PLAYING IT BY THE RULES, COLONIAL STYLE

As ARCHAEOLOGISTS unearth the trash form the past they'll discover More about the lifestyle of colonial undergraduate. And very old Harvard rules and regulations give some additional clues.

1642

The following tidbits come from the "Laws Liberties and orders of Harvard College," approved by the President and Fellows from 1642 to 1646. They are listed in the College Books, the records of the Harvard Corporation from 1636 to 1750.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

"When any Schollar is able to Read Tully or such like classical Latin Author ex tempore, & make and speak true Latin in verse and prose suo (up aiunt) Marte, and decline perfectly the paradigmes of Nounes and verbes in ye Greeke tongue, then may hee be admitted into Ye College, nor shall any claime admission before such qualifications.

SPEECH CODES

"They shall bee slow to speak, & eschew not onely oathes, Lies, & uncertaine Rumours, but likewise all idle, foolish, bitter scoffing, frothy wanton words & offensive gestures."

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS

"None shall pragmatically intrude or intermeddle in other men's affaires."

1734

In 1734, the College rules were expanded. Also listed in the College Books these revised regulations went into more detail--and described methods of punishment.

CRIME DOESN'T PAY

Forget about the Ad Board. if Harvard students transgressed in the eighteenth century, they had to pay--in shillings and pence. Here's a menu of charges of student sins.

. Tardy to prayer two pence.

. Absent from prayer: four pence.

. Out past 9 p.m. two shillings.

. Careless work: ten shillings.

. Leaving town without permission: five shillings.

. Letting someone--besides a parent or guardian into--your chambers: five shillings.

. Associating with "any person of loose or ill character": five shillings.

. Swearing, cruising taking God's name in vain: five to ten shillings.

. Drunkenness: five shilling or a "publick confession."

. Playing a cards or dice ten shillings, or possible expulsion .

. Making "tumultouous Indecent Noises": five shillings.

ADAMS HOUSE, ANYONE?

"...if any Shall Presume to put on or wear Indecent Apparrell, he shall be punished According to the Nature and degree Offence, by the President or one of the Tutors; but if he wears womens Apprell, he shall be liable to publick admonition, degradation or Expulsion."