In reading Thelin (2011), Wagoner (1986), and Horowitz (1987) the theme of power struggle between students and faculty or administration emerged. This struggle for power resulted due to the lack of common understanding between students and faculty on what the college experience meant. Faculty and administrators wanted students to conform to the policies established by the college administration; while students envisioned college life to be more of a social environment. This clash in vision led to riots that crossed the line of civilized protest in the 18th and 19th centuries (Horowitz, 1987). The struggle for control by both students and faculty led to establishing important milestones in higher education.
During the antebellum period,…show more content… Once in school, young students found the regiment of school work and school functions monotonous and at times over bearing. They were under the constant monitoring of their instructors or tutors; both in and out of class. In class they worked on rote work and out of class, instructors lived with the students and went with them throughout the campus (Horowitz, 1987, p.26). While Horowitz (1987) identified that boredom was not a catalyst for this power struggle, I agree with Wagoner (1986) who believed that the inability to have “free time” triggered some of the student actions. Desperately seeking this time away from schools led to students forming literary societies and fraternities to fulfill the need for enculturation. Herskovits (1948) describes enculturation as the need to assimilate one’s values to the local culture. Wagoner (1986) describes some of the unruly actions students conducted (dancing, drinking, playing cards, or shooting off pistols) on campus at UVA. The students were relating to normal past time events for that