The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1893-07-27
The Row in the State Uni
versity.

Professors Prescott, Magruder and
Furman, of the State University,
have made public, through the Baton
Rouge Advocate, their reasons for
rendering their designations as men,
bers of the faculty of the University
The reasons are as follows:
BATON ROUGE, July II, 1898.
EDITOR ADvoCATE-In view of the
fact that, wrong impression has
been made upon the public mind by
inaccurate accounts of the recent
events of the Louisiana State Univer-
sity and A. & NJ. College we feel that
a correct statement of what actually
occurred has become necessary. We
make this statement with no in
tention to provoke discussion, but
because we feel it due ourselves that
our action before the Board of Super
Visors shall be clearly understood
An association with the President of
six years duration had convinced us
of his inefficienct and of the hopeless
ness of any real progress under his
administration. We, therefore, deem
ed it our duty to inform the Board
of our conviction, and notified the
President of our determination
When the Board met on the night of
the Bird Instant we appeared before
that body and stated that we believ-
ed the school was suffering from the
weakness and ineficiency of the Pres
ident's administration, and that we
were prepared to give specific and
convincing instances of this ineficien-
cy. We further stated that we were
not alone in the opinion, but that
almost all the members of the faculty
were of the same conviction. After
we had made this statement the
Board went into executive session,
and when we were recalled the Gov
ernor, speaking for the Board, said
in substance that the management of
the school appeared to be satisfacto-
ry, and that the President must and
shall be sustained. Entertaining the
opinions that we had expressed, and
after the action that we had taken,
we believed that we could not with
propriety continue our connection
with the University, and therefore
presented our designations. In con-
clusion we will state that our disin-
clination to carry this matter into the
public prints led us to refuse to make
any statements to the representatives
of the press. They were in conse-
quence forced to depend largely upon
current rumors.
Very respectfully,
| A. T. PREscorT,
W. Ell. MAGRUDER,
/ FL. III. FURMAN.
| Commenting upon the above letter
the Baton Rouge Advocate says:
In view of the above statement OF
the case made by gentlemen of such
standing as the professors above
named, and which they claim, would
be sustained by fourteen out of the
seventeen members of the faculty, ii
appears to- us that an investigation
would be courted by all parties at in,
terest. If the charges are false they
can easily be so proven, whereas, il
they are true, the good of the public
service would demand change. We
believe that the welfare of this great
University is the chief end to be
sought and its prosperity and eff.
cheney are the objects to be attained
at all hazards. The Board owes it tc
the public to institute thorough
and sweeping investigation into the
charges here made and to remove
any obstacles that may be predudi
cial to the prosperity of the school
The success of the school should be
placed above every other considera
ton, personal or otherwise.
The Telegraph. Bulletin reiterates
what it has heretofore had to say
on this subject and heartily endorses
the above expression from the Advo
cate.