THE COLLEGE 125 



What, then, is the secret, what is the method of true college discip- 

 line, which avoids both these extremes, yet secures the advantages 

 at which both school and university aim? It is personal friendliness, 

 intelligent sympathy, appealing to what is best in the heart of the 

 college student. By intimate appreciation of all worthy student 

 interests, ambitions, and enthusiasm the college officer comes to 

 understand by way of contrast whatever is base, corrupt, and wanton 

 in the life of the little community, and to know by intuition the 

 men who are caught in the toils of these temptations. Any com- 

 petent college officer can give you, if not offhand, certainly after a 

 half-hour's consultation, an accurate account of the character of any 

 student in his institution; his haunts, his habits, his companions, 

 his ways of spending time and money, and all that these involve. 

 Where it seems to be needed, either some professor or the president 

 has a friendly conference with the student, bringing him face to face 

 with the facts and their natural consequences, but making no 

 threats, imposing no penalties, simply calling the student's attention 

 to principles with which he is already perfectly familiar, and offering 

 him whatever help and encouragement toward amendment friendly 

 interest and sympathy can give. Usually the whole matter is 

 strictly confidential between officer and student, though when this 

 proves inadequate the aid of students likely to have influence is 

 secured, and in extreme cases the cooperation of parents and 

 friends at home is invoked. Information that is directly or indirectly 

 acquired through this close sympathy with student life is never 

 made the basis of any formal discipline whatever. A student may 

 persist in evil ways, and be known to persist in them, and be treated 

 by the college in no other way than he would be treated in similar 

 circumstances by his father and mother at home. If he performs his 

 work and avoids scandal he may go on and graduate, precisely as 

 he might continue to live under his father's roof. If his evil courses 

 lead to failure in his work, or if they bring scandal upon the college 

 through overt acts, or obviously injurious influence, then he is asked 

 to withdraw. 



Such, in brief, is the spirit of college discipline. It fits neither the 

 immature nor the mature, but youth who are passing from imma- 

 turity into maturity. It appeals to the highest and best motives, 

 and scorns to deal with any others. It brings to bear the strongest 

 personal influences it can summon, but deigns to use no others. 

 It sometimes fails, but is usually in the long run successful. It 

 presupposes absolute sincerity, perfect frankness, endless patience, 

 infinite kindliness on the part of the college officer. It is sure to be 

 misunderstood by the general public. It takes the average student 

 about half his college course to come to an understanding of it. It 

 lays those who employ it open to the charge of all manner of partiality, 



