Louisiana State University - Gumbo Yearbook

“the battalion forms to march to meals, and stands at parade rest when the flag is lowered at retreat. The pentagon is home to hundreds of cadets, and not merely a plot of ground enclosed on four sides with the fifth side open. TRESHIES " \Vhen a student registers for the first time he is a freshie, and remains so until the following year, no matter whether he comes from New Orleans with the latest cut collar, or from Squeedunk wearing brogans: whether he makes the football team or remains in obscurity; whether he is " fly " or respectful; whether he makes an average of 95 (purely hypothetical case) or not, he cannot " belong " until the following year. New students dread the opening days of school. Later when they look back over their first year, they most vividly recall the impressions placed upon them during the last few days of the session preceding commencement. THE HONOR SYSTEM Stripped of its finer shadings, which do not admit of an explanation, the honor system is the code of student ethics which requires absolute fair play in tak- ing examinations, and truth-telling in making official reports and explaining delinquencies to the authorities. There are no rules on the subject. It is a matter of tacit understanding among the students, and for a breach of honor there is only one penalty dishonorable dismissal. To say that the honor system was inau- gurated at any particular time, might carry the implication that before that time there was an era of dishonor. Such was not the case, but the present system took definite shape under the regime of Capt. Alvin C. Read (West Point) com- mandant. THE LAW OF " NEXT " Though not in the " Blue Book " (the repository of many vexations to the flesh), there is one law compared to which the iron-bound statutes were as flexible as the rules of mumble-peg. It is the law of " next. " It obtains in the mess- hall. To illustrate: John Jones has the meat dish helping himself. Sam Brown pro- nounces the cabalistic words " Next " before Lorenza Smith. Sam Brown is enti- tled to help himself before Lorenza (if there is any left) no matter how much Lorenza wants it and even though the dish may have to pass through Lorenza Smith ' s hands to get to Sam. The latter. ”