The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-09-21

and instructors because they proved
to be united to the spirit and needs
OF the Institution and not at all be-
cause they were Negroes. Since this
present administration began, a.
teacher, who happened to be q white
woman and one Of the best of teach
ers In her department of work,
could not be re-employed because
she was not helpful in other ways to
the life there. She did not 20 be-
cause she was white woman. but
because she was not properly help
full.
AT Fisk 1T Is never a question Of
color, but competency In mind and
spirit. On this principle Of admin
istration let us see what have been
the facts OF the last two years at
Fisk.
G) The first new appointment
under the present administration
was that Of young Negro woman,
VINO was put experimentally into a
place that had been held by white
women for thirty-ive years.
Cd The next and perhaps most
important change in the faculty dur
Ing this time was the creation Of a
new department Of study for juniors
| and seniors. One Of the first pieces
or administrative work planned from
the beginning was the broadening
and strengthening Of the work Of
the upper classes To this end tho
Trustees generously voted the ,addi-
ton OF the new department of So
c1al Science. And the man chosen
for 1T? A Negro, an alumnus of
| Fisk.
| CD Another new position has
! been created, also very important:
the office Of Registrar. For that DO
Sltlon a Negro woman was promoted
from the faculty.
| These three appointments were all
made prior. to any white" addition
Or promotion.
CD At the latest Trustees meet
Ing two strong promotions were
made, and the only two, out OF a
FACULTY of forty people, two-thirds
of whom are white Both these were
Negro members Of the faculty.
| (5)l In the last two yearsl five
| white members Of the faculty for
various reasons have not been reap
pointed.
If then, the report has been sent
around among the friends Of Fisk
| that the color line is being drawn
at Fisk" it is proper to ask: In
| whose favor has it been drawn ?
Let the above five facts be the an
swer
As straight matter of fact. in
all these instances Of appointment,
promotion, resignation, dMmissal,
the question of color has not entered,
| tered.
All Of which shows that, given a
| malicious spirit, facts are irrelevant
and even unimportant 1t is easy
enough to ignore some facts, prevent
some, and invent others, when, tie
purpose. IleYDlialtly,, thgeatenedD :, Is
TO create a. sensation and work
| harm to a great institution.
summing it up, at the close of
N-1O i"oI dSe"oSullC year Ill June there
were five persons who were not re-
| employed and there were half a dozen
other changes in status and work.
-Four Negro teachers were given dis
tinct promotions. Of the five leav-
Ing, positions occupied by the two
| officers who were not teachers, have
always been held by white persons
until these individuals were appoint
ed. To quote from a member of the
faculty, "It would not be great
change in our history if the best
persons to be secured for the places
should again be white"
1T is we'll to note that not one Of
the above changes is in the college or
even in the preparatory department.
But all>are in the lower grades. where
changes are likely to be more fre0uent
1T may be Of interest, also, since
the positive statement has been sent
| out that all these five places We're
to be filed by white people, that at
this date, August ii, the oniy two
appointments made are Negroes. the
! other three being still undetermined
Perhaps enough has been set down