A Collection of College Words and Customs Part 65

The only practical connection that the Undergraduate usually has with the University, in its corporate capacity, consists in his _previous examination_, _alias_ the "Little-Go," and his final examination for a degree, with or without honors.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 10.

PREX. A cant term for President.

After examination, I went to the old _Prex_, and was admitted.

_Prex_, by the way, is the same as President.--_The Dartmouth_, Vol. IV. p. 117.

But take a peep with us, dear reader, into that _sanctum sanctorum_, that skull and bones of college mysteries, the _Prex's_ room.--_The Yale Banger_, Nov. 10, 1846.

Good old _Prex_ used to get the students together and advise them on keeping their faces clean, and blacking their boots, &c.--_Amherst Indicator_, Vol. III. p. 228.

PRINCE'S STUFF. In the English universities, the fabric of which the gowns of the undergraduates are usually made.

[Their] every-day habit differs nothing as far as the gown is concerned, it being _prince's stuff_, or other convenient material.--_Oxford Guide_, Ed. 1847, p. xv.

See COSTUME.

PRINc.i.p.aL. At Oxford, the president of a college or hall is sometimes styled the Princ.i.p.al.--_Oxf. Cal._

PRIVAT DOCENT. In German universities, a _private teacher_. "The so-called _Privat Docenten_," remarks Howitt, "are gentlemen who devote themselves to an academical career, who have taken the degree of Doctor, and through a public disputation have acquired the right to deliver lectures on subjects connected with their particular department of science. They receive no salary, but depend upon the remuneration derived from their cla.s.ses."--_Student Life of Germany_, Am. ed., p. 29.

PRIVATE. At Harvard College, one of the milder punishments is what is called _private admonition_, by which a deduction of thirty-two marks is made from the rank of the offender. So called in contradistinction to _public admonition_, when a deduction is made, and with it a letter is sent to the parent. Often abbreviated into _private_.

"Reckon on the fingers of your mind the reprimands, deductions, parietals, and _privates_ in store for you."--_Oration before H.L.

of I.O. of O.F._, 1848.

What are parietals, parts, _privates_ now, To the still calmness of that placid brow?

_Cla.s.s Poem, Harv. Coll._, 1849.

PRIVATISSIMUM, _pl._ PRIVATISSIMI. Literally, _most private_. In the German universities, an especially private lecture.

To these _Privatissimi_, as they are called, or especially private lectures, being once agreed upon, no other auditors can be admitted.--_Howitt's Student Life of Germany_, Am. ed., p. 35.

Then my _Privatissimum_--(I've been thinking on it For a long time--and in fact begun it)-- Will cost me 20 Rix-dollars more, Please send with the ducats I mentioned before.

_The Jobsiad_, in _Lit. World_, Vol. IX. p. 281.

The use of a _Privatissimum_ I can't conjecture, When one is already ten hours at lecture.

_Ibid._, Vol. IX. p. 448.

PRIZEMAN. In universities and colleges, one who takes a prize.

The Wrangler's glory in his well-earned fame, The _prizeman's_ triumph, and the plucked man's shame.

_The College_, in _Blackwood's Mag._, _May_, 1849.

PROBATION. In colleges and universities, the examination of a student as to his qualifications for a degree.

2. The time which a student pa.s.ses in college from the period of entering until he is matriculated and received as a member in full standing. In American colleges, this is usually six months, but can be prolonged at discretion.--_Coll. Laws_.

PROCEED. To take a degree. Mr. Halliwell, in his Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words, says, "This term is still used at the English universities." It is sometimes used in American colleges.

In 1605 he _proceeded_ Master of Arts, and became celebrated as a wit and a poet.--_Poems of Bishop Corbet_, p. ix.

They that expect to _proceed_ Bachelors that year, to be examined of their sufficiency,... and such that expect to _proceed_ Masters of Arts, to exhibit their synopsis of acts.

They, that are approved sufficient for their degrees, shall _proceed_.--_Quincy's Hist. Harv. Univ._, Vol. I. p. 518.

The Overseers ... recommended to the Corporation "to take effectual measures to prevent those who _proceeded_ Bachelors of Arts, from having entertainments of any kind."--_Ibid._, Vol. II.

p. 93.

When he _proceeded_ Bachelor of Arts, he was esteemed one of the most perfect scholars that had ever received the honors of this seminary.--_Holmes's Life of Ezra Stiles_, p. 14.

Masters may _proceed_ Bachelors in either of the Faculties, at the end of seven years, &c.--_Calendar Trin. Coll._, 1850, p. 10.

Of the surviving graduates, the oldest _proceeded_ Bachelor of Arts the very Commencement at which Dr. Stiles was elected to the Presidency.--_Woolsey's Discourse, Yale Coll._, Aug. 14, 1850, p.

38.

PROCTOR. Contracted from the Latin _procurator_, from _procuro_; _pro_ and _curo_.

In the University of Cambridge, Eng., two proctors are annually elected, who are peace-officers. It is their especial duty to attend to the discipline and behavior of all persons _in statu pupillari_, to search houses of ill-fame, and to take into custody women of loose and abandoned character, and even those _de malo suspectcae_. Their other duties are not so menial in their character, and are different in different universities.--_Cam.

Cal._

At Oxford, "the proctors act as university magistrates; they are appointed from each college in rotation, and remain in office two years. They nominate four pro-proctors to a.s.sist them. Their chief duty, in which they are known to undergraduates, is to preserve order, and keep the town free from improper characters. When they go out in the evening, they are usually attended by two servants, called by the gownsmen bull-dogs.... The marshal, a chief officer, is usually in attendance on one of the proctors.... It is also the proctor's duty to take care that the cap and gown are worn in the University."--_The Collegian's Guide_, Oxford, pp. 176, 177.

At Oxford, the proctors "jointly have, as has the Vice-Chancellor singly, the power of interposing their _veto_ or _non placet_, upon all questions in congregation and convocation, which puts a stop at once to all further proceedings in the matter. These are the 'censores morum' of the University, and their business is to see that the undergraduate members, when no longer under the ken of the head or tutors of their own college, behave seemly when mixing with the townsmen and restrict themselves, as far as may be, to lawful or const.i.tutional and harmless amus.e.m.e.nts. Their powers extend over a circ.u.mference of three miles round the walls of the city. The proctors are easily recognized by their full dress gown of velvet sleeves, and bands-encircled neck."--_Oxford Guide_, Ed. 1847, p. xiii.

At Oxford, "the two proctors were formerly nearly equal in importance to the Vice-Chancellor. Their powers, though diminished, are still considerable, as they administer the police of the University, appoint the Examiners, and have a joint veto on all measures brought before Convocation."--_Lit. World_, Vol. XII.

p. 223.

The cla.s.s of officers called Proctors was inst.i.tuted at Harvard College in the year 1805, their duty being "to reside constantly and preserve order within the walls," to preserve order among the students, to see that the laws of the College are enforced, "and to exercise the same inspection and authority in their particular district, and throughout College, which it is the duty of a parietal Tutor to exercise therein."--_Quincy's Hist. Harv.

Univ._, Vol. II. p. 292.

I believe this is the only college in the United States where this cla.s.s of academical police officers is established.

PROF, PROFF. Abbreviated for _Professor_.

The _Proff_ thought he knew too much to stay here, and so he went his way, and I saw him no more.--_The Dartmouth_, Vol. IV. p. 116.

For _Proffs_ and Tutors too, Who steer our big canoe, Prepare their lays.