The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-09
Co-Education In the University of
Mississippi.

EDITOR CLARION: In the Memphis
Appeal of June LIST is note written by a
correspondent at Oxford, Miss, in which
he says:
among other changes the trustees are
expected to make viii be to abolish the CO.
education system introduced here a few
wears since. For some reason 1t has always
been obnoxious to the boys. They are
opposed to it almost to a unit, and will
make every effort to have the young ladies
excluded hereafter"
Is this so? Are the young gentlemen
of the University really making every
effort to have the young ladies excluded
hereafter ?" Is the young manhood OF
Mississippi prepared for movement OF
that kind, and will these students ask the
board OF trustees to shut the doors of the
University against the young women OF
the State?
The Commencement occasion OF last
year was made conspicuous, not by the
fact that the graduating class, for the first
time in the history of the University, con-
tanned young lady members, but more es-
pecially by giving public and official
prominence to this fact. The annual
orator made an eloquent and earnest
defense of woman's right and competency
to place in the higher fields of scholastic
attainment and of intellectual work. The
young lady who had fairly won the first
place in the graduating class, presented in
her valedictory address what was thought
by many to be even still stronger yindi
cation OF both the right and ability of her
sex to share in the great opportunities and
benefits offered to students in the Univer-
sity The distinguished Chancellor was
hearty and emphatic in his commentator
of this co-education system introduced
here few years ago" He evidently en-
joyed without stint the demonstrated sue
cess of the system, and congratulated the
State on so fair promise of useful results.
Some members of the faculty, if not all,
conceded with the Chancellor, and there
was a general expression OF qualification.
Was that all wind and vapor? The hallu-
cination of dream? Did the Honorable
Board of Trustees commit a childish act
when they opened the doors of the Unlver-
sity to the young women of the State
May | say that the honorable Secretary OF
that Board, and Others, saw long before the
act was done the eminent fitness and the
real demand for such step2 One of the
members OF that board is charter member,
and has jealousy guarded the interests OF
the University from the beginning till
now; and he favored this System" by
offering, if | am rightly informed, the first
resolution on the subject that was consider
ed. Another member is an ex-Chief J US
tice of the State, close observer of the
interests and needs of our society, and a
warm supporter of this movement. Sever
al members of the board are alumni of the
University, and must therefore know from
an inside view what are the elements that
compose the case. These may differ, but
it is fair to assume that most of them
favor young lady students 1t is not fair
to believe that the action taken by such a
body of men was hasty or sentimental it
was taken for the public veal, and for that
reason it should stand. Ii the action taken
was regarded as tentative, it yet could not
be contingent on whether it would or
would not be obnoxious to the boys :" for
'the boys" do not seem to have an indefea-
sible and exclusive rig hit to the University.
Young ladies, as children of the State, have
equal claims with the boys on the service
OF the University. There is no scholastic
incongruity in putting the two sexes to-
gether In classes under proper conditions.
The school at Columbus was not
designed to take the place of the Univer-
sity in the education of young women.
Each school occupies its own important
field and has ample scope for its own
proper work and neither can do the work
of the other
I must think that "Slip" has put the
case stronger than is warranted by the
student-body, and especially by any indi-
Gated action of the board excluding young
ladies hereafter. But he has sent his an
nouncement abroad, and / as a Mississip-
plan wish to put in my caveat against the
sentiment of the ''boys" and against the
abolition of co-education in the Univer-
sity. ALUMNUs.
June 4th, 1886