The San Francisco call., 1908-03-22

when practically the entire student
body OF a great university suddenly
rebels against the constituted authori-
ties of that institution and carries its
feeling 10 the extent Of seriously con-
sicering a general strike on the ground
that justice ard fairness al the hands
Of the university authorities are de-
SPARED Of the situation provides prirna
facie evidence OF a radical weakness
somewhere in the administration Of
unirersitv affairs.
Such a situation as this now con-
fronts Stanford university. and as an
alumnus OF the university who has Wis
tied the institution and carefully
studied the various phases OF the pres
ent struggle between the student body
and the faculty committee on student
affairs firmly believe that there is
deeper significance in the existing situ-
alton than the mere question OF rein
statement OF y students who have been
suspended or the outcome OF the cases
OF 2z7 others who have invited inves-
tigation at the hands OF the student
affairs committee. The evil that de-
mands remedy Is the underlying evil
which has made it possible for such
breach between faculty and students to
exist at all.
Many who have not closely followed
the incidents OF the present trouble un-
dcubtedIv believe that the only ques-
tion at issue in this controversy relates
TO the liquor evil: that the faculty Of
the university stands determined upon
one hand TO stamp out drinking. and
that on the other hand the students of
the university are openly challenging
the faculty 70 interfere with their free
dom Of indulgence at the cost OF gen.
eral exodus of students from the in
stitufion
Such is not the case. though il is true
that the present state OF affairs Is the
direct result of the attitude adopted by
the administrative officers of the fac
ulty in dealing with the liquor prob
lem
POLICY roo NARROW MINDED
Several weeks ago the death OF g stu
dent who was shot upon entering a
strange house IN an intoxicated condi-
ton caused q tremendous stir in uni
versity circles and brought the drink
ing question forcibly TO the attention
OF trustees. faculty and students alike.
At that time the administration OF
student affairs was in the hands of
faculty committee headed by Prof. ".
T. Durand and between this committee
and the student body as a whole there
existed q stronger feeling of sympathy
and more open co operation than had
ever before attached 10 the relations
between any similar committee and the
student body This was true because
the men composing the committee were
representative OF the most broad mind
ed views and because OF the open man
ner in which fhey had dealt with all
matters OF discipline brought TO their
attention.
shortly after that fatality the trus-
tees Of the university adopted a reso-
iuion calling for summary punishment
in ali cases OF drunkenness among
students, ard few days after this the
Durand committee resigned in a body
The committee had been giving its
attention 20 the drinking question. but
had been dealing with individual cases
OF fragrant nature as the exceptional.
rather than as typical or indicative OF
generally prevailing state of affairs.
No reason MAS given for the resigna-
zion OF the committee. but it Vas gem
orally understood at the time that the
action vas taken because Professor
Durand and his fellow members felt
powegless 10 deal with the situation in
an arbitrary manner. and refused to
employ such methods as, it was