Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1896-06-24
DIR. SIMPSON MAKES A STATEMENT.
MARIETTA, ONO. June 20, 1896.


EDITOR OF THE LEADER: In view of
the fact that am constantly besieged
by friends and citizens of Marietta to
state the real reasons for my sudden
and unexpected resignation as Presi-
dent of Marietta College, coupled with
the feeling that owe it to the COM
munity to tell the truth and the whole
truth, have decided to give oyer my
own signature a statement of the
causes which led me to sever my con-
nection with the institution which
have served for four years as President.
The first of these causes is an unwill-
ingness on the part of the Board of
Trustees to abide by the explicit condi-
tions on which ! accepted the Presi-
dency of the College. These conditions
were:
First. The promise, by the committee
representing the Board, that I should
not be asked to raise money for the in
stitution. l assured the Committee,
consisting of w. w. Mills and w. H.
Blymyer, that under no circumstances
would the Presidency be even consider
ed unless there was a guarantee on
that point In spite of that promise
was not very long at the head of the
institution until discovered that was
expected to do this very thing, and be-
cause of failure to bring in money for
the support of the institution certain
Trustees became very much dissatisfied
However, l have gladly done all
could in that direction, and as a result
/ have in prospect proba bly, larger gifts
for the College than are in prospect for
the great majority of Colleges in this
country. The gentlemen who made
the promises were only waiting for the
relief from the financial depression to
enable them to withdraw it in safety
from their business.
Second. 1t was distinctly promised
that new four years scientific course
should be launched out, and that scien-
tific equipment should be provided
ample in it's facilities for the doing of
high grade scientific work. This con-
dition has been complied with and the
College is in good condition for scienti-
fic work. But the enlargement has
subjected the President to constant
criticism for increase Of expenditure.
Third. It was distinctly promised
me that / should be at liberty to swing
the College in any direction it ought to
go. make any changes necessary to put
it abreast of the best modern Colleges
in work, methods, teaching force,
equipment, policy. Knowing the con-
servative character of older colleges
and fearing that changes would bring
criticism, ! strenuously insisted upon
liberty in this direction, and in being
protected from opposition in the carry
ing out of broad, liberal, modern edu-
cational work. / was assured that /
should not be interfered with in the
execution of such plans, but that on
the contrary what Marietta College
wanted me for was to inaugurate
new college work and policy which
would guarantee the best results to the
students on the one hand and the larg-
est confidence of the public on the
other. This latter condition we have
realized to this extent that we (mean-
ing by the we the able and efficient
faculty of teachers by whom l haye
been assisted) haye thoroughly recon
structed our curriculum and have now
three full four year courses which will
compare with those of the best colleges
and which are securing the favorable
criticism of educators and of the public
We have introduced modern methods,
and are doing our work in harmony
with all competing institutions of high
grade. But the realization has come
not with the cooperation, but with the
constant criticism of portion of the
Board of Trustees. The changes nee
essary to bring about the undermining
of the institution have subjected the
President to the constant charge OF ex-
xravagance. although no sum exceed