The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-04-15
UNDERGRADUATES
CONTROL PRINCETON
IN MORAL GUIDANCE
BEING WATCHED BY MANY
OTHER SCHOOLS.

|
Princeton, N. J.-By A. P)-Uni-
versity faculties throughout the Unit
ed States are watching with keen in
terest the experiment put in effect at
Princeton to have the undergraduates
handle the situation with regard to
the morals of the student body. The
ruling marks the beginning Of an
epoch in student government in
American universities. The profess
sors of Old Nassau have decided the
time has come when the undergraduate
is better able to handle the question
of his morals than the discipline com
mittee of the faculty itself. Accord
ingly they have placed in the Senior
Council the power to recommend the
punishment of students for acts tend
ing to ionjure the good name or the
moral tone of the university" without
giving reasons for evidence to the
faculty.
Princeton has an efficient proctorial
system under the guidance Of Henry
Bowie, known to Printetonians in song
and story as Hank the Cop rhe
duty of the university proctor has
dated from the days before the
American revolution when all the
Princeton students lived in Nassau
hall, and, as the old records show, in
dulged in smuggling roast fowl and
beer into their rooms through the
medium of the negro slaves residing
in "Princetown." But with the intro
duction of the honor system into uni
versity life in the 'nineties, such of the
duty and Importance of the proctor
oh hu ho Mi
graduate bodies, chief of which is the !
honor committee itself Almost all |
phases of undergraduate activity |
come under this system, from cheat
ing in examinations to the use of
plants in the seats of absentees in
lecture rooms.
The Princeton Senior Council re-
Gently came to the conclusion that at
intervals acts occur on the
that need punishment, and
which escape the notice Of the proc
tor. but not of the undergraduate
The mental state Of an
is such that his con-
science does not allow him to report
his fellows to anyone even remotely
with the faculty, but he is
willing to report such proceedings to
he Senior Council with the priviso
hat it shall DO no farther. 1t was to
lea with this situation that the new
'uling at Princeton was passed.
The council, an elective body of
seniors, usually including the class
the major sport captains and
he heads of the important campus
activities, meets every Monday night
n the council chamber of Murray
Dodge hall to consider the affairs of
he university. In case charges OF a
erious nature are brought against
ny student by his fellows the pro-
eedings are in secret, and the council
it's as jury on the case. The
fender is brought into the room and
Gated at the head of the long table and
of the accusations. He has
he right of stating his case and he
lay bring in WitneSses-and while the !
efendant is at liberty to call upon
nyOne he desires in his defense, the
,stimony of the faculty or of the
roctor's force would not be admitted
gainSt him.
Witnesses for the state" are then
lestioned, and while their testimony
ay cause anguish to his friends,
ley have never been known to refuse
though the council has no means of
rcing students to appear in the wit =
ess box.
The whole proceeding is carried on !
lder the honor system, and the word
the defendant carries more weight
an circumstantial evidence. After
e testimony is completed, the coun-
goes into deliberation Points of
W do not exist and the purpose is to
ach decision in equity A three
larter vote is necessary to convic-
IN, any smaller majority amounting
acquittal. A smaller majority is
,cessary in fixing the penalty The
esident of the council then reports
the faculty that his colleagues
We recommended certain penalties
be inflicted upon the defendant, a
commentator which is accepted
thout question.
A student has the right of appeal to
9 discipline committee of the