The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-10
AREAFTER PARSONS'S SCALP
State Normal Students Intend to Make
Ii Hot for the President.
They Believe the Trustees Have Acted Blindly
in Discbarging Professor TOmpkins-
Muncie Doctor Under Bonds.
THE STATE NORMAL AFFAIR.


Students Have Begun q Bitter Fight
Against President Parsons.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
TERRE HAUTE. Ind, June 9.-The Nor
NAL students have begun fight against
President Parsons and are after his scalp
with no less energy than he and the di-
rectors went after Professor TOmpkins.
Not less than eight hundred met In the as
sembIy hall this afternoon and held rous-
ing meeting. Several addresses were made.
and 1t is plain they are bent on securing
the dismissal of those who were unfriend-
~ to Tompkins. One fthe speakers after.
wards said thatif the meeting had been
held last night five hundred students
would have left for their homes. Al to-
days meeting resolutions from former stu
sity. were read in which sympathy IS ex-
pressed for Professor Tompkins. As q re-
suit OF the meeting to-day the following
was adopted, with only q few dissenting
voices:
Gentlemen of the Board Of the Indiana State
driven to come out and speak in more explicit
terms of the fundamental cause of the evil OF
which we have complained to your honorable
previous actions have boon. on an earnest desire
TO further the good of the school We recognize
your legal right TO control the institution and
even TO act as you have in tho dismissal or Pro-
fessor Tompkins. Because of our relations
to him ana the school We insist on
our right to kindly request your reasons for such
action and confess our Inability to understand
those assigned, in the general form in which they
are expressed. We base our request on the GUS
tom prevailing quite generally, which allows
any pupil. or pupils, to seek the ground for
changes that concern Them which Is a principle
in harmony with the theory OF the Indiana State
Normal School. We wish to state positively and
cOnclusively that Professor TOmpkins has not
inspired this or any previous action; that indeed
he has had no certain knowledge OF what was
intended.
We wish also to continue this question further.
You have removed a teacher in whom We have
Astounding love, and from whom we have re-
celved inspiration that Will continue with life
whose hold on the students is surpassed by no
other in the Institution, and whose influence has
contributed as much to the large number OF stu
dents present as any other. You have employed
instructors narrow in scholarship. and IN eff-
cheney and teaching power, which we have
own preparations suffer. Since you have done
these things, we ask you to put into Professor
Tompkins's chair one who Is mani
ts' his equal an s aaa farhsr
for the best interests of the school;
to carefully and thoaghtfully investigate the
efficiency or certain departure nts OF the Normal
and make such changes as will assure TO us and
those who follow thoroughly competent ana in
sp1ring instructors. We deprecate any disrespect
shown those in authority. We affirm our unwaver-
ing fidelity 10 the school and pledge our support to
such measures as look toward its better unfold
ing. Ali OF which Is respectfully submitted by
the Indiana Normal students. We have now at
work committee TO secure facts aud witnesses
which will tx definitely the source of the evils Of
which we complain.
The following was also adopted.
To the Alumni of Indiana State Normal School:
Feeling the need OF change In the admins
Indiana a
School and believing that the student interests
will be more alphabetically considered by
those who have been identified as students with
supporters OF its interests to push the plan OF
securing alumni representation on the board Of
trustees.