Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-27
HAZING AT THE V. M. I.
FIRST CLASS MAKES AN INTER-
EsTING STATEMENT.

Special Dispatch to The Star
CHARLOTTESVILLE Va, September 81.
The first class at the v. M. I. is out with
statement about the hazing at that insti-
tuition which will probably be read with
widespread interest throughout the south.
the V. NJ. 1. being the West Point of that
section. The nucleus Of the statement is
that the " M. 1. is no place for youth
that has not manly qualities. Here Is the
statement:
Owing to the number of reports being cir
culated regarding the hazing at V. M. l.,
we. the first class. desire to make state
ment in regard to the actual state of af-
fairs.
No Worse Now.
In the first place the hazing is no worse
than it was in former years. and never be-
fore in our stay here has so much precau-
ton been taken to prevent the hazing OF
new cadets. No old cadets are allowed on
the stoops occupied by new cadets. nor are
the latter allowed to enter the rooms of any
upper classmen. The statement that new
men are being knocked down and injured
by the old cadets is absolutely untrue
1t Is true, however, that more men have
left this year than last year, still this does
not prove that they left on account of the
hazing as the first few days of a new ca
diets life here are very busy ones. being oc-
cupied in his being taught the rudiments Of
soldering. These young men, when they
come here are for the most part, unused to
work. many have never been away from
home before, and when they find that this
is no place for play, but for good hard
work, they ready to go back home.
Then follows the letter in which is contain
ed very pitiful story of hardships gone
through and the indgnitieS to which they
Subjected Now In these
men are unfit both mentally and physic-
ally for the work gone through with here,
and this is the kind which usually drop out
the first of the year on account of the
hazing. Again. many are not suited for
military life, and prefer a place where they
do not rise at six and retire at ten. and
where they do not have to be considered as
men.
A gentleman from Tennessee took his son
away last Saturday, and several of the
first class went to the station to see him.
We asked him why he was taking his son
from the school, and he told us because
of the hazing. We then asked his son who
had haZed him. and all about his trouble.
and in each case he did not know who had
hazed him, which, of course. weakened his
case. We then asked him If this was the
only reason why he was leaving. and he
said that in the first place he did not like
the military part of the school. Without
going any further we knew at once why
he wanted to leave, for if a person once de-
cides he does not like it It is impossible
to show or tell him ANYTHING else. This
boy was only son of .ver-fond parents,
and had never before been away from
home.
Another case somewhat similar to this.
is that of Mr. ]. T. Deal Of Norfolk. The
only difference is that Mr.. Deal was here
at the first of the year, and by the kindness
of the authorities was allowed the freedom
Of the barracks. He certainly made rapid
progress during his stay here, and from
his quotations in the newspapers it looks
like a miracle that any new cadets are left
here. 1t seems to us that If Mr.. Deal,
who was a former student of the institute,
had seen what he says he has, and had
the welfare of the institute at heart, he
would have notified the proper authorities.
so that steps might have been taken to
stop the infractionS of the rules at once.
Instead. he withdrew his sons and has add
vertised himself very well in the columns
Of the daily newspapers. We have talked
with several alumni. who We're here at the
same time Mr.. Deal and they say he
was one of the meanest and worst hazers
in his class, and was generally unpopular
No Brutal Hazing.
In conclusion we desire to state that the
reports circulated about brutal hazIig are
entirely unfounded, and had Mr.. Deal, in
stead of seeking newspaper notoriety, re-
ported the matter to the proper authorities
an investigation would have been held and
summary punishment dealt out to the ac-
cused. had they been found guilty. There
are men now in the guardhouse for haZing,
who are to be dismissed today.
OF course it is impossible to have 800
men together without having some black
sheep. and as soon possible these will
be eliminated and sent home. The senti-
ment of the corps is against haZlng, and
it is not, nor will it ever be, tolerated by
the officers of the institute, nor by the
cadets themselves.
(Signed) w. l.. RILEY.
President First Glass.
Official-Vice President r. E. Kivin.
Virginia Military Institute Lexington, Va,
September "a. 1906.
Tuesday morning. September 25.-The men
mentioned above as being confined to the
guardhouse for hazing were dismissed at
battalion parade yesterday.