Life — November 6, 1931 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Honor Students" Analysis This satirical cartoon depicts three young men wearing "P.W." armbands, seated at a desk studying papers. The illustration mocks college students, likely from a prestigious institution. The caption "The Honor Students" is ironic—the accompanying text reveals these are not academically distinguished pupils but rather troublemakers. One anecdote mentions boys "away at college" who were actually elsewhere causing mischief (blowing horns near parked cars in Norwood, N.J.). The "P.W." armbands likely reference a fraternity or college organization. The satire suggests a gap between students' reputations as "honor" pupils and their actual behavior—implying they receive academic credit while engaging in pranks and delinquency. This critiques both the students' hypocrisy and institutional oversight during what appears to be the 1920s Prohibition era.