‘Honor Be e’r Untamed* ——— , " ' 1
Investigation of West Point ‘Cribbing’
By FRANK N. MANITZAS
Battalion News Analyst
“MISSIONS of the U. S. Military Academy—
1*1 ® to instill discipline and a high sense of honor.
® to develop the powers, of analysis so that the mind
may reason to a logical conclusion.
® to instruct and train the Corps of Cadets so that
each graduate shall have the qualities and attributes essen
tial to his progressive and continued development throughout
a lifetime career as an officer in the Regular Army.”
What you just read is taken from a plaque at the United
States Military Academy at West Point, N. Y. West Point
where every year its graduates enter the United States
Army. West Point where great leaders are made. West Point
where outstanding football teams and athletics play an im
portant part in the life of every Cadet. But most important,
West Point where the words “ . . .Let duty be well performed,
HONOR be e’r untamed ...” mean more than just the
phrases from the “Alma Mater.”
This West Point today is rocked by an explosion which
no enemy could ever bring to bear and one which undoubtedly
makes Colonel Thayer, father of the Military Academy and
General George Washington, father of our country, really
wonder if each was right in being a father.
Ninety Cadets Face Dismissal
The news has spread from coast to coast and, undoubted
ly is now the talk of the Korean foxholes, that ninety Cadets
at the Academy may be dismissed for “cribbing.”
But is it “cribbing,” and is it necessarily “cribbing” on
the part of the Cadets?
As the Honor System of the Academy now stands, the
men are guilty, but the question lies in the fact as to whether
or not this old age Honor Code founded with the start of the
Point in 1802 is correct.
The Honor Code, as some senators probably do not
know, pertains not only to academic affairs but to every
thing the Cadets do. It is introduced to the Cadet when he
first arrives at the Academy and begins his life as a plebe
with two months in what is commonly called “Beast Bar
racks.”
“Duty, Honor, Coulltry’ , —Corps’ Motto
During this period, the words “Duty, Honor, Country”
—the Corps’ motto—become a reality. Honor is put forward
to the Cadet at all times as he is tested during inspections,
athletics, and even during off duty hours.
Concerning classwork, the Honor System is based on
the following: that a Cadet will not give, nor seek aid during
an examination; that he will not give nor seek information
concerning an examination he has taken, or is to take.
The latter reason is the one for which the 90 Cadets,
may receive “general” discharges from the Point. A “gene
ral” discharge is neither honorable nor dishonorable and
means that the Cadet being dismissed is eligible for the draft.
But what has happened at the Academy is not the
shocking part of the story.
The Honor Committee had done its work which covered
a period of six months before turning over the 90 Cadets to
the Army. This committee is composed of a senior from each
company and a representative from each class. The Cadet
Captain of the Corps is head of the committee. Each com
pany representative is responsible for passing on the honor
information to his respective outfit.
The shocking part of the entire affair is the attitude ex
pressed by members of the U. S. Senate.
Quoting from Senator Fulbright’s not so bright re
marks : “ . . . It’s a disgraceful situation, intercollegiate ath
letics have become so perverted that it’s a corrupting in
fluence on all the youngsters in the big universities . . . ”
In the first place Senator, West Point has very few
“youngsters” and the Point can hardly be classed a univer
sity; a university in the sense where fraternities, other or
ganizations, and individuals keep files of past quizzes and
are even given out of date quizzes by professors.
Yet, at West Point, the same quiz is given to the entire
class. Why, as an ousted Cadet has said, “put a man on his
honor then tempt him . . . There was never any cheating in
the classroom even with the instructor out of the room.”
Do you know Senator that it is considered “cribbing” if
the procedure used for a quiz (the Cadets file into a room, sit
at their desks and begin the quiz without the presence of
the instructor) is given out ?
Ousted Cadets Victims of Commercialism?
Representative Potter (R-Mich) said, “the ousted Cadets
are victims of a system of commercialism . . . they have been
instilled with a philosophy that their main effort should be
on an athletic field ...”
“Commercialism?” ... in answer to that we say, Com
mercialism was first promoted on a big scale in Washington.
It got to such a point that if we ever marry, we are going
to run for a seat in Congress to get our wives deep freezes,
fur coats, paid-for-vacations, and other small favors.
And for the latter part of your statement, we might
turn to one of the Point’s honor graduates, Gen. Douglas
MacArthur who said, “ ... on the fields of friendly strife are
sown the seeds that on other days and other fields will bear
the fruits of victory ...”
And even in “The Howitzer”, West Point’s year book,
this is said: “ . .. for training in physical efficiency and clean
sportsmanship, athletics has an importance second to no
Dther activity at the Academy . . . ”.
