Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-01
PUT IS ON PROBATION
Rcinstnted Norwich SophOmores to
Col. Reevcs's Statement.

| Mortified. May Announcement was
made to-day that at meeting of the
! faculty of Norwich University. action
had been taken on the "a applications of
sophomores for reinstatement after their
suspension. when the entire class was
either suspended or expelled because of
| the hazinE of freshmen. Eighteen of the
applicants We're placed on probation until
June |. 1917. The remaining were tabled
and will probably not receive further
ConSidera ton until some time next year
| In order to secure reinstatement and be
placed on probation, the is sophomores
must pledge themselves not to participate
IN any form of hazing during the remain
der of their college courses at Norwich
and to use their influence to prevent 9TH
ers from doing So They must also ex-
press regret for the haZing and consent
to the reorga nization of the class by elect
| ing new officers.
President Reeves OF the university made
the following statement to day as regards
tho situation:
Some time between one and two
o'clock n. m. Wednesday. May "a the
sophomore class of Norwich Univer-
sty hazed six members of the fresh
tain, and causing them to run the
gauntlet" strappinE them with leather
belts, barrel stavcs, and paddles
learned of what had taken place at
seven o'clock that morning, and pro-
ceeded at once to investigate the mat
ter. I found that the so-called strap
ping had been in two cases extremely
severe and painful. although inficting
no serious injury. Some newspaper
accounts alleging that some of the men
hazed were required to go to the hos
pital were inaccurate.
"Hazing is prohibited by the rules
and regulations OF Norwich University
although cases of II have broken out
from time to time, but this was the
first instance brought to my attention
since ! came to the university Novem-
Der !, 1915. After thoroughly inves.
tigating the matter I decided that
nothing short of the most rigid dis.
ciplinary measure would be adequate
The faculty was summoned for spe-
cial session on the morning of Thurs
day. May % and the matter was pre-
,sented TO them Tho faculty agreed
with my view of the situation. and a
, resolution was passed Diminishing al
members of the sophomore class who
were on probation, and indefnitel,
suspending tho remainder Of the class
"Previous to this action the sopho
more class had held n meeting at which
resolutions were passed, pledging tn,
members to stand together. TIL,
faculty could interpret this position II
no other way than that of defiance, al
though most of the members of tn,
, class were respectful in all their rela
, tons, and with the exception of thei
attitude in this matter as fully undo
the routine discipline as cadets of tn
other classes. The faculty held tina
4 there was no question about the ius
tice of a rule against hazing, and that
since the sophomore class had violate,
+ 1t, and further, had decided to stan,
| together in the matter, nothing shOr
OF disciplinary action against the en-
! tire class would prove to be adequate
$ "Out Of the thirty members of tn
, class three were dismissed an,
! twenty -seven indefinitely suspended
Twenty-four have made application T.
be roinstated. One Of the dismissed
, members has made application for re
consideration Of his case At n meet
= ing of the faculty held May 27. IS o
9 the applicants for reinstatement wer
, acted on. placing the applicants o
probation until July |. 1917. The re
naming applications were tabled
Is not likely they will receive furthe
=, consideration until some time next col
lege year"