Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-02-16
FACULTY TAKES A HAND.
University Faculty Asks Board to Re.
ject Droppers' Resignation.

i lect Droppers' Resignation.
The following letter. signed by ev-
fery member of the faculty of the state
university at Vermillion except Gar
rett Droppers, has been received by
the president of the state board of re-
gents of education:
4 Hon. |. w. Goodner, Pierre, S. D.
Dear Sir: We address you as president
of the board of regents relative to the
resignation of President Droppers. At
g meeting of the senate Of the nniyer-
sity representing all its departments
and colleges. called without the knowl-
edge of President Droppers, it was
unanimously voted to address you as
president of the board of regents and
lay before your honorable body re-
quest signed by every member of the
faculty now present on the ground,
asking that the resignation of Presi-
dent Droppers be not accepted by the
regents.
1 We do this not for any selfish or
personal reasons, but in what we be.
lieve to be the best interests of the
university over whose destinies he
than six years. He came to the uni
versity in a time of peculiar diff
Guilty. He found a faculty divided
against itself, and the work of the in
| stitution in more or less disorganiZ-
ed condition. He was beset with diff
culties. both within and without the
| institution. Questions of the greatest
Importance regarding the organization
| of the university were at issue. It's
courses of study and plan of organiza-
| ton had to be radically reconstructed
| if the institution was to become what
the citizens of the state wished it to
! be, and what it must be if the State
Of South Dakota would march abreast
|sof the educational movement of the
times. The institution at that time
was little more than a fitting school
for Eastern colleges and universities,
with no affiliation and no organic re-
| lation with the high schools of the
state. The great body of students at
the beginning of his administration
were doing preparatory work.
Under his skillful management and
wise leadership the courses of study
have been entirely recast and modern
lied In the past six years the num-
Der of college students has more
than doubled The college work
proper has been greatly increased by
| the addition of numerous elective
courses of study in every department.
The university is already making a
respectable showing in graduate work
in spite of limited facilities in library
equipment and in scientific apparatus.
The work in every department of the
university has shown steady and most
| satisfactory growth, and numerous adj
ditions have been made to the teach
| ing force, including several assistant
professors and two or more full pro-
lessons. At the present time still far
ther additions must be made to the
faculty in order to provide properly
for the charging work Of the institu-
ton. Largely through President Drop
pers' efforts the college of law has
1 been added to the university and is
now making most satisfactory prog
ress with fully equipped faculty.
4 President Droppers' strong person
atty and his scholarly equipment have
made friends for himself and for the
university in spite of petty detractors.
The faculty is entirely harmonious
and stands strongly united in support
of the president and his administra-
ton. Without exception they would
regard his departure from the univer-
| sity at this time as calamity. The
entire body of students is thoroughly
in sympathy with his administration
and yield him moss loyal support. The
| morale of the institution was never
better and will stand comparison with
any similar institution in this state or
any other.
President Droppers is, we believe,
| one of the most scholarly men who
has ever graced the educational cir
cles of our state, and his teaching is
highly appreciated by those under his
instruction. The charge that has
sometimes been made against him
| that he is pessimistic and unsafe in
his teaching is to our personal knowl-
edge utterly unfounded and untrue.
The work of the university has
been brought into touch with the high
/ schools of the state by the revision of
the courses of study, by liberalizing
Of the requirements for admission, and
by bringing the high schools into close
| and intimate relations with the uni
versity. The requirements for admis-
sion to the university are now prac-
i tically the same as those established
by sister institutions of the West. A
larger number of high schools are
| lifting for entrance to the university
4 than ever before. The steady increase
n the number Of preparatory students
1 clearly shows the wisdom of the plans
| inaugurated by President Droppers,
| and likewise demonstrates that the
growth of the university is along solid,
! substantial lines.