The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-15
THE COLLEGE TROUBLE.
OPPOSITION TO TIE ACTION OF
TIE BOARD or TRUSTEES.
studont. Divided Into Factions over the
Election 81 Professor Boatwrtht'
The Professors Retcent'

usually attach TO tOuchdOWns ana sOai
Kicks. ard any number OF expressions
can be heard among those who dive deep
into the mysteries of Greek roots ana
astronomical phenomena, Reports
which were not confined to the students
OF the college alone have been circulated
here ana there. and 1t has for several
DAYS been a pretty well established fact
hat the action OF the board OF trustees
! Of Richmond College IN electing Pro-
lessor r. ". BOatwright. OF the chaiI
ot modern languages, 40 lhe pIeSiuc"OJ
OF the college mas been theme Ol ~O-l<
trOVersy by many Of the slunehtS, ~
rot nv members Of the faculty, as Wen
as some OF the patrons ana IIlehuS u
the institution. The matter mas Deth
an interesting topic 10 many bdpt'9.o
I'm the .ity. and recently some new facts
have deVeIOt Ell which seem 10 be OF a
somewhat serious character ne ui4t
that matters have taken OF late mas
resulted in the students Of the college
having gotten themselves into Two ldc-
lions. one oil which vigorously sympa-
thzes with the action OF the boaru oI
trustees and heartily favor the idea OF
having Professor BOatwright MI the
presidents chair, while the other IS
equally opposed 20 IT, and do not hesitate
10 express th mselvcs so. Pretty much
the same situation exists outside OF tho
college. so far as / have been able 10
ascertain.
HEARD on ALL sides.
When I visited tho college Yesterday
evening for the purpose of getting
satisfactory explanation Of the conir0-
versy. ] found that the action OF the
trustees was being generally discussed
among the students. and some little
hard feeling seems TO have sprung up
between the two factions. From what
I could gather, il seems that Professor
BoatWrignts supporters are COniine1
chiefly 10 the students who room in the
college dormitOries, the majority OF
whom are ministerial students while the
opposition party consists Of the students
who room in the cottages and the non
resident students. II was claimed by
some Of those with whom / talked that
the same factions between secret society
men and anti-sccrct society men were
operating I'm this controversy. the former
being opposed to the new president. while
the latter favor him. This was denied
by some of the secret society men seen.
however
In the college dining-room last evening
the subject was discussed 10y nearly every
one of the seventy students there. and
n casual observer could see that argu-
mcnts waXed warm some Of the stu
dents speaking in loud tones and gestcu-
lating with much emphasis
THE FACTIOHs AT WORK.
on Wednesday night a number OF the
faction opposing the new president went
10 the residences Of Rev. Or. Landrum.
Hon. j. L. VI Curry, the president OF
the board Of trustees and made very
disagrecablc demonstrations in the way
of Kissing and the like. The opposite
faction determined TO retaliate, and ac-
cordingly they secured q band on the fol
lowing night and serenaded Or. Curry.
Rev. Or. Hatcher. and Rev. Or. Ryland.
the secretary OF the college. each or
whom came out and made speeches of
appreciation. Professor BoatWrght was
also serenaded, and when he appeared
before the students 10 thank them for
the honor. they cheored the new pres-
dent heartily.
I'M PRoFYssoRs RETIcFNT.
II has been stated that the professors
OF the institution feel Il certain degree
Of resentment that those who have been
long and closely identified with the in
ierests and welfare Of the college should
have been ignored boy the board Of trus-
tees in favor Of Professor Boatwright
who is only about twenty-seven years
of axe. Whether this be actually true
or not II is significant fact that eff
forts 10 secure expressions from several
of the members of the faculty have
proven comparatively futile, and when
asked about their opinions the profess
sors smut up Ike Jack-knile and re-
fused to talk
When ! called upon Professor Harris. Of
the chair Of Greek yesterday evening ne
stated that the subject was a delicate one.
upon which he preferred 10 express no
opinion. lie could not say what the ef-
feet upon the college would be. as IL was
too far ahead 20 give an intelligent opin-
ion on the subject. When asked II the
rumor that the professors would resign
their positions was true Professor Harris
stated that he knew nothing about IL.
lie added that even II il were true ne
would not make a statement on the sub
Ject for publication.
When asked about the question Pro-
fessor Winston stated that ne did not
wish 20 come before the public as making
statement upon a matter which he re-
Sarded as very delicate one.
CHAIRMAN PURYEAB.
Professor Bennett Purycar, of the chair
of chemistry, who is also chairman of the |
faculty, which position ne has filled for |
years with high degree of ability, was |
also asked for an expression about the |
matter. Professor Puryear mas been con
nccted with the college for more than
twenty years and has endeared himself |
to the students by his kindness and con |
siderauOn. SO that ne is regarded by the !
boys AS their personal friend. lie Is one |
OF ,De most popular members Of the |
faculty, and as chairman of the faculty |
has given universal satisfaction When |
seen last evening he stated that he would |
talk to me freely upon any subject / |
might introduce except the one before us. |
81 regard the matter said he. AS a |
very delicate one, and do not wish TO eX-
press any opinion. l can only say that
the college is now in a highly fOurishng
conmtion. and / am as serene as May
morning.
Professor Pollard stated that ne had
not spoken 10 half dozen people on the
subject. and knew little or nothing OF the
situation. He was not prepared to dis
cuss the matter with me-.
The SITUATION UNFORTUNATE
When asked about the matter, Professor
Edmund Harrison, the able and accom-
phshed head of the school of Latin. stated
That he could no. talk for publication upon
the ubject. as his position as member
OF the FACULTY would make IL "a delicate
matter for HIM to discuss. lie added that
ne thought the present situation was I'M
fortunate and might prove disastrous TO
the interests of the college.
The trustees of the college are disposed
to look upon the matter lightly, ana no
not attach any Importance 10 the conduct
of the students DR.. Ryland also treated
the matter nightly. ana expressed ms re-
gret that the subjec; had been publicly
mentioned.
II is stated upon the authority of one
OF the students OF the college. who called |
Al The Times office last night, that there |
came near being a personal alteration |
DAY night by reason OF some proposed |
factions.
1t is understood that the meeting of the |
Board of Trustees last Tuesday evening |
was d somewhat stormy one and that !
when the vote was taken 10 decide upon |
the election of the President that officer |
was chosen by a small majority.
HEARTILY TAyoE IKE PLAN,
The friends OF Professor Boatwright- |
and there are many Of them-claim that |
he is peculiarly suited 10 the position 10 |
which he has rt.. auf Ia baqn eIeefod II