The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-02-10
HEAD OF U. OF S. D.
TO STEP OUT IN JUNE
President Droppers Resign
From Vermillion Institution
After Five Years Service.
MUCH SURPRISE CREATED
Report that Resignation Was Asked For
by the Board Of Regents Is I'm
confrmed-Droppers Says
They're His Friends.

Nermillon, s. D.. Feb. 2.-Garett
Droppers, president of the University of
South Dakota, at a meeting of the rae
ulty yesterday afternoon, announced
that his relations with the university
would be severed next June. The an
nouncement was entirely unexpected
and caused great excitement among
the faculty and students, VINO hold
President Droppers in high esteem.
The fact that President Droppers did
not feel 1t was his place to discuss the
reasons for his resignation gave rise 10
Il report that his resignation had been
requested by the board Of regents. But
there Is no authority for such state
ment.
Il do not feel it is my place to discuss
the matter" said President Droppers
today, when asked for statement.
1T has been said. President Droppers,
that your resignation followed some
trouble with the board of regents, was
suggested. There is no authority for
such statement apparently, but you
may care to discuss 1t.
Concerning such a statement, you
may say positively that every member
of the board OF regents is my friend. ="
replied President Droppers. Each one
will, think, confirm this statement
Since Mr.. Droppers took the presi-
dency of the university five years ago
1t has enjoyed unprecedented progress
and popularity. Mr.. Droppers leaves
with the gratitude of the students and
patrons of the university for the good
work he has done. He came from the
University of Toxic. Japan, to this in
stitution. He has no plans for the fu-
ture.
Has Overcome Obstacles.
President Droppers has not had clear
sailing since coming to the university
city over six years ago from the Uni
yersity of Japan. Had everything been
in such excellent working order as 1t
Is today at the institution. and the
faculty as united and harmonious. he
would have gained reputation by this
time to be envied. Everything about
the university was In an unsettled
state. Faculty members were at outs
with one another, students were not
doing good work. was like attempt
ing TO quell a terrific storm for Presi-
dent Droppers tc begin under such cir
cumstances. but he went at his work
with determination to win. and he
has been very successful. all things
considered.
The first uprising against the presi-
dent came when Professor J. D. Logan
was let out for cause. Students seemed
perfectly satisfied, but a few of Logans
friends In the city took up his fight, as
Stunning that troopers was responsible
for his removal. Shortly after the uni
versity closed In 1903 the regents were
summoned here to investigate charges
against the president, made by YER
million citizens. This proved a fiasco.
Then came one David Boot with an af-
fidavit that Droppers had attempted to
bride him to bear false witness against
Professor Hagen. The regents again
investigated, but when the time came
Boot sneaked TO the tall timbers and
has not been heard from since. The re-
suit of the last investigation was the
acceptance by the board of the resig-
nations of Professors T. ]. Merchant
and J. e. Todd
Garrett Droppers is responsible for
= placing the University of South Da-
kota course of study on. higher plane
than 1t ever was before And his plans
for the future could not help but result
In great benefit to the institution. He
has the good VIII OF every student IN
the university. and has not critic on
i The faculty. let alone an enemy
The state university has had tenn
pestuous career in the past. in which
personal prejudices and political pref
erences have done much 10 keep II
down OF level with other state
schools IL III hoped that the next step
OF securing ne9 president viii satisfy
all