The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1893-08-05
Regent smith Discusses Unf.
versffy Matters.
Fairmont Index.

organizing That Institution. For
some time past differences of opinion
existed in the Faculty to such an ex-
tent that it became public matter
and was discussed throughout the
State and greatly magnified At the
June meeting of the Board those
differences eliminated in charges
being preferred by the President
against one member of the Faculty,
and the Board adjourned to meet on
the goth of July to make an investi-
CATION of the matter. Upon assem-
ling on the Goth the Board conclud-
ed that an investigation of the char
ges would in no sense benefit the
University, and concluded to not
hear any proof that could be pro-
duced and without going into the
matter at all dismissed the charges.
The chief object of the Board was to
re-organize the Institution and weed
out the disafection and put the
school on such basis that it would
go along in useful and harmonious
career. An attempt was made to
curtail the number of instructors to
meet the views of the last Legisla-
ture, which refused to make the
usual appropriation for teachers
salaries, and but little progress was
made along that line as but two
chairs were consolidated, namely
the chair of English and that of
Metaphysics When this was done
and several other reductions discuss.
ed, in view OF the discord that was
known to exist in the Faculty, the
Board by resolution declared every
chair in the University vacant and
asked for the immediate resignation
of the President and each Professor
and tutor. These designations
promptly came in and elections were
held to supply the vacancies. In re-
electing the professors the Board
was governed entirely by the desire
to eliminate the dissatisfaction and
to select new men for some places
hoping to infuse fresh blood into the
school, but the dispensing with the
services of gentlemen did not mean
that they had been found incapable
for the positions, but it was because
they had either been mixed up with
the internal troubles or it was
thought that they had outlived their
usefulness in the Institution. The
result reached by the Board was not
pleasing in its entirety to any of its
members, but it was the compromise
of the opinions of majority of the
Regents. The change made in the
faculty were not many but are of
Importance. Prof. T. Z. Miller, of
this place, was elected Principal of
the Preparatory Department, in the
place of Prof. Lorentz, who had fill
ed that place for many years very
acceptably. Prof. R. A. Armstrong,
of the West Liberty Normal School,
was elected Professor of Mathemat-
les, in the place of Prof. Stewart,
and Prof. B. G. Anderson, of Monroe
county, was elected Professor of An
cient Languages, in the place of
Prof r. c. Berkeley. The Board
was unable to select Professor of
Civil and Mining Engineering and
a Professor Of Agriculture, and the
Executive Committee was ordered
to ill those vacancies until the next
meeting of the Board. There was
no attempt to elect President, and
Prof Reynolds, who was elected Vice
President, was put in charge with
full powers of President, and he will
discharge the duties very acceptably
to the authorities. He is regarded
as one of the best educators in the
State and has many supporters for
the presidency when that place is
filed by the Board.
We refrain from making any COM
ment upon the result further than
to say that it was the very best the
Board could do at this time. The
task was disagreeable in the extreme
but it was discharged in fearless
manner, having in view simply the
good of the University. The selec-
ton of President will be deliberate
ly done by the Board, and no untried
man will be taken up. In the mean
time the University is in good hands.
Prof. Reynolds will look carefully
after its interests. The differences
down there never have interfered
with the instruction given. 1t only
extended to and among the faculty,
but we hope it is now over forever
and that henceforth nothing of this
sort will impede the progress of that
school, which should be the pride of
every West virginian.
We have simply given statement
of the result of the last meeting of
the Board with the desire to convince
the young men of the State who de-
sire first-class education that no
better school can be found than the
University. That it's course of in
struction is thorough, and that a
student can be educated there at less
cost than at any first-class college in
the country. There is no reason
why our West Virginia boys are, in
such large numbers, educated out of
the state, on the other hand it is a
burning shame that it is so. Now
let the friends of the University 90
to work, bring its advantages to the
attention of the young men and la
dies, and ifthis is properly done we
ara confident thoro mill ha n .orx,