impressing upon the new
students that they were only freshmen. even II
they had cut a large figure in their high schools.
One Of the first opportunities was afforded when
the trunks of the sophonnores or upper classmen
arrived The baggagemen would leave trunks
on the steps of the hall. and then the sophomores
would scare up a few freshmen and compel them
to move the trunks up two or three flights ard
leave them in the owners rooms. To see
couple of freshmen tugging and pulling on a
heavy trunk to get it upstairs was a funny
sight. Especially entertaining was the spectacle
of some nice little freshman. dressed in the
latest style who had never done stroke OF
work in his life, serving as amateur baggage
man. Not only did the freshmen have to move
trunks touches, desks, etc. but they were
pressed into service to do work in decorating
rooms under the supervision Of the owners
Most of this was done for sophomores. but il
an upper classman wanted his things put into
shape all he had to do to call sophomore
or two and tell them to bring around some
freshmen.
one of the stunts which the freshmen dis
liked the most was shining shoes. Several sopho-
mores would fix up couple of chairs and get
together a few brushes. rags and tin Of shoe
polish and then a pair of likely looking fresh
men would be hunted up and put to work shin
ing shoes. As soon as the game was we'll under
way the sophomores would spread the news
around the hall that any upper classmen who
wanted a shine should come UP to room -
Soon there would be long line waiting. Some
unfortunate freshmen did this work for two
hours at a time. but usually new men would
be impressed into service every hour, and they
would work In relays. Now and then fresh
man would refuse to do this sort Of work And
then it would be up to the sophomores to devise
some means OF furnishing him. This would
usually result in coming back to the old resort
the tub. And the stubborn freshman would oe
"tubbed" some night after the lights were out
AS a result of this shoe shining stunt" some
funny incidents have come up A band Of sopho-
rores. most Of whom had not lived in the nan
in their freshman year. went into room whers
a supposed freshman lived A fellow was STUDY
ing at the table and they ordered him to stop
and prepare to shine shoes. To their surprise
he jumped up and taking a baseball bat ne
started after them and drove the gang from his
room. 1t was not long before some one put me
sophomores wise that the fellow who had
driven them out OF his room had been a senior
last year and would graduate at Christmas
Besides baggage moving and shoe shining
there have been other kinds OF work which
freshmen have been forced to do. Go TO Palo
Alto and get us some grub. freshman Is a.
order often heard and seldom dis0beyed- AIsO
minor errands around the hall and campus Ao
attended to by freshman.
This condition is due to the abolition Of the
rush and the tubing. The tub was an enecuHs
means of subduing freshmen. but the preseHIs
entering classmen seem to think they are saIs
and consequently they apt to forget thS
long standing tradition that freshmen shou!o
key down. in the language of Euclna Han
The upper classmen are not in favor or tne
tagging system, and 1t looks as II return "
the old and effective method OF a cold tE-<s
after midnight will be resorted to in the cass
Of fresh freshmen. in spite OF DR.. BrahheIS
warning at university assembly. when he ens-
phasized the fact that this Is an elective COLI
lege, and If a freshman does not elect the 'uS
II should not be thrust upon him"
The conditions at Stanford are so radicaY
different from those at oxford Cambridge
that IL wellnigh impossible to maintain
tagging. There is no mental work TO be dohs
around students rooms In the English univer-
stiles the men take their breakfast and luncheoh
I'm their rooms; they have food to procure hres
to build. cooking to be done and fuel 10 %
brought In. In the big halls at Stanford no ems
is permitted to cook: the place is heated %
steam. and all the work OF caring for the rooms
is done by young Japanese. who help 20 pay
their way by this labor. Hence, there remains
nothing for the flag 20 do after the upper class
men have become well settled in tfeir rooms.
Besides this there is an ingrained sentinen'
among American college boys against the rs
gtng system. They willing to WORK. Uus
they don't relish being set to do mental mooF
by upper cassmen. there is very little prs
pect that tagging will become feature at stan
ford or any other American college
VERY PRECISE.