Evening star., 1908-01-16
RECORD AT PRINCETON
HONOR SYSTEM HAS STOOD
TEST FOR FOURTEEN YEARS.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PRINCETON. N. j.. January 16.-An
announcement made by the student
committee on examinations under the
honor system at Princeton University dis
closes the fact that during the college
year 1SO6-7 not a single instance OF cheat
Ing during examinations was detected.
For fourteen years the honor system has
stood the test in the university, but each
year there has been one or two cases Of
unfamiliarity with the system. The re-
cent abolition of the honor system at Yale
oy a vote of the senior class leaves 1t In
operation in only two universities-the
University of Virginia and Princeton.
The president of each undergraduate
class In Princeton and two additional up
perclassmen compose the committee on
the honor system. and all its workings are
secret. The method of inculcating the
meaning and idea of the honor system is a
simple one. The members of the student
committee explain the details at a general
meeting Of the freshman class two weeks
before the inidvear examinations. the first
the freshman class takes under the honor
system.
freshman no matter what may have
been his early training, is Immediately
brought up hard and fast against stu
dent sentiment, which threatens punish
ment SO swift and condign that to be hon
est In examinations becomes second ma
ture to him. The system is this: At the
opening of an examination the professor
distributes the examination papers and
remains only a few moments to interpret
any questions and then leaves the hall
AS the student finishes the paper he signs
the pledge. Il pledge my honor as a gem
tleman that. during this examination.
have neither given nor received assist
ance.' During the examination period the
student has full liberty. In a long four
hour examination, frequently he leaves
mission from the strain. 1t is not unusual
during an examination period to see
groups of students in front of the exam
ination hall chatting or smoking for per-
haps fifteen minutes or more. But there
is not a word spoken about the examina-
ton itself. The fresh air often invigor.
,ates the mind of the student and after
this rest he can perhaps answer questions
more clearly. i
Jealous Of Student Honor.
Princeton students are intensely jealous
of student honor, and it is as much q
breach of the honor system to see cheat.
ing and fail to report 1t as to do the deco
itself. All scruples of school boy homo,
which prevents a boy from telling on his
companions are done away with when the
student considers the duty which is his
guaranteeing an examination.
But In student population of ], 400
there is liable to be occasionally one or
two cases of cheating. No dodge or eva
sion, however, succeeds with the judges
for they are students themselves. Some
times the judgment Is acquital, but as
no accusation is made unless the proofs
are clear, the verdict is usually guilty"
The findings of the committee are trans
mitted to the dean of the t,llege and
twenty-four hours 8 allowed the guilty
one to withdraw voluntarily or appeal to
the faculty. In the absence Of either,
expulsion follows as a matter of course.
Little can be expected from an appeal,
as accusations are not made wl,nout
positive proof.
No one but the committee, the witnesses
and the accused is present at the hearing
and the strictest measures are taken to
keep charges of cheating from transpfr-
ing. Almost invariably the accused
valves appeal and leaves college to "go
to work" or because of illness in the
family" and his classmates are none
the wiser. In the absence of an appeal
the dean withhoids the names even from
the faculty. In the past four years there
has been no appeal.
The increasing value Of CLASSROOM work
and recitations in Princeton University
diminishes the importance Of term exami
nations and incidentally aids in the sue
cess of the honor system5 for exceed
ingly poor term work and a perfect ex-
animation paper alone are hardly posi-.
BILE under the honor system.