New-York tribune., 1900-05-19
competition for places on the Board Of Editors has
never been sharp at present
CORNELL AND WOMEN TEACHERS.
MISS BRowNELL's RESIGNATION IS SAID
NOT TO INDICATE THE UNIvER-
sITY's POLICY.

sITY's POLICY.
Ithaca. n. Y. MAY 1s-The resignation Of Miss
Brownell from the position OF warden OF Sage Col
lege has. from the circumstances under which 1t
was rendered, given rise TO much unfavorable COM
ment upon the policy OF Cornell University and the
attitude of the Board OF Trustees toward women
To quote, for example. from a metropolitan news
paper:
The Board Of Trustees OF Cornell University has
decided that while women may take advantage OF
not hope 70 become members OF its faculty. As
result Of this action Miss Louise Sheffield BEowneL
has resigned her place warden Of Sage College
When she took office IL was with the stipulation
the Executive Committee Of the Board of Trustees
appointed her assistant professor of Engish ut
women shall not be eligible 70 faculty positions
ana II Is as protest against tne prlnclpIe lnVoEeu
that Miss Browneu has handed IN her resignation
The foregoing however is an Incorrect statement
OF the facts; and when the truth is known ii will
be SEEN first. that the Cornell trustees have taken
no action which cause alarm TO the friends OF
coeducation. and. second. that the resignation Is
rendered and accepted because OF conditions which
do not reflect upon either the university or Miss
Brownell who. It Is conceded by all. has per-
formed her duties with remarkable tact and ability
The real facts sollows;
When Mrs. Hooker resigned In 1897. the trustees
naturally sought her successor a woman OF ad-
rninistrative ability manage the affairs OF Sage
College. This, and ability as teacher OF Eng
lsh literature any other subject, was primarily
what they looked for; and II was so unuerstoou
when Miss Browneu was employed. But. being
student of literature. and desiring TO do some OF
the work for which she had long been preparing
Miss Brownen asked for and received permission
to teach without salary and TO her title OF "arueh
of Sage College was added that of lecturer IN Eng
lish literature The teaching, however was 70 De
entirely secondary to and not TO interfere with
the work of administering Sage College affairs.
In 1898 Miss BrowneH asked 70 have the second
part of her title changed TO assistant professor VI
English literature. 1t 70 be a purely nominal
change carrying with II no change in salary or IN
the conditions OF her appointment 10 the warren
ship. No action. however. was then taken
In June 1899 when President Schurman was IN
the Philippines. the matter carae up IN the neele
of the Executive Committee and the desired cnange
was made When the question came up IN the
meeting of the full Board Of Trustees. however "
was thought best. since this action might telu "
emphasize the relatively unesseutal and DIMINISH
the influence attaching TO the wardenship proper
TO POSTPONE the ratification OF the action OF Ihe
Executive Committee until the fall meeting wheh
President Schurman would be present ana "iier
it was 10 be a special order. But before 'ne 'di'
meeting Miss Brownel, because of this delay ue-
clined the appointment. 1t will thus De seen tha'
the absolute question Of womens hoidlne Pa0eS Al
the Cornell faculty has not yet been ralseu-
Miss Brownens present position is clearly SET
forth in her letter Of resignation, from whlch the
following is quoted:
6 9ad .b0f h0Pefq r1a1av have more time give TO
literature In studying or in writing nlu, - a.
shouId have foreseen that this nope was IL -
sonabIe and that the practical resPonslpiiLl.J -
management grew my hands so thaI - - .,j
avar with the secretary whom nave KepL ~ az
Miss MaCbeths very efficient help. nave oten 49, E
~ see myself no nearer to the 1ndepen0eIlt -
literature for which I had spent elgnt years "a
college nd university work in preparation,
NV present position precludes the possloiLsS % -,
the work for which my training mas HtteI u, ~. NJ
witch NV tastes incline me. and Wnlch, tnoeESn E ,e
postponed il 10 undertake the WORK III CoIHo'i' i"
still waiting for me-
In effect therefore Miss Browneh resigns oe
cause she wishes no longer 10 allow adnlrlstIa'l'e
Iahors 70 encroach upon the work 70 WHICH Sn7
r-tsbes to devote herself It IS evident too' Iloi
her letter that Miss BrowneT has oeeh disappo'i
ed not onlv by the relative increase or ad1iiilS
+rat,ve work and responsibility, but by the appar-
~. raIuctance Of the trustees, for the reason a
raodv given 10 invest with greater disnl'y =, anu W
importance the teaching side OF her positI1on %
unfortunate that this is So Tor Corne4laHs an Niss
Inanir1nus in their expressions OF regret AT MISS
BrownelIs departure Ar-,-a- that the
n will have become Gear however, ma .e
.r,,s-aas are st very far from having decineu %
a5rt women as to faculty posltlons- Pouol
iess they viii have decide this question osIoae
no,v ySars for there already TWO OF SlLec
r-o,,ar instructors on the stan. who are uoIns
er3inantIv satisfactory work. What their aSlLun
u-iiI he however cannot be propnesleti Soii.e I
mar,bars of the Board are known TO De strohely IL
Savor Of treating women in every respecI on pr
c]seiv rhe same men Otner nleHAOel9 '10
5HTbt,ess more conservative in their views