Corpun file 23591

The Evening Missourian, Columbia, Missouri, 1 October 1919, p.1

Three Engineers are Paddled

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Failure to Attend Meeting Is Reason for Punishment.

L.B. Wilkes, Noble Taylor and J.F. Calvert, students in the School of Engineering, felt the sting of paddles wielded by sophomore students in the School of Engineering at 1 o'clock this afternoon.

The paddling was administered as punishment for non-attendance at a recent meeting held by the sophomores. Wilkes objected to the punishment, claiming that he was a junior, and the sophomores had no jurisdiction over him.

This is the second paddling held by the students of the School of Engineering this term.

Corpun file 23592

The Evening Missourian, Columbia, Missouri, 4 October 1919, p.4

Campus Trespassers Paddled First in 1905

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In 1905 there existed on the West Campus of the University a hardbeaten path about two feet wide leading straight from the Manual Arts Building to the Chemistry Building passing just east of the Columns in the center of the Quadrangle.

This path had been made by students who, disregarding the wide sidewalks, thought to save time and energy by traveling the shortest distance between the two points, the Manual Arts and the Chemistry Buildings.

The students who [sic] feet traveled this beaten path, it is said, were, for the most part, freshman engineers who went from their drawing class to their freshman chemistry class.

A group of students sitting on the steps of the Engineering Building one evening even as they do now, watched the freshmen wend their weary way along the barren pathway to the Chemistry Building.

To at least one student in that group, it did not look exactly right that unthinking feet should trample down the grass of the campus when sidewalks built for the purpose of being walked on existed -- and he said something to that effect.

Tradition was Born.

The rest of the group agreed with him and then and there the old tradition that "students shall not walk on the grass on the Quadrangle was born. This, according to H.A. LaRue, associate professor of highway engineering in the University, was the very beginning of that tradition. Mr. LaRue, who was graduated from the University in 1907, was one of the students in that group.

The next day notices were posted to the effect that persons who "cut corners" or walked on the grass of the Quadrangle where sidewalks already existed would be paddled by the engineers. Violators of the decree were plentiful the first day but all who witnessed the paddling on the second day were more loath to forsake the sidewalks for the soft grass. In a week, that beaten path became deserted and little sprouts of grass began to cover up the sins of the transgressors.

Venture was successful.

Thus, the engineers by means of paddles accomplished what M.L. Lipscomb, then superintendent of the University grounds, had been unable to accomplish by means of much talk, signs and barriers.

Paddling as punishment for other "crimes", and even the tradition about underclassmen keeping off the mounds, existed before 1905, Mr. LaRue said, but this was the first time paddles had been used for walking on the grass.

Just how many students have been paddled for this offense would be hard to estimate, but the engineers have well earned their title as guardians of the West Campus.

Corpun file 23598

The Evening Missourian, Columbia, Missouri, 22 October 1919, p.2

800 Are Expected at Farmers' Party

Barmwarming Plans Announced At Big Meeting of Ag Club.

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One of the biggest social stunts in the University this year will be the annual Barnwarming Friday night, according to reports heard last night when the Ag Club met to discuss its arrangements. The Agricultural Auditorium was filled with students of the College of Agriculture and their girl friends.

[...]

Football men are to receive complimentary tickets. Regret was expressed that these men, on account of training, must leave the party early.

Twelve men who didn't show up at the Ag meeting were paddled at noon today on the Ag Campus. Those whose names were posted on the "paddling list" and did not appear to be paddled will be paddled later and thrown in the pond on the State Farm, according to the paddling committee.