Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-08-03
PROTEST..

University and Agricultural and Mechanical
College:
We, tho undersigned alumni and OK
cadets of tho Louisiana State Univcr-
sity and Agricultural and Mechanical
College, residing i'll and near tho city Of
Baton Rouge, where the college is now
located, bog leave to submit to tho citi-
zcns of the State Of Louisiana our SOL
cmn and respectful protest against the
hasty and ill-advised action of six men,
bcrs of the recently appointed Board Of
Supervisors in Diminishing, without q
sufficient or satisfactory cause or hear
ing, tho entire faculty, including tho
President, Col. D. F. Boyd, who has so
long, so indofatigably, SO generously
and so nobly devoted his time and en-
orgy to the well-bcing and best interest
of our Alma Mater.
We protest.
l. Because VIC have an inherent right
to do So right recognized by tho
whole civilized world, that right sacred
to the alumni of any college to guard
zcalously its well-being, and to raise
their voices in it's defense whenever it
is threatened with danger of dcstruc-
ton.
Q. Because we think the action of the
six members above mentioned prema-
turo and unprecedented, calculated to
disorganize and cripple our State Uni
vcrsity and lose to the youth of our State
the chances of home education.
We think their action premature, be-
cause these six members (scarcely more
than third of the entire board) were
entirely unacquaintcd with the organi-
cation of the school, many Of them bav-
ing no experience whatever in such
matters until their meeting i'll Baton
Rouge, and in four days could not posi-
bly, have gained sufficient information
upon which to base such radical and
extreme action as the adoption of Mr..
Walton's resolution Diminishing the whole
faculty without any specific charges
against them, placing q stigma upon
peach and every member of tho faculty,
unwarrantcd and without even being
hoard.
Sd. We think it unprecedented, be-
cause, Notwithstanding tho fact that it
was impossible for Col. Boyd, the Presi-
dent, to give his entire time and atten-
ton to the board then-it being the
commencement week, tho busiest period
in the whole Academic ycar-thc board
were relentless in requiring Of him facts
that the old board were familiar with,
and which would have taken several
days of his undivided attention to COM
pilo-thc oncrous duties of the College
at that time, making it impossible for
him to comply Immediately with their
demands; and, notwithstanding that
no asked for further time, stating the
reasons above set forth, they, the six
members, passed Mr.. Walton's resolu-
ton, without granting the request, at
the very time that thu audience were
gathering for the purpose of witnessing
tho closing exercises of the school. The
school was left at this juncture i'll q de-
plorablc predicament; the closing exer
ciscs to be conducted, certificates of
distinction and proficiency to be award
cd, and no ono authorized to conduct
them; and had it not been for the gen-
crosby of Col. Boyd, the expelled Pres
ilent, the school would have been dis
banded In the utmost confusion. In face
of all this, Col. Boyd, with that same
self-sacrifcing devotion, disregarding
the injustice that had been done him,
performed these duties without tho as
sistance or presence of a single member
of the BOard-a fact never before oc-
curing in the history of the school.
These arc facts that cannot be denied.
1t is with the deepest regret that we
record the fact that the great good done
for the school by Col, Boyd, to whom it
owes its existence to-day, and to whom
the citizens of the State and the alumni
owe debt Of gratitude which they can
never pay, has been entirely ignored by
the six members Of the Board, while the
defects of his administration, passed
upon SO risidly by them, have been
swelled into stupendous enormities. Aud
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