Judge, 1924-05-24 · page 4 of 36
Judge — May 24, 1924 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Southern Pacific Lines" Cartoon Analysis This cartoon by Edward L. Fischer satirizes college student discipline and behavior. The illustration shows a female student climbing out a window, presumably to escape dormitory restrictions—a common form of student misconduct in the early 20th century. The accompanying article, "The Undergrounding of the Undergrad," discusses the serious problem of increasing student misbehavior and academic failure in American colleges. The author argues that existing punishments (exam requirements, suspensions) are ineffective and proposes harsher measures—including potentially violent remedies like organized "student hunts"—as darkly satirical solutions to widespread student indiscipline. The cartoon's title "Southern Pacific Lines" is a pun on the railroad company, suggesting students are "traveling" via unauthorized window routes.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TB Ed Fieduan' 2 Epwakb L, Wea Fiscnek, U. of Pennsylvania '24 “Southern Pacific lines.” The Undergrounding of the Undergrad Cuz E LIFE is beset with many perils. Every year brings forth new danger- ous developments in our institutions of higher learning, This is a regrettable fact, and it is with a feeling of sadness that I am forced to call attention to a new peril—that of the prolixity of the student. ‘The facts are, however, alarming. ‘The truth is that in the last five years the total number of college students in the United States has increased from 1,159,440 to 478, more or less. ‘This is a terrify- number. The most determined efforts of deans, professors and entrance boards have proved hopelessly ineffective in checking this rapid incre The faculty is helpless. For every student that is successfully flunked out, a dozen new appear. The situation is deplorable. Something must be done. in be relief has been ure imposing unanswerable intelligence exam- inations for entrance, by bunching exam- inations three on a day or five to the week, and by suspending students absolutely for the slightest deviation from strict Puritan behavior. While these measures are a step in the right direction, the results obtained are insignificant—a few of the weaker specimens are eliminated, but the great menace remains substan- tially unaffected. More protection is action must be taken immediately against this ever increasing peril. A few amend- ments to the University rules and regu- lations might help. A third degree with Inquisition torture facilities should be instituted in place of the customary entrance examinations. The passing mark should be 115 per cent. Students who are deficient should be 2 To sure, obtained by such me utterly some needed; drastic confined in the library, and allowed to leave only on written permission from the dean, Students who, for any reason cut a class, should be instantly dropped. Rewards or bounties should be offered out of the endowment each year to those who have brought about the expulsion of the greatest number of students. ‘This would be an effective method of stamping out the student peril, and would probably provide a lucrative source of support for some professors. ‘The downtown district, including all the hotels and cafés, could be combed every evening, and presence in any such place would be prima facie evidence against a student. orgal A regularly d student hunt might be arranged by the more sport-loving members of the faculty, and an open season for shooting the pests might be instituted. Here would be a healthy means of exercise and recreation, Such hunts certainly would have their advantages in wiping out the student nuisance, but then again, such a pack of killer professors might become unruly, and prove an annoyance to the local police, beside providing serious com- petition for legitimate murderers and cutthroats. Perhaps it would be better to assassinate students quietly, as. the Spartans used to dispose of their slaves. The adoption of these suggestions would certainly make college a safer place for the faculty, and would undoubt- edly go far toward blotting out the student evil, which is casting such a huge shadow over otherwise serene college life. —C.K. Elliott, U. of Pennsylvania. More Mon “Now Allah favors wives galore”; (Mohammed told this story) “He favors "em, and, what is more, It’s quite obligatory!” The path he chose (a rosy course) ‘To-day he'd find quite stony, If all these wives should seek divorce, And likewise Allah-mony. —Carl Bridenbaugh, Dartmouth. sae The student lay comfortably in. bed and indifferently eyed the inconsistent alarm clock. “If that damn alarm doesn’t hurry up and ring, I'll have to miss Chapel this morning,” he meditated.—J. E. Ryder, Penn State, °25. Baad A pretty good firm is Watch & Waite, And another is Attit, Early & Layte, And still another is Doo & Dairet, But the best is probably Grin & Barrett. —J. F. Bielski, Carnegie Tech, °26. comicbooks.com