The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-04-30
REBELLION AT CLEMSON.
sixty-nine of seyenty-four Sophie
mores Quit the College.

<1uOO1SOi13 a p111 1A0.--4OOoy 0J VI GuO
"a members of the sophomore class Of
Clemson college quit and went home.
Two of the remaining five secured dis
charges and left also and it is under
stood that the remaining three will
leave tomorrow.
The action of the students in leaving
was the result of the action of the
faculty in suspending Cadet Thorn
well of Fort Mill few days ago.
When Thornwell was suspended the
sophomore class petitioned to have
him reinstated. This the faculty re-
fused to do and therefore the class
agreed to leave.
THE FACULTY MET.
This afternoon after the students
had gone there was meeting of the
faculty at the close of which the fol-
lowing statement was given out. It
was written by Col. r. W. Simpson,
chairman OF the board of trustees, and
was endorsed by President Hartzog.
It is as follows:
"The faculty last week awarded
punishment to a student of the sopho-
more class by suspending him until
the end of the session. The sophomore
class petitioned the faculty to rein
state the student. The faculty met
again and heard a committee of the
class but saw no reason to grant their
request. Thereupon a number of the
class left and went to their several
homes. While the faculty regret this
action on the part of the students they
feel cAnpelled to maintain discipline.
TOOK GLASS TUBES.
The ofense Cadet Thornwell was gull
ty of was taking four glass test tubes
from the chemical laboratory without
permission. The members of the
faculty say they have been troubled q
great deal by action of this kind and
determined some time ago to break up
the practice. Notice was given. that
the next offender caught would be
severely dealt with. Cadet Thornwell
was caught and his suspension follow
ed. These tubes which are small glass
cylinders with little or no value may
not have been taken with any wrong
intent, the faculty say, but the tax
ing of them was violation of the
rules. AS matter of fact the faculty
say the college has been annoyed a
great deal by the disappearance of a
number of small articles such as tools,
wrenches, etc., and it was considered
absolutely necessary to put al en-
phatic end to the business.
| STATEMENT FROM STUDENTS.
The students side of the question is
this. They admit that there is a rule
that no test tubes or other college ap-
| paratus shall be taken for use by any
| OF the students without the consent of
the professors, but they say it has not
! been observed generally. Cadet Thorn
we'll did take four of the tubes from
the general store to his desk or stand,
as it called, in the building but that
| he took them for use in class work and
they consider his suspension an out
rage, as no wrong was intended. The
students say they thought the facts
had been misrepresented or exagger-
ated to the faculty and petitioned for
rehearing of the case in order that
all the circumstances might be brought
out. When the faculty refused their
request they felt that loyalty to their
classmate demanded that they should
leave the college in body and this
was done.
The main point urged by the stu
dents is that the punishment inflicted
on young Thornwell is in excess of
that warranted by the case. For in
stance they say there is college rule
that student found with mess hall
property in his room shall be given 10
demerits, yet here was a student who
simply violated rule and unwitting-
ly took certain college property for
use in his class work, without remov-
ing it from the building and was sus-
pended therefor.
This correspondent this afternoon
talked with a great many college stu
dents on the campus The students
are very much wrought up and are
overwhelmingly in sympathy with the
sophomores. The senior class met this
morning and adopted resolution of
sympathy for the sophomores, endors-
ing their action. A copy of the reso-
lutions will be sent to the family of
each of the students who left. When
the reporter was leaving the grounds
a notice was being sent around calling