Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1917-01-13

tains a statement from President
Hendrick of the State University ir
his own defense. from which the fol
lowing is taken. Last week this pa
per published the proceedings of the
new board relative to its attitude
toward the University and the Presi.
dent. and the change following came
as complete surprise, too late for
publication or comment in that issue
President Hendricks reply to the
ac,on taken by the Board of Regents
of the University was issued Tuesday
morning. 1t is rather lengthy, but
it has such bearing on the points a.
issue that it is reproduced in part, as
follows, space preventing its full text
Reno. New. Jan. 10, 1917.
The Editor Carson Appeal-It car
hardly be questioned that the welfare
and success of any educational in
stitution. such as the University oil
Nevada, depends fundamentally upon
its good reputation, not only at home
but just as essentially abroad. Such
good reputation relates not only to its
equipment and environment. organ.
izatiop and general administration,
but to its complete freedom from po-
litical or sectarian domination or
strife. For on that good repute edu-
Gators of high attainment can be OBJ
tanned for its president and faculty
and when once secured can be re
tanned. And on such good repute stu
dents are attracted and the Uniyer
sity makes steady progress.
In most, if not all, other States. tn
regents of the university are not
elected, but are appointed, and {
member is likely to serve consider
able period and so become actuali,
and intimately acquainted with the
affairs of the institution, before his
voice in its management Will be giver
any very serious consideration. Un
der such system and for such reason
the system was devised, it is impossi
BILE for a new member or new mem
bers the first day or week OF then
service. to disturb the established or:
der of things. or to conduct them
selves in the manner of the proverbia
bull in the china shop.
This State elects its regentS.- Oi
the second day of January the major
ity of the Board OF Regents comprised
three new members, who began then
duties without former experience a:
regents or any actual acquaintance
with the existing university. To tn
President OF the University and to thu
retiring members of the board they
announced that, all rumors and pur
ported statements to the contrary
they had assumed their duties with
out program of any kind. that no rad
ical changes of any character were
contemplated unless justified after
iull. fair, and impartial investigation
and, in any event. not until they hat
become thoroughly acquainted with
the actual conditions and needs of tht
University.
The attitude of the new majority
members of the Board to the Presi-
dent on that day and the two follow
ing days was completely in keeping
with such declaration.
On the fourth day after the as.
sumption of their duties as regents
the board went into executive session
inviting the President to withdraw
Ut may be said in passing the Presi-
dent was not again invited to attend
the meeting of the board, which &C
counts for his absence when his res
gnation was under discussion J Late
in the afternoon the two hold-over
Regents, DR.. Supllivan and Mr.
O'Brien, called upon the President
and notified him that the majority
members had resolved to '!enaIl his
resignation, to take effect May lst
with leave of absence meantime, with
the alternative of immediate dismissal
unless such resignation was preesntet
by II o'clock the following day. That
no charges against the President had
been presented or considered, but that
the reason given by the majority mem
bers for such demand was the welfare
of the University and to comply with
the will of the people as expressed al
the last election, and that the two
hold-over members had strongly op-
posed such action, but without avail
On the advice of my attorney my
resignation was handed to Regent
Sullivan, to be presented to the Boare
of Regents on the following day, as
follows;
Il am in receipt of YOUR message
delivered to me bv Regents O'Briei
and Sullivan.
"Your offer to give me leave of alb
sence to May |. 1917. with full pay
| accept, and | do hereby resign my
position as President of the Univer.
sity of Nevada, effective May |, l9l7.'
The minutes of the Board of Re
gents show what transpired at thai
meeting. Regent Sullivan called at.
tention to the fact that no charge
of any kind had been presented OF
covered either by this or any preced
ing Board of Regents, and demanded
that the majority members define their
reasons for their action. Whereupor
| the three new members requested c
recess and the withdrawal of Regents
Sullivan and O'Brien while tn J