Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-30
THE ENGLISH COULEE TEMPEST

THE ENGLISH COULEE TEMPEST
Just why college boys should perform as they do
when they undertake to initiate freshmen as we'll as
on sundry other occasions it would take a wiser person
than the editor of this paper to explain. Possibly a mar
tial explanation is to be found in the fact that the spirit
of youth persists through college life, just al, in fact, it
persists In some people until the end of their days. And
the effort to reduce to any rule of logic the behavior of a
group OF people. no matter what their years, in whom
the spirit of youth is, for the time being, given full sway.
would be as hopeless as an attempt to explain why colts
race back and forth in a pasture, apparently to no pur-
pose whatever. A .'.- u+
The spirit which governs college youths out for a
frolte has been described as the mob spirit. II a mob
Is understood to be merely a crowd Of people, that char
acterization is correct. And the crowd will do collec-
lively what Its members would not do separately. A
crowd OF youths will invade a crowded theater and snake
dance up and down the aisles without any one Of them
feeling any embarrassment. whereas not one of them
could be induced to perform a similar act alone. Whether
or not it is a shameful thing to be a member of a mob
depends on the purpose for which the, "1nob" exists.
That purpose may be to perform ridiculous antics, or It
may be to hang a man.. 1t makes a difference.
The dousing Of one Of the university students in the
English coulee during the Initiation "ceerenonies" the
other night may or may not have been dignified with
more weighty attention than its importance warranted.
But it Is a fact that the incident has been distorted in a
MOST contemplate manner in the frantic efforts made
by the Grand Forks American to create a political issue.
According to statements which The Herald assumes are
correct, this student helieves-or thinks he does-in the
Nonpartisau league. He was ducked in the cou1ee.
Therefore he was ducked because he is a Lacquer. That
is the method of reasoning which has been applied in
tbs case. apd there we have the political issue all made
in a minute.
Cevnral sfndaptr ri. -.r. 80 ,.---. ..-- go
ducked in the past, but we have not run across the theory
that they were subjected to this rather heroic treatment
IN order to convert them to the doctrines of the league.
The reasons why individuals are selected for special at
tention during the hazing period In the University Of
North Dakota and other educational institutions, great
and small are as varied as are the aspects of human ma
ture One boy is hazed because he IS unpopular, as a
warning to mend his ways. Another Is given an equally
strenuous experience because he is the most popular
youth in the school, and as a sort of testimonial Of atfec-
ton One boy puts up stubborn resistance, and he is
given the limit, apparently for the purpose OF teaching
him that 1t Is useless to struggle against fate. Another,
TOO umld to take his own part, is given vigorous treat
nnent, seemingly with a view to bringing the combative
side Of his nature into proper play. So 1T goes, without
rhyme or reason. and sometimes that which was started
in pure fun is carried to extreme lengths.
Tho Herald has always regarded with strong disfayor
the more extreme forms of hazing. It has expressed it,
self without reserve on the subject many times. It does
not regard. throwing a boy into an outdoor body bf water
In late September as a good form Of college sport, But
from its own knowledge Of members Of the student body
It is certain that the spirit in which the recent ducking
episode was undertaken and carried out Is correctly
stated in the article furnished by students for publ,ca-
t1on. III
The boy who was subjected to this treatment was not
persecuted for his political beliefs any rnors than for
his religious creed, his ancestry, or the color Of his hair.
BY peculiarittes in his attitude he had attracted attention
To- himself In q way which, In the opinion of his school
mates, made him an appropriate subject for special treat
nent, and the treatment took. on a form which cannot
BE- commended Incidentally, those who have been per-
suading this boy that he Is = martyr to his political prin--
:cipies are doins him poor service. for which, some day,
he viii realize that he has no cause to thank them.
atberaas villa must be given to understand that IL
American officers need any disciplin.ns the American.
government can and win attend to It without -ssststanoe
from him
Aviator Rohifs reports that It an elevation 81 nsarly
seven naiiss he found = higher tempsrature than It !
much lower leveL Curious, but we are willing to take
Ms word Tor il. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.