Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-10-22
MISUNDERSTANDING
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN CON-
FERENCE TAKES STAND.
Resolutions Prescribing Usual Forms of
Mistreatment of Lower Classmen to
Be Submitted for Ratification.

MADISON, Wis, Oct 90 Special ]
Some forty members of the student
conference committee, representing the
four classes and practically all the stu
dent organizations in the University of
Wisconsin, voted unanimously TO take
effective measures to abolish hazing, at
meeting late Tuesday night. The stu
dents, by q rising vote, placed them
selves on record as heartily endorsing the
proposals for a complete suppression of
hazlng.
These resolutions will be presented to
the entire student body at a mass meet
ing on Thursday:
There shall be no interference of any de-
scription with freshmen going to or from
any university exercises, including those OF
all student organizations.
No haZing shall be permitted on the ath-
letic field or on the university campus
There shall be no hazing on private prop.
erty, with or without the consent of the
owner or the lessee.
No student shall be interfered with in his
room
No student shall be put into the lake.
Upon the following designated upper,
Classmen rests the special duty of prevent,
ing haZing: Wearers of the w" athletic
and forensic; members of the Iron Cross:
officers of the junior and senior classes
members OF the student conference com
mittee.
While the above mentioned men are espe-
cially charged with preventing hazing, it is
agreed and understood that any student of
the university has a right and duty to
interfere and prevent any attempted hazing.
The above regulations are adopted as q
substitute for those previously adopted by
them, upon the recommendation of the
student conference committee.
The student conference committee also
voted unanimously that each delegate
should present these resolutions to the
organization which he represented with
a view to securing the ratification of the
resolutions by every student organiza-
ton. A committee of FIVE student mem
bers was appointed to present at the
next meeting ways and means of carry
ing out most effectively the action of the
conference for the suppression of hazing
THE recognition of the evils of hnz-
ing by the students themselves and their
desire to cooperate with the faculty in
bringing about its complete suppression
| consider most important advance in
the steadily growing sentiment among
students in favor of intelligent self-gov-
ernment,' said President Van Hise in
speaking of the action of the student
conference committee in abolishing haz-
ing.
university | have maintained that the
best form of control in a large university
is self-government by the students in all
matters in their own sphere. If the best
sentiment in the student body can be
developed to direct student activities
along the right lines, the members of the
university faculty can devote their entire
attention to the work which they are
chosen to do. Intelligent public opinion
can be as effective in depressing unde-
sirable activities among students as it
is in suppressing obnoxious elements in
every enlightened community.
The formative influence eXerted upon
young men and women by the experience
in governing themselves, [ consider most
important training for life after college.
If students learn to act in their own
best interests and for the best interests
of their fellow students while in the
university, [ believe they are obtaining
the best possible training for leadership
and intelligent self government, which is
the very essence of democracy.
In view of these facts I regard the
students desire to suppress such unde-
sirable activities as hazing as a most
important step toward the development
of a feeling of responsibility on the part
of students in these matters which con-
Germ the welfare of each and every
member of the university community,
as well as the whole state.'