Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-08
HAz|NC COMPLAINT
|STAKEN TO BYRD
Prince Georges School Head
Charges Sons Health Was
Ruined at v. M. |.

Speclal lhspstrh To The star.
RICHMOND. a.. February s.--Nich-
clas Orem. superintendent Of schools
for Prince Georges County. Md.
F. Byrd of the recent hazing at Virginia
Military Institute. Lexington. Va. of
his son. whose condition is still serious.
Since his withdrawal from the school
young Nicholas Orem has been confined
to his bed suffering from ulcer of the
intestine and general Ill health. which
In the signed opinion Of DR.. Guy w,
1atiner OF HyattSville. is due to the
treatment he received at V. NJ I. DR..
e. A.. Merritt of Garfield Hospital,
Washington. also examined young
Orem and found him to be suffering
with an Intestinal ulcer. The governor
will be told
DR. Latimer is reported as saying
that the student went to him December
"a las suffering from pain III the
stomach distress from eating and was
IN highly nervous state He told Of
Being severely and frequently hazed
while at Y. NJ. l. and from his knowl-
edge of young Orem's former good
health. and from his professional en-
perience of IS years. he was convinced
that ha3ing caused his condition. The
Injury. Dr.. Latimer is quoted as saying
may cost the boy his lef. He felt it
his duty to report the case
Mr.. Orem will tell the governor he
Is making his protest in the interest of
humanity. He said he had no hope
that amends could be made for the
financial wrong to himself and the
harm TO his son. which seemed irrepar-
able. but did have the very sincere hope
that the governor might take steps to
prevent other abuses of the kind.
Entered In Septmber.
Mr.. Orem says that In September
last. relying on the former reputation
Of V NJ. l. and at his own request. he
entered his son as cadet there. and
IN three months withdrew him broken
In spirit and as II has been since dis
covered. with very serious trouble. the
result in Mr.. Orenl's judgment. of be-
Ing hit in the stomach repeatedly dur
Ing numerous hazings.
Early in October Mr.. Orem says, he
visited his son after he had been in the
hospital at the institute from being
hit in the stomach by older cadets
during hazings. and found conditions so
intolerabie that he resolved then to
withdraw him the instant he intimated
wish 10 do SO. Early in November,
Mr.. Orem declared he definitely offered
cant Of cadets attempted to force him
and his roomates By intimidation and
threat Of expulsion 10 tell which hazers
had sent rat" first year studentD to
the hospital seriously injured. II is
veil known TO the officers. said Mr.
Orem that to tell results in still more
brutal treatment.
Mfr Orem SAYS his son declined to
accept his offer of withdrawal because
he did not want 70 be gutter" De-
cenber Z, last. Prof Orem went to the
institute and brought his son to his
home IN Eyattsville. where he has since
been Under the care Of DR.. Latimer.
who also expressed a desire to take
the case up With the governor 4
Incompetence to Be Charged.
Mr. Orem will tell Gov Byrd that
he realized that as a nonresident Of
Virginia Ii was none OF his business
how the Virginia Military Institute
vas run. and that he should have
Investigated its present management
before entering his son there. How
ever. he feels II his duty as a parent
's7o s.as Suffered as only parent OF
child Ia distress can suffer. and q SUI
per.ntendent Of schools with education
o. l20o0 children under his direction
70 cal the governors attention 10 the
Incompetence OF the present manage
f1ent at v NJ J.
When he was informed by the ST.
per'ntendent. " Fl. Cocfe. OF " NJ l.,
curing visit there. that If he only
knew Ailov he would break I'D the In
tolerable conditions. and the superin-
fendent suggested that he 90 to the
president OF the third class and beg
him and his classmen TO desist in their
brutality" Mr. Orem says he recog-
n!zed a, kind 81 impotence which, il
exhibited by high school principal
Under his supervision. would result In a
request for an immediate resignation.
Boys cannot run school. says Mr.
Oyem
Mr.. Orem Is satisfied that the gov
e7nor will not knowingly permit In
Virginia the intoierabIe medieval con-
ci''nns that exist at " NJ I. Supt
Coche tod him. he says. that more
b3%s had been withdrawn this school
year from v. NJ / because OF the
conditions incident To aazing than
ever before in the history Of the school
As an outgrosth OF conditions al
!. N. ]. the students recently went on
strike, which continued for several
caps following stories Of hazing. il is
po.rted out. Young Orenn was grad
csted from HyzttsVjile High School
with high <honors last June.