New Britain herald., 1928-01-07
FUTURE GENERALS
 FIND ROAD ROUGH
First Year Men d WSt Point
 'Skinned" and Slu9gM

The life of freshman at the United States Military academy at West Point is undoubtedly rendered hard by both the speedy pace of the official routine and the heartless- neSs of .tlre upper classmen. but to one unversed in the slang of the place the hazard to life and limb must seem appalling. For instance. when one hears that the students are frequently skinned. one is apt to wonder how many layers of epi- dermis cadet must be forced to give for his country. But it trans- ftres that the process of "skinninE" involves only the comparatively minor trouble of receiving "demos." !" And demo" it may be further ex- piained, is demerit.
 The incoming freshman meets his first tribulation as soon as he enters the gateway. He is promptly taken in hand by "a squad of ''yearlings". |. or sophomofes, and is forced to crush his hat, turn down his trousers cuffs, drop his bags, pick them up, drop them again, and so on, and finally sent flying for his room on ,he double quick. From then on he lives a hectic life of persecution, for while hazing is not officially recog- nized it is accepted by custom aa . means of training a man to obey orders and to accustom himself to discipline.
 The mildest form which the rules lake is the requirement that tho first year man must proceed only at double time when crossing the areaway within the barracks. The other "tortures" range all the way |, from the closing of certain portions of the grounds to plebes up through barking at the moon" to the genu- inc physical hazing which Usually rrecedcs recognition" They also involve the matter of breaking . rlebe in at keeping his uniform and ,oom in order. for after one experi- ,nce with a missing button or fin- ser-marked visor the plebe is not apt to run the risk of A second ,ongue-lashing.
 Recognition" is a peculiar and somewhat brutal custom to spring on a homcsick cadet. A plebe at West Point is less than nobody. His presence is not noticed by upper classmen and they pass him by without word, nod. or look. If he wishes to ask question he must first ask permission: May ask question, sir?" Woe to the plebe who breezes up to vearling and breaks out with some such question as Say. how do have to fold my blankets?" Except in the way of duty. the plebe is not noticed until he is recognized. Being "Recognized" Painful Process
 Recognition by an upper classman means that the older cadet will speak to you when you pass him and that you may consider yourself Ut case when you are with him-;in other words, the two act like huQan teings instead of soulless ramrods. At the end of the first year all piebes automatically achieve recog- milton. but before that they may re- ceive it only individually from diff torent upper classmen. The process is quite wearing. The plebe attracts the favorable attention of yearling and Is asked to make . call. He does. end a. group put him through his paces. He is forced to double time in place. to push up from the floor. ''sit on infinity" (brace in sitting po- sition with back against walD un- til he is on the verge of exhaustion. Then suddenly he is made at ease and he Is lone of the crowd" with those who happen to be in the room. With anyone else he must % through a similar process before be- ing recognized. This aloofness char acterizes even friends or brothers who might be in different classes, although in such cases recognition comes quickly.
 The honor system at West Point is absolute. and it works without the semblance of a flaw. Every ca- det is on his honor to tell the truth. and if one denies having made some slight breach in rules his word is ac- cepted as final If an officer should ask. "Nho laughed at me?" the honor system would not require the guilty man to answer. but if the question was, Did you laugh at me?" or if the officer began to ac- cuse an innocent cadet the one at fault would admit it immediately. This honor system is carried into the hazing, and frequently a yearling will shout at a plebe out of his sight. telling him to brace" (stand at attention). A while later he will ask if the plebe is doing it, and if such Is not the case the plebe in- variably answers. No" To which the barking reply is. Then do it."
 The official routine is none too casual. First call sounds at 5:55 o'clock in the morning and the ca det must be in line when reveilie sounds at 500. He then has exactly 70 minutes to complete dressing. shave himself, mcke his bed with ,neticulous care. and put his room in order and sweep it. Breakfast call sounds at 6:20. and then come classes and drills in close success sion, the only let-up coming in the late afternoon and early evening, when there is welcome interval be- fore call 10 quarters. the beginning of the study period. Taps is at 10 o'clock. and everything is quiet after that.
 Oh. To Be . West Pointer!
 Now. for the delightful little games of "skinning." ''gigging." ''slugging." and dragging" A few words of explanation and distinction are necessary.
 ''Skinnirg'' and 'gigging" arc