Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-12-23
THE MUss AT BLAGKSBuR6.

THE MUSs AT BLAGKSBuRG
The students at the Virginia Poly
teehnic Institute at l!aeksbnrg, have
stirred up considerable mnss auiin'
the last two weeks, The trouble grew
out of the hanging in eiIigy Of one OF
the professors. The students did not
think this grave offense. but the
faculty did, and thus far the faculty
is clearly ght. A Young Mr.. Coulter
was dismissed on account OF the eiligy
Incident, il being learned that some
of his apparel was ON the etfgy, Tue
conclusion being that he had furnished
il. The junlor class, of which he WAS
a member, asserted his innocence, OF
at least that If he were given new
trial he could prove his innocence.
There is some difference between a
mans innocence and his ability TO
prove his innocence. They are not one
and the same thing by any means Az
any rate new trial was requested for
Mr.. Coulter and the request was re-
fused by the faculty. thereupon the
whole Junior class resigned, to the
number of about 125. Now just what
the facts are the country will never
know. but that the faculty had very
good cause for dismissiDg young Coul-
fer we feel no doubt. In such an
offese. and it was an offense, vl0lallve
of discipline and good order, there were
certainly guilty agents; the faculty
did not make the eifigy and hang IL
ND. the effigy did not make and hang
itself, and the question as it stands IS
| whether Mr.. Coulter assisted in the
act directly or indirectly and whether
the faculty had just reason to believe
he did. The evidence was. we hear,
purely circums tantial. Mr.. Coulter's
shoes, we learn, were on the effigy, II
not some other of his apparel. This
WAS conclusive unless Mr.. Coulter
lcould show that his apparel had been
appropriated without his knowledge
or CO1EeiI. vi III oeuei "O'
establish an alibl. 1t would not be
enough for Mr.. Coulter to prove that
Mr.. -, had gone to his room and
gotten the apparel, but he must show
that he did not authorize or agree to
the apparel being taken and used FOL
the purpose, because the position OF
his apparel made prima facla case
against him. This we doubt If MI
Coulter could do. If he can do thu
and can establish absolute ignorance
he should have chance to do so, ant
r we do not believe the faculty eve
intended to deny him this right. W.
Il feel very certain that there has bee
lot of bravado engaged in by TIL
y Junior class. They know exactly VIII
the guilty party or parties are, and
10 demanding a new trial for Coulte
should not content themselves wit
II asserting his innocence. but Shout
III fortify their position with such indi
Is putable evidence as the presentation
10 the guilty parties themselves, for u
T. guilty parties are known to then
J. This is a State school. Hundreds
IN thousands of dollars of the money
We the people are beinGspoured into l
oh Golfers, that the youth of Virginia WI
gu are not financially able to attend tt
ef higher priced schools elsewhere, mi
ii avail themselves of its advantage
re We believe the school wanted, II 1t
NE not get, $500, 900 last year. 1t has
70 come the pet of the Legislature, al
ne under these circumstances, seeing to
if is q great charity, the Faculty al
its Board of Directors must manage
lts and not the students. and this can
sse demanded without injustice to al
ed student. Any other mode would emf
Try culate it at once and render 1t wea
en ling and a failure. It's usefulne
les therefore, should not be lightly l
'oe paired. Mr.. Coulter's innocence
ay very dear to him, though the offer
ave is not very serious one from mol
zen stand point, but the Junior class g
py IDENTIFY needs discipllniDg and tn
ne should be dropped each and every o
ART of them unless they produce the gul
lrn party, or apologize for their condu