Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-16
SUSPENDED.
Colby Sophomore Class Laid
on Shelf by President.
Majority Of Other Classes Say They'll
Stand by Comrades.
Girls Also Join Boys in Deciding on
This Position.

Waterville, Me-, June 15.-(SpeciaD.
The storm that has been brewing for
several days at Colby broke, Monday
morning, when nearly every member
of the mems division of the sophomore
class received notice of his suspension
for the remainder of the year. A mass
meeting of the men was held immedi-
ately after chapel and it was decided
that If the sophomores had to go the
remainder of the men of the other
three classes would go with them.
President White was notified of this
decision. The sophomore girls decided
to go with the boys and they were fol-
lowed by the other three classes, so
that practically the whole student body
is involved in the trouble.
There are of course. some students
who do not join in this action, but
they form so small 4 minority that
they can have but little influence over
the others. President White was no.
tilted, so it is understood, that unless
the suspended men were reinstated by
6 O'Clock, Monday evening, the ma
jority of the other students would go
cut with them.
This trouble is the result of the dis
turbances at the annual freshman read
ing and to a less extent the might
shirt parade" At the reading. as will
doubtless be remembered. President
White declared it adjourned after the
first speaker had finished, on account
Of the disturbances created in the
church and outside.
The parade was not so much more
boisterous than it has been in many
years previous, the whole damage be-
ing confined to college property and
not being very large at most. After
these events the boys rather expected
to be disciplined in some way but had
not been until the sophomOres received
their notices, Monday morning. The
peculiar outcome of the reading caused
Il great deal of talk inside the college
and out and some false impressions
were apparently given.
The matter of the parade was dis
Cussed by President White n few days
ego after chapel and mass meeting
of the men held afterwards at which
action was taken assuring the presl-
dent that what had been done was not
on account of any i'll will toward him.
This seemed to clear the situation q
great deal and it WAS thought in some
quarters that the matter would be al
lowed to die natural death. 1t was
thought by some that something in the
way of punishment would he meted
out to the leaders perhaps, but that
not so very much more would be heard
from it.
SO the action taken, Monday, in sus-
rcnding practically all of the men of
the sophomore class was 4 good deal
of a surprise to a good many. This
action had been thought of before by
he students and had been talked over
and the decision reached that If the
sophomores went the others would go
with them, or ut least this was COM
monty reported as being the case. But
these reports were not taken so very
seriously, as it was not generally be-
lcVed that such a situation would arise.
But 1t did and the intent of the student
body WAS carried out as it had been
stated It would be.
The work of the year has now been
practically completed. The seniors are
all through and are out on their own
special vacation that is CuStomarily
given them just before commencement
/ each year. The other classes have fin
ished the work of the year but have
some examinations yet to come. The
work of the sophomores is affected
by the suspension only inasmuch as
they would be obliged to take some eX-
aminations, next year.
A meeting of the Colby Club, the
local organization of the alumni. was
| held In the office of +. T. Wyman in
| the afternoon and the situation dis
Cussed pretty thoroughly. Some of
| those present were inclined to criticiso
| President White for the position he
had taken While others and the ma
jority, thought he was in the right and
wished to give him all the support they
could. The students were severely
blamed by some and supported by
others. This seems to be the situation
, in the city among the alumni or others
interested in the college. Some back
| President White and some the students.
/ Various schemes for settling the diff
Guilty were suggested at the meeting
of the club. President White had been
previously asked if he would be will
ing to have Il conference with a COM
mittee appointed by the club and con-
scented to do so.
| one was appointed, consisting of the
following: Rev. e. c. Whittemore, Hon.
s. S. Brown, f. T. Wyman. Harvey
+ l.. Eaton and w. L. Bonney. This
committee called upon President White
as soon as the club meeting had been
adjourned. It's object was to discuss
the matter with the president and do
anything that could be suggested to
help straighten matters out.
1t is understood that the faculty is
standing solidly behind the president
in his position. Frequent meetings
have been held of late and matters
discussed. so that the present course
is the result of action taken by the
! entire teaching force,