Student Life (1850s)

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Student Life (1855)

GENERAL RULES OF DISCIPLINE

As the objects of the College demand that it be not made the resort of the idle and negligent, nor of the dissolute and the lawless, its discipline is adapted to secure dismission, after a sufficient trial, of all those whose residence can be of no benefit either to themselves or to the College.

A merit-roll is therefore kept, and against the name of each student is placed a numerical mark designating the name of each College exercise; also a numerical mark of demerit from one to ten for violations of College laws. When any student has fifty marks of demerit, his parents or guardians will be informed of it; and when he shall have one hundred such marks for any one term, or one hundred and fifty for any one year, he must leave the Institution. The average of the merit-roll, including all absence from College exercises and all excuses granted, however reasonable, will be sent half quarterly to the parents or guardians of the students. In all cases where they think that too much liberty is allowed the student, they are requested frankly to communicate their views to the President.

Every student, after having signed a declaration of his deliberate intention to obey all the laws of the Institution, so long as he shall remain a member of it, and after having received a certificate of matriculation from the President, must deposit with the Registrar of the College a sum equal to one-half of all the annual College charges; and no student can be permitted to recite, until he shall have arranged for his College bills to the satisfaction of the Registrar. No abatement for absence, after admission, is made in the bill for board for less than one month, nor in any other College bill for less than one term; except in case of protracted illness.

Every student is required to make choice of his studies immediately upon the commencement of the term, to present himself at the first exercise, and punctually to attend all the exercises pertaining to his course. The advantages of an attendance upon Congress, upon the Lectures at the Smithsonian Institution, etc., are regarded as facilities to students of the College. In order that these advantages may be secured, with profit to the student, and without detriment to his proficiency in study, the recitations of the advanced Classes are brought into the early portion of the day; closing generally at one o'clock P. M., and on Saturday at eleven o'clock A. M. Any parent or guardian, who desires a special privilege for his son or ward in this respect, must signify it in writing to the Faculty.

All students are required to abstain from whatever is inconsistent with a due observance of the Sabbath, and regularly to attend, every Sabbath morning, such particular place of Divine Worship as may be chosen by themselves, or by their parents or guardians. On Sabbath night they are expected to attend religious service at the College Chapel when such service shall be appointed. But any student may for sufficient reasons be excused by the President, or by one of the Professors, to attend, either morning or night, other places of worship.

All immorality in word or deed, and all ungentlemanly conduct are, strictly forbidden. No student is allowed to attend the theatre, or any such place; or to visit any bar-room or similar establishment; or to visit any hotel but for special and adequate reasons. No student is allowed to have at his command any deadly weapon, or gunpowder; any cards or other means of gambling; or any intoxicating liquor. No camphene or burning fluid is allowed in the College building.

Any student is entitled to an honorable dismission at any time according to his actual standing, provided his College bills are fully discharged, and provided, if a minor, he has the written sanction of his parent or guardian; but this written sanction shall be left with the President. It is earnestly hoped that, whenever a student can no longer cheerfully comply with College rules, he will leave the Institution but no student who resists College law, or who endeavors to influence other members of the Institution against either the officers or the laws of the College, can be honorably dismissed.

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Author or Source: University Bulletin
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: December 21, 2006
Prepared by: Lyle Slovick, Assistant University Archivist

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