UNRULY STUDENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22164, 18 January 1934, Page 11

UNRULY STUDENTS

ELEVEN SUSPENSIONS LORD MAYOR’S SHOW “RAG” COLLEGE BAN ON FIREWORKS. As a sequel to a “ rag ” in which King’s College students were concerned during and after the Lord Mayor’s Show in London, the following notice, marked “ Urgent,” was posted in the entrance hall of the college on November 28: — “In accordance with college regulation 22,'the Court of Discipline has considered the conduct of 13 students in connection with the disturbance on November 9. “ Two were found innocent of ‘ con - duct within or without the precincts ot the college derogatory to their station in society or to the welfare or character of the college.’ Eight have been sentenced to suspension for the remainder of the current term. Three have been sentenced to suspension during the remainder of the current term and, subject to confirmation by the delegacy, to further suspension during the Lent term, 1934.

“ The court further proposes to recommend to the delegacy: (1) That upon November 9, 1934, the college will be closed until 5 pan, and an additional day he added to the Lent term, 1935; (2) that henceforward the discharge of fireworks within the college precincts or in a public place shall bo punished by immediate expulsion from the college.’’ The notice was signed by W. 11. Halliday (principal) and Richard Hanson (dean). As a result of the disturbance nine of the students were arrested and charged at Bow Street with various offences. Five were bound over, two were fined, one was discharged under the Probation of Offenders Act after a week’s remand in,custody, and one was acquitted. Mr Dummett, the magistrate, then said: “I sincerely hope that the college authorities will take severe notice of what has become simply a. piece of ruffianism on the part of you lads. I say quite frankly that in my judgment the time has come when the authorities of the college should see to it that no one remains a member of that college who cannot behave himself better than you have done.” Following the petition signed by more than 1000 Oxford men and women undergraduates, the penalities imposed on those who attended the free speech meeting at Ruskin College have, been rescinded with one exception.

The order that those men whose names were taken were to be “ gated,” that is, required to be in their rooms in college or lodgings by 9 p.m. throughout this and next term, has been rescinded.

In the case of Mr Lafitte-Cynon, of Worcester College, who was sent down for the rest of the term for distributing literature, the penalty still stands.

No action has been taken by the vicechancellor with regard, to the suspension of the October Club, whose members are said to be still holding private meetings.