The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-08-12
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE TROUBLE.
statement by one ofthe Eighteen--Did
they Deserve SuspensiOnr

From some of the reports given of the
recent troubles at the agricultural college, 1t
would be but natural for readers TO infer
that the college was falling far short OF ITS
aim; that IL was not patronized by young
men who desired TO make the most OF their
educational advantages but 10y those who
delight in dissensions and chaos. rather than
law and order, and that they become more
proficient as disorganizers as they advance III
the course, until as the time OF commence
ment draws near, they are ready TO be turned
loose on society as scientific anarchists, ratn-
er Cham scientific farmers. This Is only the
narrow view taken 10y those who are never
able TO see two sides OF question at the
same time.
The recent suspension of eighteen seniors
from the college was not without reason, nor
was the stand taken by the seniors 50 open
10 censure For a long time the professor OF
agriculture has been regarded by the students
as incompetent TO teach the study IL the
manner in which il should be presented at a
college which claims 10 be the best OF It's
kind. This belief, whether correct or other
wise. continued TO gain ground until peil-
ton was submitted TO the state board, asking
an investigation OF the matter. Several
charges were set forth in the petition. 1t was
made out in respectful manner, and was
SO considered by the board When the board
assembled at the college to investigate the
matter. it called upon the students to sub
stantiate the charges against the proIes-
sor. Among the witnesses called was MY.
Crandall of the junior class. de had never
taken agriculture with the class, but was
present in the classroom once as q visitor,
i'm the spring OF 50. 1t so happened that
there was some disturbance in the class on
that morning. and, although innocent of the
charge himself. he refused to criminate his
fellow students in an affair which did not
amount TO meanness, and was already buried
by the lapse of over a years time. 30. when
called upon to name the guilty parties he
refused. For this refusal. Mr.. Crandall was
expeled He WAS an able student. and one
who, TO the best knowledge of the students,
never did aught 10 cause trouble TO the col
lene authorities, unless this refusal to peach
on his classmates be considered as demerit
The junior class would so If Mr..
Crandall had to, and the sophomores would
follow them. Then. knowing these two
classes would inevitably leave If Mr.. Crandall
was not reinstated, the seniors drew up the
following resolutions and presented them to
the state board
To the Honorable State Board Of Agriculture: BE
PesolrsI. That We, the class Of sc, aster due
consideration, and with all respect tor your Aohqra-
BILE body, do hereby request the relnstaiemehSoI
Mr.. Geo. G. CraLdall: and belt
PesOlgaI. ThatG he is not reinstated within two
days. we shall feel II duty to cancel all class aud
commencement exercises ana turther 10 reues our
diplomas, after our final examinations.
The motives which prompted such action
were as follows: That Mr.. CrandalI had re-
ceived too severe sentence, and that, know
ing there would be a rupture in the college
by the withdrawal of the two middle classes
and that, the time being SO short before COM
mencement, they could not 90 on with exer-
cises in which they could feel no interest.
But they said cancel commencement eXer-
cises which was too broad a term and included
work that devolved upon them TO perform as
part of the course. This work was seven
orations. which should have been excepted In
the resolutions The exercises intended to
be cancelled were class-day, banquet and
music all OF which are within the power of
the class. Thus the mistake was made In
the use of the term commencement exer-
cses," bat the intention was justihable.
They limited the time to two days, as that
was the time given for the class 10 decide If
they would have the Saginaw orchestra.
This resolution. as will be readily seen,
admits of two interpretations. One, that II
sounds like a threat TO the state board The
other, that it was an honorable way of in
forming the boards at their last meeting
before commencement. not TO expect the
customary exercises. This was the intention
of the class, and when called upon to rescind
the action. they decided to let it remain. 1t is
absurd to think that those young men, who
had labored four years to reach the goal to
which they were now so near, would dare to
throw threat IN the teeth of q body whose
power over the college was supreme. The
next morning each member OF the senior
class was called before the board and asked
how he voted on the resolution. The class
consisted Of thirtytwo members; twenty 1.-TWO
were present at the meeting. and of these
twenty-five. eighteen voted 10 stand by the
resolution. These eighteen were promptly
suspended for one year. When the nature
of the sentence passed upon the seniors
became known among the students, il caused
not little indignation. meeting was held
and large majority of the assembled stud
ents signifed, by rising to their feet, that
they would stand by the seniors and share
their fate.
The eighteen exiles, however, gave their
sympathizers to understand that, although
they felt grateful for their kindly feeling,
they would not hear of such mode of pro-
cedure, and emphatically stated that they,
the seniors, would consider it as an injustice
if any left the college, because of sympathy
with the eighteen. The suspended seniors
made one request of the students that were
TO remain, and that was to do their duty TO
the college and to themselves by remaining
at the college, ana by so doing they would
aid their suspended friends.
The next day the eighteen quietly left, after
exerting what power they could to leave the
college in the peaceful condition which ex-
lists to-day. Now these men may have made
q mistake, but granting that much. is it
right and just that they should be branded as
rioters, who desire a rebellion against all
Organized law: w. Il. WEIGH.
The New Engine House.
The new engine house is nearly completed
and will be ready for occupancy by the first