Protractor Patrol

The Protractor Patrol was an upperclassmen rule enforcement procedure. Plebes are taught their left hand is to remain in their lap unless cutting or holding something with a knife. When the knife was not in use it was to be placed on the right side of the plate at a 45 degree angle with the blade facing the inside of the plate. Upperclassmen would use a protractor to measure plebes knives to make sure they were at exactly 45 degrees. Failure to properly place your knife resulted in a hazing type of punishment. Carl T. LaFong suffered by being forced to eat without utensils for a week after it was found that his knife was at 50 degrees.