New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-21
CRIBBING AT COLLEGE.
Mamy, and Ingenious IRE the Meth
DDS of Lazy Students.

'fCribSing' is a growing source of worry TO
college professors whenever the examinations
draw near Yale recently expelled one OF
her best oarsnen, who was caught employing
this method Of obtaining high marks without
study. and she may be depended on to keep UP
the good work.
There are almost as many ways OF 'crioplng
as there are ''cribbers." One of the most elaoo-
rate and widely used is known as the double
roll It consists of long narrow strip Of paper
which is rolled from both ends. fund of in
formation that may be useful in examinations
can be slowed away on this strip. The student
must know Just where each item is TO be found
and must practise manipulating it until he can
use it with one hand. Some Of the most elabo-
rate cribs Of this sort cost hours of hard labor
almost as many as would be necessary TO CRAM
on the subject and pass the examination
honestly
When examination questions be obtained
before the examination, and this happens more
often than the college professors have any idea
Of the common method is to write out paper
before entering the examination room and sub
stitute Il for that which one has been work
ing Students take great care not to have these
previously prepared papers too perfect and as a
rule they are only detected when caught in the
act Of substitution There are various ways Of
getting lists of questions before the examination.
Employees IN the college printing offices are often
dishonest and make q practice Of selling Ques.
tons. Sometimes, where the classes are large.
the examinations are held in sections. Some one
in the first section VIII toss list OF questions
out Of the window TO q waiting member Of the
second section. This happened a few years ago
at Cornell, and the papers Of an entire section
were refused by the examining officer, who or
dered another examination.
The old high school practice OF bringing text
books to the building in which the examina-
ton is being held. and hiding them in the wash
room. is also practised to some extent in the
colleges. The student gets permission TO leave
the room on one pretext another and looks
up points on which he is in doubt.
The meanest Of all "crfbbers' is the far-sTghted
individual who looks over his neighbours paper.
Students have actually been known to purchase
special glasses for examinations which would
enable them TO read papers which were being
written at some distance from them. There are
many keen students who would not think Of
cheating IN examinations themselves. but who
think nothing Of allowing some less well posted
student to look over their shoulders. OF late
years faculty effort has been directed against
this practice and there is a growing tendency to
hold the man who gives assistance in this man
ner equally guilty with the man who accepts It.
by having some one else pass his entrance exam
nations. This scheme will not work after the
student becomes known, and is dangerous as the
examiners are on the watch for just that sort Of
thing
! Princeton University has the reputation among
| college men Of being the most free from the
/ 'cribbing'' curse of any of the big institutions
! OF learning. This IS due TO the honor system
( which has developed there within the last twelve
years. In the South the University of Virginia
! is declared TO be absolutely free from cheating
! in examinations. The Princeton honor system
| is based on that so long in force in Virginia,
/ and the story of its conception and the manner
| in which # has worked out may be interesting
| In 1893 II developed that there was a strong
sentiment in favor Of the honor system of ex-
Rnnations. instead of the spy system which was
in vogue. The faculty duly petitioned to
| give the system trial and as there had
| been wholesale cheating under the old method
| the petition granted The faculty agreed TO
| let the students supervise the examination. and
! It was provided that each man sign this declara-
! ton at the end of his paper:
Il hereby pledge my honor as g gentleman that
during this examination ! have neither given nor
received assistance
A number Of students were suspected of cheat
ing, and a committee Of students investigated
Two freshmen and two sophornores We're found
guilty, and had the choice of expulsion or Of
confessing to the professor and requesting an
other examination one man accepted the lat
/ ter alternative and the others left college
After TWO years the students adopted formal
constitution. in order 10 preserve more perfect
I " the high standard Of honor recognized by the
establishment of the honor system. to regulate
the procedure and orEaIfzat ton Of an undergrad
EsIe committee II investigation and punishment
Enc to secure it, continuous and uniform ac-
tiou.' The students are put on their honor 10
report az suspicious to this committee which
TEen institutes court. gathering all 20 sible
evidence and SuT}nuulng witnesses on both
sides. If i've OF the six members Of the com
mittee decide that the man is guilty brief OF
the evidence Is forW aTded the faculty. ana
punishment recommended The defnfteness ~
tEls recommendation is one Of the bulwarks OF
Jhe system There IS no leewag for personal
prejudice and sentiment. A man is guilty or in
nocent- The punishment is suspension for one