The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-07-11
LETTER FROM KNOXVILLE.
EAST TENNESSEE UNIYERSITY-
RE TON OF ITS
FACULTY.
KNoxvnLE. TENN. July 6. III

To the Editor Of the MorrisIown Gazette
Do not complain il this letter
spins out somewhat. You would
have heard from me earlier but for
the fact that / was awaiting the ac-
ton OF the Board of Trustees Of the
East Tennessee University with re
gard TO the reorganization Of this
institution, which occurred to-day
the 9th inst. or course you are IA
miliar with the fact that our last
Legislature appointed q committee
to look after this institution and to
report its actual condition. 1t pro-
ceeded at once to the discharge Of
this duty. and after thorough ex-
animation of the agricultural depart
ment, it returned to Nashville and
reported the concern "a failure"
The report was accepted by a large
majority, thus endorsing the action
Of the committee. To remedy this
failure" additional trustees, known
to be favorable to reorganization,
were appointed. consisting OF fair
minded and sensible men. For this
act on the part of the Legislature,
the Knoxville Chronicle. smarting
under its lash, became quite unami-
able, uttered some ugly language,
abused, in indecent terms. that
body and clicked up generally"
Even a portion of the old trustees,
fearing that Othello's occupation
was gone, threatened to exclude
them from all fellowship with them.
After biting their lips with enven-
omed rage for q season. they wisely
concluded that this would be a dan.
gerous step to take, though few Of
them had brass enough to risk it.
They were, therefore, d" sworn in"
and the organization was complete.
A committee, consisting OF James
Park, Jno. NJ. Fleming. A. Cald-
well, G. Deaderick, W. A. Hender-
son and w. Rule, was raised to con-
slider and report upon the present
state of the East Tennessee Univer-
sity what changes in its curriculum
and faculty. if any. should be made;
and what in general the Board OF
Trustees may do to promote its in.
terests and prosperity and secure its
more efficient usefulness. The re-
port is quite Voluminous,
out an able and exhaustive one
too long to incorporate with this
communication. L will give your
readers the salient points.
1t proceeds to recite that the last
year Of the University has not been
as successful as usual; that at the
close Of tine term only about two
thirds of the students whose names
appear in the catalogue were pres
ent. More than this. that the whole
number OF students reported for the
scholastic year is 228. OF whom 21
were dismissed and Is withdrew. 1t
asserts that the government and dis
cipline during the year. has been in-
efficient and neutrality-suspicious.
widespread dissatisfaction existed
among the students present at the
closing exercises of the year. The
report attributes this demoralixa-
ton to an inefficient organization OF
the several departments OF the insti-
tuition, and the lack of frmness and
rigor in the administration OF its
government and discipline. 1t is
proper to add that this feature OF
the report was sternly opposed by
the old regime and brought on an ex.
cited discussion. The facts could
not be denied, but there was an in
stinctive aversion to see them in
print, and, consequently, this part
Of the report was stricken out by a
bare majority. I propose to give
them to the public as the honest and
candid opinion of four out of FIVE OF
the committee, who were sworn to
do their duty. This was the "sting
in the tail" All honor is due this
committee for uncaPping a state of
things which was known TO exist in
the institution, and for having the
courage to trace it to its true cause.
The remaining features ofthe report
were adopted by a decided majority
and look to an organic change in
the curriculum and faculty. You
will remember that there we're eiQh-
teen professors and tutors. The
number are now reduced TO eight
professors and three tutors, having
abolished the principal of the Pre-
paratory Department. shall not
undertake to wade through the
changes in the curriculum. These
you will see in the city papers. No
doubt you and the people will be
pleased with them.
Some vital changes were made in
the faculty. All the CHAIRS we're va
Gated by the adoption OF the report.
and of course an electi n had to
follow. President Humes got in
again "by the skin of his tech ("
and can only boast OF q doubtful
The question is every
where asked, Twill he accept?
Will he not Eesign7" Out OF 50
votes he only received IL and claims
his position by one Vote.
There Is much / want yet to say,
but long articles are not popular
with editors. If you will allow me,
! will write more Ia the future and
FegRle your readers with some
" strange things" KNOXVILLE.