The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-15
CO-EDS OF COLOR
ARE BARRED OUT
Women's Educational Association of
Northwestern University Settles
Long Controversy.
Special to The Globe

| special to The Globe.
CHICAGO, Sept. 14.-The color line
| has been drawn at Northwestern uni
versity, and no o-eds of color will be
admitted to the young women's dormi-
tories of the institution. The Women's s
Educational association, which has
general supervision of the halls in
which the girls lived has passed upon
the matter after many stormy meetings
and the faction in favor of drawing
the color line won by decisive ma
| jority.
The controversy over the question
began year ago, when Miss Isabella
room at Chaplin hall, and when she ar
rived at the beginning of the scholastic
year to occupy it, it was learned for
the first time that she was a negreSs.
The question of the admission of col
ored young women at once became an
issue among the members of the edu-
cational association, and it's agitation
never ceased till last week, when final
action was taken.
By the action of the association Miss
Ellis is excluded from the privileges of
Chaplin hall this year, and as result
will probably be compelled to drop her
course in the university. Last week
another colored young woman applied
for permission to room at Chaplin hail.,
and she was informed that all the
rooms had been engaged for the year.
off io1
notice that her room would not be re-
tanned for her, she was told that there
was such a demand for the rooms that
double room such as Miss Ellis occu-
pied could not be reserved for but one
occupant, and that it had been given
to other parties.
1t is of interest to note, however,
that when Miss Ellis engaged her
apartments a year ago, before 1t was
known that she was colored, room
mate had been selected for her, but
when shapely, handsome and intelli-
gent octoroon arrived and announced
her identity, CONSERVATION reigned at
Chaplin hall. The young white woman
who had been chosen for her room
mate refused to occupy the same room
with her, nor were the officials at the
hall able to find coed that would.
Even after Miss Ellis had engaged her
room and come all the way from Texas
there were several members of the
Women's Educational association who
were in favor of refusing her the priv
ileges of the hall. A meeting of the
association was hurriedly called, and it
was asserted that if the girl was allow
ed to remain it might mean the depop-
ulation of the hall, for no fewer than
thirteen of the young women had de-
clared their intention of moving out
If the colored girl remained. Other
meetings were held, and it was finally
decided to fit UP a special room for
Miss Ellis where she might be alone
and try to persuade the other residents
of the hall to act with less haste and
put up with her presence until the end
of the year. This was finally done,
and the excitement died down.
During the summer the question
again came up. There was some warm
discussions at the sessions of the edu-
cational association. While the reason
generally advanced that Miss Ellis
should not be allowed to retain her
room Of last year was that the asso-
citation could not afford to reserve a
room for less than two persons, sew
eral of the women did not hesitate to
admit that they were in favor Of draw
ing the color line.