The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-02-02

system. In the interest Of fair play,
the utmost care is taken to Immediately
acauant the freshman with what is re-
quired and the penalty for dishonor. Be
fore the first examinations they are adj
dressed BY the upper classmen of the
committee. Usually a varsity football
man is among the number and few
freshmen turn a deaf ear Leaflets ex-
planatory of the system are distributed,
and the freshmen are orally told of what
is expected Of them and Of what they
may expect in case Of transgression.
It will be observed that under any sys-
tenn whereby the students guarantee the
examination, there must be on the part
Of the student body a recognized duty
Of reporting instances Of cheating which
may come before their notice. The for
lowing is taken verbatim from the leaf
let distributed to the freshmen
IT is the duty of every man. regard
less of any personal feeling which he
may have in the matter. to see that any
effense which may come under his notice
Is investigated. Ia order 10 DO Ibis, be
must consult the committee in charge
and The man who fails il this is as t4saIy
an offender against the honor system
as the man who. after pleading his word
of honor as a gentleman, deliberately
breaks it,
The Injunction contained in the fore
going is scrupulously regarded. AS one
youth put it. Even if wanted to cheat,
should be afraid to. for there are not
two but 152 pairs of eyes watching me-
Hence, practically speaking, there is no
cheating in examinations so guarded by
an awakened public opinion.
Of such is the way of Princeton
treasured beyond all other things in the
hearts of her sons. At other colleges
where they have not the system. it is
often viewed with doubts and sneers,
Having risked it not. they condemn, it.
Is it not true that '.our doubts are trait
ors and make us lose the good we oft
might win by fearing to attempt?" The
system can only be possible where there
is both solidarity and coherence of stu
dent sentiment. In other places less. iso-
lated in location, less solid in sentiment.
they may, perhaps, be not yet ready for
so great q thing--but in Princeton, shut
off in the hills; from her beginning root
ed in the traditions of her country's max
ing, with her solid pull-together senti-
ment-it has come to pass.
It has been said that the term ''honor
system is a misnomer, since the stu
dents, if not watched by instructors. are
yet watched by their fellow students. It
is true that the system does not assume
a sense Of honor that can be implicitly
trusted in every individual, and that pub
lie opinion and observation are invoked.
as in the larger world, to protect the
college community against infraetions of
college morality. 1t is the difference be-
tween going in and out among your
neighbors with your good character taken
for granted, and being shadowed by the
detective bureau on the assumption that
You are pickpocket. Further, the fac
| ulty at Princeton has found that
healthy public sentiment is not only the
best guardian of honesty in examina-
tions but the appeal to it has proved
IN the highest degree a stimulus to the
sense Of personal honor. And now as
! the sentiment has become more firmly
| rooted many a Student is allowed to
take his examinations alone-examina-
tions for single conditions or which are
made necessary by unavoidable absence
--unguarded by ought but his naked
pledge Of honor.
| 1t is also mistake to assume that it
] is fear which keeps most students honest
in this respect. In the great majority it
is more pride; pride in the trust reposed; !;
in the reputation of the student body; in
the fame of Princeton, and, briefly, it is
not open to discussion that the former
system and sentiment tended, and do tend
wherever they exist, to moral laxity,
while the new makes for moral fiber and
strength Of character.
The honor system will exist and sue
ceed at Princeton as long as the faculty
and trustees let it alone This is the
| Judgment Of the keenest observers among
the instructors. The initial proposal
came from the students, and for thirteen
years they have worked over and perfect
ed it. educating successive undergraduate
/ genera tions in it until it comprises the
most strictly observed set of laws and
customs now IN force at that institution.
! The obligation involved is viewed in its
broadcast sense. Whether a student tech
nically violates his pledge (Which, on its