Word: absurdity
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...inferred from the articles we have referred to. Surely we cannot assign to ourselves an amount of religion - using the word in a rather comprehensive sense - equal to that of outside communities, without casting aspersions upon our fathers and mothers, upon our uncles and aunts. It is of course absurd to suppose that any direct attempt is ever made to lead a man into wickedness, but I think we must all acknowledge that our standard of morality, or whatever else we may choose to call it, is low, and that very many of those who enter college change rapidly...
...there are those of acknowledged ability who claim that the discipline of the Classics is overrated, that it is no more adapted to the fullest development of every mind than is the discipline derived from any other single branch of study: hence they would institute the elective course. Absurd. They cannot have read Walker, who would teach the pedlers and peasants Latin and Greek; or Stuart and Jones, whose arguments will convince any man that there is more discipline in the study of the particle yap than of all the Mathematics in existence...
...Sophomore and Junior years there are certain required studies to which professors are assigned by the Faculty. To have these instructors elected by the students would, of course, be absurd, and is too illusory a hope to be cherished a moment in the undergraduate mind. Since these studies are required, it is presumably a fact that the Faculty deem them important elements in a gentleman's education. They, therefore, ought to take pains to insure to every graduate more than a mere smattering. Everybody allows that such instructors as are appointed to have charge of these studies should consult...
...disorder many times escapes notice. To be sure, when a man is detected, the authorities are not slow to award him his punishment, but thirty-two or sixty-four demerits have little effect on most men. Besides, the trifling nature of many cases renders the idea of any penalties absurd. It would be an unpleasant thing to have a public for profanity sent home, but a public for noise or ball-playing in the yard bears no odium with it. At the worst, such offences are only offences against good manners...
...fair to suppose that the undergraduate mind is naturally prone to lying. We see no reason for any such conclusion. Is it not rather absurd to assume that the year before he graduates his tendency is wholly in this direction and the year after exactly opposite? We do not believe that, if falsehood be so particularly the characteristic of the student's nature, the simple act of graduation will change him from a Baron Munchausen to a "Truthful James." Neither do we think that the possibility of mistakes belong exclusively to the undergraduate, and that the graduate is entirely exempt...