Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-04-21
CAPT. MINUS SCORES DR.. NELL.
Says Clcmson's President mterfered
in Matters of Discipline.


ment alleging certain conditions at
Clemson College which were the
cause of his leaving that institution.
Capt. Minus said that he desired the
public to know exactly the state of
affairs at the college.
His statement lin part, follows:
In beginning my detail as instruc-
tor at Clemson College. / arrived Au-
gust 80, 1907, about two weeks be-
fore the opening of the regular ses-
sion. During that time and the few
weeks following the opening | be-
came acquainted, IN the natural
course of events, with the faculty
There was a willingness on their
part to tell me of the disciplinary
situation during the past year. The
various escapades and violations that
are matters of public knowledge were
rehearsed to me time and time again
One general suggestion in all these
recitals was to the effect that would
probably succeed with discipline If
DR.. Nell, the president, did not in
terfere. On one occasion, Prof.
Riggs, who Is thought to be very
close to the president, stated to me,
in effect, that he had told the presi-
dent that the success of his admin
istration would be largely based
upon his non-interference with dis
ciplinary matter.
In taking up my duties as COM
mandant ! discovered a deplorable
state Of affairs. No organization, no
system, not the slightest regard on
the part Of the cadets for law or or
der, very little respect or considera-
ton for the faculty; simply a great
a t0 ,,,ill
However, began to apply the reg
| ulations and penalties for their in
fractions as strenuously as the situ-
alton would allow The next fow
| months was time of turbulence.
During the first. year there were
| continual conflicts between us, due
to the fact that the presiden., ia an
irregular, and in some cases an un-
authorized, way, and also, in my
opinion, often without sufficient
grounds yielded to the request of in
| dividuals. ...
The April, 1908, affair came along,
and It's consequences are we'll known
| to the public.
! to the public. = / felt that the
first and foremost necessity in a stu
dent body Is system of honor, y
which student body is RESPONSE
Bile for, and must carry out. This
system was adopted a few days after
the April reduction in the corps.
Charges Against DIR. Nell.
The implanting of a sense of duty
in a body of students is due largely
| to the attitude of the authorities
their individuality, their honesty, and
fiXedness Of purpose in carrying out
their duties | knew that in so far
as cooperation and aid by the fac
ulty were concerned, / could look for
little help in the maintenance of dis
cipline. The members of the faculty
of Clemson College are simply indif-
ferent, and that the conception and
| ideas of the president do not take
ordinarily logical form.
Consequently the rehabilitation
appealed to me as a work that would
have to be undertaken single-handed.
| Expecting no aid from the president
| neither in forcible or in a persua-
sive way, | fought against the ad-
| l,ission Of his harmful and ruinous
| ia'erference in the structure that !
was trying to build. At the
beginning of this session questions
arose. Appeals were made to DR..
Nell. In some cases he disregarded
me as component part of discip-
line. Other clear infractions of the
| regulations he claimed were personal
between him and a cadet, and in 9TH
ers the ground for his action was not
| apparent to me nor, believe, to him.
Following the legalizing of a ca
dets desertion by restoring him to
his full functions as a student, with
out word with me in regard to the
| case, and when approached by me
an assumption of discourteous atti.
| tude in the matter, / called the at
! tention of the chairman of the board
Of trustees to the presidents con-
| tinual and unauthorized interference
| in the discipline OF the institution
| and offered to give the board an op-
| portunity to investigate. A commit
tee from the board, unauthorized, as
| understand it, met various items
| that | presented. There were no cX-
| pressions Of opinion as to whether
the committee agreed or disagreed
with my contention, for the commit.
tee was without power, but the names
| of the gentlemen are as folljws, and
/ would suggest that they enlighten
the public as to what they feel about
this matter. / would like to sec
what they say: Col. Alan Johnstone
Col. Nj. l.. Donaldson, Rev. G. d
Mann and Col. r. W. Simpson.
My claim Is that as | was a com.
ponent part Of discipline and com.
mandant, The president had no right
to restore a cadet without first Civ.
Ing me an opportunity to investigate
the offence, and, If he desired to over.
ride me, to do 1t in way authorized
by regulations, and not to ruthlessly
invade my jurisdiction and put my
| authority at defiance. At the De
cember meeting committe Of the
a r1 n1nn Inki i.,1x IT Hf.I