Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-30
STATEMENTS ISSUED ~ cru.
DENTS AND FACULTY JUST.
FLYING POSITIONS.
SOCIETY MEMBERS CLAIM
TO be UNFAIRLY TREATED
A''sss Snap Judgment and That They
Were Not Accorded Fair Rearing
Faculty Members Lay Blame for Re.
suit Of Controversy on studsnts-
Deny Allegations Of Society Member.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican,
l. Cedar Rapids. June 3O.-What may
be termer official statements concern.
ing the recent much discussed frater-
nifty row at Cornell College have been
issued by the two sides to the contro-
versy. The student side il given NV
one OF the most prominent members of
d 1reeK fraternity. Mr. Estol West, q
student who participated in the de-
noeraticns between the faculty and the
ia.erhty representatives. Mr.. West.
IN his statement says:
Early IN the spring term the mem
pers OF the Sigma Nu fraternity were
INFORMED that President Harlan was en-
oeavorng to Obtain information con-
corning the active members of that
order. and that his motive was to make
an example of one or more members
by expulsion and thereby influence
other fraternity men TO discontinue
their relations with Greek letter soci-
cites. This did not seem to be a fair
proposition and as result of a con.
ference with President Harlan. the
Sigma NJ fraternity succeeded in per-
suading him to act collectively rather
than individually in the matter. This
promise was bound by written pledge
signed by President Harlan, stating
that he and his committee would give
careful consideration to the Sigma Nu
petition. and that they would decide
decistvely the fraternity and sorority
| problem in Cornell. Our petition asked
! for one of two things-eitter open ex-
puision OF all fraternity men and sor-
Gritty girls or one years trial Of open
RECOGNITION to justify our right to exist
! In Cornell as Greek letter societies.
Members Given No Hearing.
Immediately after receiving this
pledge the Sigma Nus by means Of five
representatives presented their petition
with the names of their men, to the
committee and were given the privilege
Of presenting their arguments. At the
close of the meeting it seemed as if
strong impression had been made
and that a favorable report would be
made to the board Of trustees. Later
in the week the Delta Phi Rho frater-
nifty and three sorority groups sub
mitted similar petitions to the COM
mittee. and were accorded the privilege
Of sending representatives to discuss
the matter with the faculty This ended
the controversy until June II, when a
representative from the sororities and
enc from the fraternitfes met with
the board Of trustees to explain their
action and state their views In the
matter. Shortly after this meeting we
were told that there was no chance
for recognition, inasmuch as two years
previous the trustees had resolved that
there should be no fraternities, soror-
tiles or groups in Cornell-this action
being taken without hearing from the
fraternity men. and with large
number Of the board absolutely ignor-
ant Of what fraternity really means.
1.-THE remainder of the action was
very simple. On June 10 all of the
fraternity men and sorority girls
GUS petitions were expelled from school
(expect those who were not in school
this YEAR,. but with the understanding
that they could be reinstated when
they gave up all fraternity and soror-
ity action. To those who are not ac-
quainted with the school this undoubt-
eddy means that the problem is solved.
but to those who have been connected
with the school 1t means that the con-
ditions are precisely the same that
they have been and that the situa-
ton is just as deplorable as ever be-
fore.
Alleges Snap Judgment.
The whole injustice in this action Of
the faculty and trustees has been rem
dered to those Of the graduating class.
They allowed the seniors to prepare
for graduation and on the day when
they were to receive their diplomas
they were refused them, except under
bonds. These few people voluntarily
submitted their names to the faculty.
knowing that the faculty had no proof
against them. but they did it in their
determination to cooperate with the
faculty in cleaning up the situation.
They were entirely frank and honor
able in their action. and why could not
the faculty and trustees meet them on
as honorable basis and give them an
honorable dismissal as our petition
called for?
ITO prove thta the fraternity men and
sorority girls were of the highest type
lin school let me relate some Of the
facts concerning their prominence in
various college activities. OF the
twenty six fellows who were expelled
lall belonged to some one Of the four
mems literary societies: eleven rep
resented the college on the gridiron
last fall: four represented the college
on the basketball floor: eight had rep
resented the college on the diamond,
and four of them We're track men. This
group includes the ex-captain and cap
ttain-elect in football, ex-captain and |
captain-elect in basketball and the ex-
captain in baseball, besides the eX-
president Of the Y. M. c. A., president
OF the G. club. president of the Pep |
club, the members OF which are elected |
iby popular vote, four intercollegiate |
debaters and three inter-society. de-
baters.l Az for the sororities, 1t in
cludes nineteen from the Aesthesian
Literary Society, fourteen from the |
iPhilamathian society, four from the Y.
W.. G. "A. cabinet four from the senior
council and six from the Pep club"
The Faculty Position.
The faculty and trustees have issued
the following official version of the at
fair and their position with reference
to fraternttfes:
First of-a4l. the action of the board
OF trustees in guspending conditionally
seventy-two students was not a bolt
from the blue az was intimated in the
hrst newspaper accounts. sucn action
was natural and logical in view OF Cor
nell's unswerylng adherence to the idea