Student life in ancient Rome

Student life hasn't really changed that much since ancient times.

I must say, though, I'm glad that this imperial decree of A.D. 370 didn't apply when I was an undergraduate...

Emperors Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian Augustuses to Olybrius, Prefect of the City [of Rome].

The office of tax assessment shall carefully investigate the life of the students and their lodging places, to see that they actually do bestow their time on the studies which they assert that they are pursuing.

These same officials of tax assessment shall warn the students that they shall severally conduct themselves in their assemblies as persons should who consider it their duty to avoid a disgraceful and scandalous reputation and bad associations, all of which We consider as the next worst thing to actual criminality.

Nor shall the students attend shows too frequently nor commonly take part in unseasonable carousals.

We furthermore grant to you as prefect the authority that, if any student in the City should fail to conduct himself as the dignity of a liberal education demands, he shall be publicly flogged, immediately put on board a boat, expelled from the City and returned home.

From: Clyde Pharr (trans.), The Theodosian Code and Novels and the Sirmondian Constitutions (New York, 1952), p. 414