The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-02-17
CHARGES AGAINST /
DR.. PAUL BARRINGl
Welfare Committee or Virginia Poly
technic Institute Makes Com
plant, Public Charges Cover
5S Pages.
RICHMOND, VA. - Special.

the charges against DIR. Paul b. Bar
ringer. The charges were made some
weeks ago. and the Board OF Wis
itors agreed to take them up about the
end OF next March-the very earliest
date on which the members could all
get together. The charges cover some
hfty-eight pages. and from them the
following extracts are taken:
I'VE purpose to prove that DR.. p. b.
Barringer. the president of the Vir-
ginia Polytechnic Institute, has re-
peatedly made erroneous and mislead-
ing settlements and unwarraRted de-
auctions. We purpose to let the fol-
lowing evidence. submitted as prefer
red charges against the present adj
ministrauon, suggest to you the prob
able origin and motive attached to
EACH"
Aside from inaccurately reporting
the number of students in various
courses at Blacksburg. DR.. Barringer
Is said to have misrepresented the
size of the institute herd, and to have
published figures which deceived the
board.
DR.. Barringer is also severely scored
for not having watched the progress
of legislation during the last session
Of the Assembly.
In referring to DR.. Barringer's pub
lie utteranceS, the committee writes:
The president has been very pro
life in addresses at public gatherings
covering a diversity of subjects. The
question is, have these addresses been
Of any benefit to the college? The
one delivered before the State Farm
srs Institute at Richmond in 1908 was
criticised by several intelligent hear
ers as puerile, and the one delivered
at the same institute at Charlottes-
Vile the past summer almost emptied
the hall during its delivery. All of his
published addresses, which have come
lnder our notice, show a crudeness OF
thought, incapacity for clear and &C
curate expression, and are mostly
noted for their rash and dogmatic as
sertions. This is really not surpris-
ing, since he is presuming to speak
IN subjects widely removed from the
profession in which his past life has
been spent. IT is only fair to the facts,
however, to remind you that Presi-
dent Barringer has written very little
even on medical subjects which has
been published"
Touching the suspension OF the ia
Guilty meetings, the statement of the
| Welfare Committee says:
| Careful inquiry into the customs,
| methods and privileges of successful
| ly administered institutions has result
ed in the finding that the faculty
meetings represent an important and
| essential part of the college admins
tration. Many institutions hoid regu-
| lar weekly faculty meetings, others
| semi-monthly meetings. while a few
| hold meetings monthly.
Faculty meetings under the pres
ent administration constitute an in
conspicuous part in the administrative
| deliberations at the Virginia Polytech-
| mic Institute. There was not a regu-
| lar faculty meeting from the begin
| ming OF the session OF 190s-'10 to the
Christmas MISUNDERSTANDING the whole
| OF the first term. We have understood
| that President Barringer was instruct
ed by the board prior to the opening
| 1Q0Q-'1O
| faculty meetings should be held"
The president is also blamed for
| overlooking serious breaches OF dis
| cipline and FOR desecrating the Sab
bath. On these subjects the commit
| tee says:
Never before in the history OF the
| institution was there a dress parade
| on Sunday until inaugurated by Pres
| ident Barringer during his first years
| administration. This was a subject Of
| very unfavorable comment through
| out the community, and the visitors
| who were present at the commence
| ment exercises were particularly dis
| pleased.
"On another occasion the CORPS
| marched through the town on the
| sabbath TO meet a returning football
| team, singing and cheering as on week
| days. Not only was this a source of
annoyance to the public worshipers,
| but shock to the entire community
|
| mehcement a student, in company
van an outsider, was driving up the
| concrete walk. both drunk. The stu
dent, on being accosted by an officer
! OF the college, cursed him to his face.
The matter was reported to the presi-
dent of the institution, but no action
| was taken, and this same student, n
rev days later, received his diploma
from the hands of the president. Dur
| ing the present session a number of
~ 6vrnNw l.
ported to the president. but so far az
we can learn no action has been
taken by him."
In another portion OF the report
Dr. Barringer is said to have shown
a great lack of tact in dealing with
the ministers of Blacksburg. who re-
quested him to take some action for
the protection of female visitors to the
institute. DR.. Barringer is also said
to have been insincere in his treatment
or DR.. John Spencer, and is alleged
to have practically confiscated the
property of DR.. Spencer when the lat
ter left Blacksburg.
DR.. Barringer comes in for another
attack in the inequality OF work which
he placed on the members of the fac
ulty.
THE president" says the commit
tee, seems to be ignorant OF the fact
that In a fair distribution of work the
time required for preparation is an
item. For efficient work more time =
required for class preparation than is
occupied by the lecture period Two
separate and distinct classes require
twice the time for preparation as is
required for one class divided into two
sections.
, Inquiry will bring out the surpris-
ing fact that there are professors in
: the college carrying only one or two
classes, each meeting three hours a
: week, and other professors carrying
, three classes with three weekly meet
ings each, and in addition fifteen hours
OF laboratory, shop or field work a
week-that is, there are some profess
SorS with six hours work a week, and
! others with upward of twenty. One
professor is carrying about thirty
hours a week. The president is either
= ignorant or oblivious of these glaring
: inequalities"
There is pending in the Senate q