Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-05-07
ALL QUIET AT CLEMSON COLLEGE.
Faculty and Students Will Now Act With De.
iberatlon-coI. Simpsons Statement.
GCharleston News and Courier]


Anderson, May 2.-Col. II. w. Simp-
son, President of the Board of Trustees
of Clemson College, was here yesterday,
and as The recent disturbance at the
College is still matter OF intense inter
est this correspondent went to him in
his Office and asked him if he could give
him any further statement concerning it.
sin the first place." said Col. Simpson,
81 want to say that the statement sent
out by the Anderson correspondent of
The News and Courier gave the facts
very clearly and accurately, and want
to commend the paper for its fairness
and impartiality.
There is very little difference between
the faculty and the student body as to
what are the facts. The principal differ
ence is to the measure of punishment
imposed upon Cadet Thornwell, the
class claiming that the action of the fac
ulty was partial and too severe. The by
laws give to every student tho right to
appeal to the Board of Trustees from the
finding of the faculty in any case when
the student is dissatisfied. Cadet Thorn
we'll did not appeal, as he had right to
do, nor did his class complain to the
Trustees of the action of tho faculty.
Hence there were no grounds to justify
me to call an extra meeting of the Trus-
tees.
Il am unable to answer your ques-
tion," he continued, 'as to what will be
the probable action of the trustees in
regard to reinstating the sophomore
class. These young men were not dis
missed from the college. They had a
right to leave whenever they saw proper.
They exercised that right and if they
now wish to return they will naturally
petition to that end.
"Should they sec proper to petition
the trustees to receive them back have
no doubt but that the board will extend
to them every consideration that the
gravity of the situation and due regard
to discipline will permit.
Eyes, l fully recognize the gravity of
the situation, and it appeared to me,
when left the college Tuesday night,
that Clemson College was tottering on
tho brink of terrible misfortune from
which it would be impossible to recover
for many years. ! was informed that
the Junior class would leave on Wednes-
day or as soon as possible and that the
Freshman class was to follow soon after.
Happily, however, this action was
averted and can safely say there will
be no further trouble. These two classes
are loyal to Clemson and will take no
rash or hasty action calculated to bring
reproach upon the college, but will sub
nit their grievances to the board of
trustees at it's regular mf citing in June
next. They readily responded to advice
and counsel when | appeared before
them in accordance with their request
for me to meet with them.
"It would not be proper for mo to ex-
press an opinion as to the merits of the
controversy, but, this much can say
now, that both the faculty and the stu
dents realize the gravity of the situation
and may be depended upon to act
with prudence and deliberation in the
future. / will say further that in my
honest opinion much of the trouble now
existing originated from misapprehen-
sions which could have been averted by
mutual explanations.
"Clemson College is new institution.
AS yet it has no past record to appeal to,
and both time and the utmost skill are
required to build up high-toned, manly
spirit and to manage so large number
of students. There is no man who has
more varied and difficult duties to per-
form than President Iartzog. If he has
failed to give satisfaction, and this fact
made to appear, no persuasion could in.
duce him to hold for a day longer the
important position which he now occu-
pies"
Col. Simpson said that the trustees, at
their regular meeting in June, would
take up the matter and take such action
as appeared 10 be the best. The sopho-
mores would be heard, if they desire it,
and, he said, he hoped they would ap-
pear either as body or by committee
and state their grievances fully so the
trustees would have knowledge of all
the facts.
In conclusion Col. Simpson repeated
what he has said on every occasion since
the trouble occurred, that he had moth
ing but sympathy and the kinoliest feel
ing toward the sophomore class, but
that they had made great mistake and
that he had no doubt they now realized
it. The whole trouble could have been
averted if they had been less hasty and
had asked for counsel and advice before
taking the rash step.