When a fist-fight during an intramural game, an attempted burglary of a local lumber store by a pledge class, and a student who drank himself unconscious raised concerns this fall about the effectiveness of the Gentleman’s Rule, The Bachelor editor-in-chief Jacob Pactor ’04 asked students, faculty, and alumni for their opinions.
Some excerpts:
"Despite this semester’s unpleasant incidents (which are at many campuses an everyday occurrence rather than the cause for comment and concern), the Gentleman’s Rule is alive and well at Wabash. For proof, you need only to reflect on last week’s Chapel, when President Ford asked as many students as possible to hear some remarks he wanted to make to them."He did not speak about specific derelictions, since in a way they are not themselves the point. He talked about pietas, about the duty every member of this community has to remember that his actions reflect on the honor of our College. To me this is a noble—and perhaps unique—way of thinking about student life on campus, and one I hope we never lose."
—Professor of Classics David Kubiak
"While there are many excellent leaders in the student body, I am concerned that there is a lack of leadership in many areas that are crucial to the survival of the Gentleman’s Rule."Having these commentaries will hopefully stir discussion of the Rule, but we don’t need to define what constitutes gentlemanly behavior. There is not a single Wabash man, past or present, who does not know the definition. Mistakes will be made. There is, however, a difference between a mistake and a blatant disregard for what one knows to be either legally or morally wrong.
"We often hide behind the word ‘tradition.’ That is a lame excuse for behaviors that are totally unacceptable, dangerous, and serve to smear the reputation of the College and threaten the lives of its students."
—Dr. John Roberts ’83, Wabash College physician
"We must not look only at ourselves when we consider the Gentleman’s Rule. We must look at our community."When we ask the question, ‘Why?’ in regard to our actions, the answer must be ‘to serve my community’ and not ‘because I demand self-satisfaction.’ ‘How can I serve my community?’ ‘How can I make this place better?’"
—George Robinette ’04, Sphinx Club president
Read all the opinions at The Bachelor Online.