At this point we might bring in a remark by Senator
Young (D-Calif.), “ ... an investigation is in order ...”
Senator Young is a member of the Congressional board of
visitors which inspects the Point each year.
Another member of the board, Representative Doyle
(D-Calif.) said he thought the Army made a thorough in
vestigation but that he was considering recommending that
the House Armed Services Committee study the Academy’s
efforts to build winning football teams.
We fully approve of the investigation, but not about how
to build a football team but why the cribbing occurred at the
Point and if the punishment the Cadets receive is just.
Said Senator Byrd (D-Va.), “This is a terrible thing
... it indicates that the moral fiber of the country is deter
iorating. These young men were supposed to represent the
finest in young American manhood ...”
Captain-elect of the 1951 football team and president
elect of the senior class, Harold J. Loehlein said, “We are
not culprits, nor incompetents, and have not corrupted the
nation’s morals ... I am one of the Cadets.” This is our *
answer to Senator Byrd.
We are for the Cadets at the Point. The 90 who have
wronged, we hope, will either be allowed to stay at the Poii#"
or continue their education elsewhere. But we hope that tn|
big wrong is corrected.
More Than One Quiz Needed
If there is any cribbing, it is being done by the institu
tion which has not in the past 150 years devised a method of
forming more than one quiz on a subject to give to the
Cadets. With more than one quiz it would be easier for the
Cadets to enter a classroom and take the examination; easier
for tutors to tutor knowing that they can say “work this
problem” knowing that they are not cheating.
Battalion Editorials
Page 2 TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1951
Youths Plan Peace . . .
|N a world that is filled with external wars
and internal backstabbing, it is gratifying
to notice there are some people who are try
ing to make this a better place to live.
Young people from 63 non-communiht na
tions sought yesterday, in the friendly at
mosphere of an American college campus, to
lay plans for working together toward a
free and peaceful world.
President Truman called the young people
“the hope of the future.” Secretary of State
Dean Acheson hailed the meeting as signifi
cant “because it is addressed to the future.”
•
Hiroshima Gets
Shower of Flowers
VESTERDAY a lone U. S. bomber opened
its bomb bay doors and dropped flowers
over Hiroshima. Six years before, another
bomber had opened its bomb bay doors but
not to release flowers. That plane dropped
an atomic bomb that brought almost total
destruction to Hiroshima.
The main target of the bomb, the once
beautiful Promotion Hall, now stands like a
skeleton as birds fly in and out of the shat
tered structure. The hall was left unrepaired
as a memorial to the Japanese dead.
That memorial could easily be applied to
us here at home. With the advanced accom
plishments of aeronautics as they are, we
should never forget that we are within strik
ing distance of the Soviet Union if she de
cided to resort to an atomic war.
The people of Hiroshima need no remind
er because they felt the impact of the de
structiveness of an atomic attack. We should
take a tip from them and never forget that
it could happen to us.
This group, composed of about 500 dele
gates and observers, ranging in age from 18
to 30, will continue their meeting through
Aug. 16 at Cornell University.
The World Assembly of Youth was
founded in 1948 as a forum for exchanging
ideas and information in the cause of peace
and implementing the United Nations’ decla
ration of human rights. It is accredited to
the U. N. as a non-governmental, consulta
tive organization.
In his message to the youths, President
Truman told them “the experience you are
gaining in working together, despite bar
riers of language, customs, background, will
prepare you for responsible participation and
creative leadership in the world of the fu
ture.” This statement was read to the dele
gates by Edward J. Barrett Assistant U. S.
Secretary of State for Public Affairs.
Secretary Acheson, whose statement also
was recorded by Barrett, said that “every
opportunity in which people of different
lands can come together and consult about
their problems is important. Every such
thread is woven into the fabric of community
and common understanding.”
This meeting should be heralded from all
parts of every freedom loving nation. To see
our faults is not enough,, we must do some
thing about them.
Outside the Occident, we really know lit
tle of our contemporary peoples in other na
tions. For instance, our understanding of the
Orient is sometimes hampered by a “so-
called-knowledge” that does not correspond
with reality.
To live in complete harmony with the
Vest of the world, we must have complete
understanding of their peoples. What better
way is there than to sta^t while the people
are young so they may pass on their ideas
as they grow older.
The Battalion
Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Founder of Aggie Traditions
"Soldier, Statesman, Knightly Gentleman”
Entered as second-class matter at Post
Office at College Station, Texas, under
he Act of Congress of March 3, 1870.
Member of Represented nationally by National Ad-
. . , vertiaing Service Inc., at New York City,
The Associated Press Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all news dispatches cred
ited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous origin published herein.
Rights of republication of all other matter herein are also reserved.
