The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-05-29
ls SoPHoMoREs ON PROBATION
On Signing Application for Reinstate-
ment in Norwich University.

i NoItnnelu, May -J.--At meeting
the faculty of Norwich university he
Saturday, action was taken on the "a a.
plications of sophomores for reinstat
ment in college after their suspensio
earlier in the week, when the entire cla'
was either suspended or expelled becau;
OF hazing of freshmen. The faculty G
Saturday acted on Is OF the application
placing the applicants on probation unit
July l, 1917. The remaining application
We're tabled, and announcement was mad
that it is not likely they viii receiy
further consideration until sometime mex
college year.
In order to secure reinstatement an
be placed on probation, the Is sophie
mores must subscribe to blank pledgin
themselves not to participate in any forr
of hazing during the remainder of thei
college courses at Norwich and to us
their influence to prevent others from do
ing so. They must also express regre
for the hazing and consent to the reor
ganization of the class by electing nes
officers.
President Reeves of the universit,
made the following statement to-day a
regards the situation:
Il Sometime between | and 2 o'clock a
m, Wednesday, May "a. the sophomor'
class of Norwich university hazed 81,
members of the freshman class by dip
ping them into fountain, and causing
them to run the gauntlet strsppine
them with leather belts. barrel slaves
and paddles. i learned OF what had tax,
en- place at o'clock that morning, and
proceeded at once to investigate the mat.
ter. found that the so-called strapping
/ had been in two cases extremely severe
and painful, although inflicting no Sc.
rious injury. Some newspaper accounts
alleging that some of the men hazed were
required to go to the hospital were in
accurate.
''Hazing is prohibited by the rules and
regulations of Norwich university, al
though cases OF it have broken out from
time to time. but this was the first in
stance brought to my attention since
came to the university Nov. l., 1915.
After thoroughly investigating the mat
ter | decided that nothing short OF the
most rigid disciplinary measure would be
adequate. The faculty was summoned
for special session on the morning of
Thursday, May 25, and the matter was
presented to them. The faculty agreed
with my view of the situation, and
resolution was passed dismissing all
members of the sophomore class who
were on probation, and indefinitely sus.
pending the remainder of the class.
Previous to this action the sophomore
class had held a meeting at which resolu
tions were passed, pledging the members
TO stand together The faculty could in
terpret this position in no other way
than that of defiance, although most of
the members of the class were respectful
in all their relations, and with the ex.
ception OF their attitude in this matter,
as fully under the routine discipline as
cadets OF the other classes. The faculty
held that there was no question about
the justice Of a rule against hazing, and
lated it, and further, hSd decided to stand |
together in the matter, nothing short of
action against the entire
class would prove to be adequate.
"0ut of the 80 members of the class
three were dismissed and 81 indefinitely
One of the dismissed mem.
Ders has made application for reconsid-
sration of his case. At meeting of the
faculty held May 81. Is OF the appIca
ions for reinstatement were acted on,
,laeing the applicants on probation until
Iuly /, 1917. The remaining applications
we're tabled. II is not likely they will
eceive further consideration until some
ime next college year.
The Original Sophomore Position.
The copy of the statement prepared by
he sophomore class was as followsi
"We the sophomore class, adopt and
present to the president and
aculty the following statement
81. The reason for our action on the ,
light of Tuesday May %, 1916, was to
axe the freshness out of few mem
ers of the class of 1910. II was not for
ersonal grievances nor to iniure mem
ers of the aforesaid class.
I'll. We feel justified in our action on
his night, but sincerely regret if any of
he members of the 1919 class were in
ired.
"III Our attitude toward the author
les is not intended TO be defiant in any
sy.
Nv. Our action was that of class
nd as such we feel no individual or in I
ividuals who were participating in it '
,ould be punished.
"V. We feel that the recommenda-
ons for punishment so far are unfair. in
rat individuals who were in no way
ing leaders receive punishment. A
"VI If the authorities should decide
L = l. a
vely. we as a class, agree to abide by 4,
ch decision" !
The statement was signed by r. W. -
,tton, J. Loughlin, H. Herbert Cameron =
Id w B. Hedges, president. lD