Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-30


was unfortunate. for only q few days
remained. However. the responsibility
for. the choice Of time can rest only
upon the students themselves. The
faculty committee and the trustees In
their regular meetings OF Tuesday and
Wednesday Of commencement week
worked upon the AFFAIR with all pos
sible dispatch, but In the very nature
OF things such In important decision
could not be reached until Wednesday
Afternoon. The result was announced
to the students involved the same
night. Then arose an extraordinarily
difficult situation. DR.. Harlan and the
committee were sympathetic to the ef-
forts Of the seniors to secure their d.
plomas along with their class. But al
the same time they felt bound by the
recent action Of the board OF trustees
to consider all involved students sus-
pended until satisfied that both the
Individual and his secret society would
be no longer fraternaliy active in Cor
nell. II the seniors were given their
diplomas outright even on their indi-
vidual promise, their group might go
on In the future doing business.
Furthermore such action would have
entailed a precedent.
Bond Plan 10 Suggested.
After a forenoon meeting with in
terested seniors, DR.. Harlan and the
committee met them again at 1880
Thursday afternoon. commencement
day. Upon the urgent request Of mem :
Der .of the faculty deeply interested
in the girls getting their diplomas with
1,o{r al a. no ito
ranged, Senator Stucklager sought Il
conference with President Harlan. Var
ious ways of modifying the boards &C.
ton We're suggested, but found made
quate. On the spur of the moment, in
casting about for plan to avert pub
lie humiliation for the girls. DR.. Harlan
proposed the $1,000 bond plan. This
plan did not originate as deliberate
connection. as implied in several &C
counts, but was suggestion from DR..
Harlan to Senator Stuckslager as an
extraordinary measure to meet an eN-
traordinary situation The suggestion
was made by DR.. Harlan in a symbol
thetic mood for the girls and accepted
by Senator Stackslager in the same
spirit
THE suggestion of a bond when the
the previous breaking up of pledges By
groups or individuals IS considered
does not appear to be at all unreason-
able, for some plan had to be devised
Immediately If diplomas We're to be
granted that afternoon.
can agreement had been reached and
the girls were on the point of leaving
to be in readiness for the presentation
Of the diplomas when it developed from
an inadvertent remark that lawsuit
was threatened. Tho not intended as a
threat, yet of course this made the
previous plan and agreement impos-
sible. The college could not afford to
give any one the opportunity to say
that 1t had been driven by threat to
capitulate and grant diplomas.
Girls Evads More CIeverIy.
III any one who claims that the girls
we're not culpable in any sense as were
the boys will take poll Of ten students
from each class, taking both fraternity
and non-fraternity students alike, be
will find by AN overwhelming majority
the opinion held that the girls were
exactly on the same plane as the boys.
True, they were more clever in sub
rosa tactics in evading open violation
Of the rules. but their groups were per-
petuated from year to year. which
makes 1t out Of the question to class
their sub rosa sororities as congenial
social groups.
The statements, that Immunity had
been given or even suggested to any
member OF. slgroup on making a sub
Ecription to the college evidently grew