News contributions may be made by telephone (4-5444) or at the editorial office, Room 201, Goodwin
Hall. Classified ads may be placed by telephone (4-5324) or at the Student Activities Office, Room 209,
Goodwin Hall.
JOEL AUSTIN : Editor
Andy Anderson Associate Editor and Sports Editor
Pat Morley Women’s Editor
William Dickens Feature Editor
Frank Davis City Editor
Allen Pengelly, B. F. Roland, Frank Davis, William Dickens
Staff News Writers
Ray Rushing. Tom Rountree, Gus Becker, Ray Holbrook
Sports News Writers
Calvin Janak Picture File Clerk
Frank Price Editorialist
Ira Vail Photographer
John Lancaster. R D. Witter, Charles McCullough. Jim Thompson
_ Photo Engravers
Owen Lee Advertising Manager
Which Is Worse?
McCarthy-Benton Launch
Name-Calling Squabble
Unless this change is brought about, it seems virtually
impossible that the type of “cribbing” now at West Point,
and a tradition at colleges and universities across America,
can be wiped out.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7—(A 5 )—
’’ Senator Benton (D-Conn) sug
gested yesterday that Senator Mc
Carthy (R-Wis) resign. Otherwise
Benton told the Senate, McCarthy
ought to be kicked out for the
good of the people and the Senate.
McCarthy came in fast from his
corner.
“Connecticut’s mental midget!”
he hurled at Benton “While Ben
ton was assistant secretary of
state, he worked hand in glove With
the crimson clique who have been
so bad for America and so good
for Communist Russia.” His reply
was in a statement handed to
newsmen.
Benton fathered a resolution ask
ing the Rules Committee especially
to study McCarthy’s part in the
1950 senatorial election in Mary
land, and his other acts since be
coming a senator with a view to. ex
pelling him from the Senate.
Senator Wherry of Nebraska,
GOP floor leader, quickly pounced
on Benton’s move, calling it “un-
Communists
Avoid Truce
Breakdown
By J. M. ROBERTS, JR.
Associated Press News Analyst
'T'HE Communists in Korea have
demonstrated again they want
to take no chances on a complete
truce negotiations breakdown.
The week-end disruption over a
technical matter, the prompt arid
firm U. S. stand and the equally
prompt Communist correction, adds
to evidence that the enemy is real
ly seeking an end to the fighting.
Whether or not the Communists
will feel able, eventually, to meet
minimum allied demands remains
to be seen. The question has boiled
down to what price they are will
ing to pay.
The Communists are trying to
avoid political losses which go
with establishment of a new divid
ing line in Korea North of the one
which existed before the North Ko
rean attempt to take over South
Korea. But they are going to have
to accede on that to get a truce.
The allies already have decided
size of the payment they are will
ing to make. It is the abandonment
of the idea of Korean unification
by military means, and acceptance
of the prospect of long-drawn ne
gotiations for an ultimate settle
ment which seems unlikely any
time soon.
The new evidence of Communist
desires for an end to the Korean
fighting, however, seems to have
no bearing on Red long range
policy. The Communists go right
ahead with their basic prepara
tions for world conquest.
A new hate campaign has been
launched among hundreds of thou
sands of Communist youth at a
“peace” congress in Berlin. Inter
nal propaganda against the United
States continues in Russia with un
abated bitterness. The trade war
in Berlin ife getting worse. Stirred
by signs of possible'settlement be
tween Iran and Britain, Russia has
begun a propaganda campaign
month.
fair” and accusing Benton of hav
ing “only political motives in
mind.”
An elections subcommittee last
Friday criticized McCarthy for his.
pact in the Maryland campaign, in
which John Marshall Butler, a Re
publican, defeated democratic in
cumbent Millard Tydings. The sub
committee deplored what it called
“a despicable ‘back street’ type of
campaign” against Tydings.
Political Foes
McCarthy and Tydings were
through-going political foes, due to
Tydings’ direction of a Senate in
vestigation of McCarthy’s charges
of Communism in government.
Tydings and others making up the
majority of the inquiry committee
found that McCarthy’s charges
were “a fraud and a hoax.” Mc
Carthy has said Tydings white
washed those he accused.
McCarthy, in his statement, said:
“Tonight Benton has established
himself as the hero of every Com
munist and crook in and out of
government.
“Benton today has performed the
important service of helping prop
erly label the administration
branch of the Democratic Party as
the party which stands for govern
ment of, by, and for Communists,
crooks, and cronies.
“Lucky for Country”
‘Lucky for this country that
Connecticut’s mental midget does
not run the Senate. Benton will
learn that the people of Connecti
cut do not like Communists and
crooks in government any more
than the people of Maryland like
them.
“The campaign in Maryland ex
posed the whitewash of the Com
munists in government.”
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