Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-16
PRESIDENT SYKES GIVES
 REASONS FOR oPPosiTIoi
Says Trouble Lies in the Board Q
 Trustses.

Following the announcement Thurs day morning that the resignation of
 necticut ~ College for Woman man had % been been demanded by the board Of trustees and that Dr. Sykes intended to contest such action. pr: Sykes has made the lows:
 The statements have precipitated public discussion of college affairs. which was inevitable. Notwithstand- ing the great success of the college and its efficient Administration, the
 board of trustees has been brought to vote for the reatEnation of President Sykes at its meeting of Jan. z2, in New Haven And again a section of the meeting of the board. Feb. 9, again in New Haven. voted voted down a proposed examination into college af-
 fairs. At no time has the president of ent at any meeting Of the board to discuss the criticism of his adrnfnis- tra or his relations to the officers of the board.
 The causes of the vote have noth- ing to do with the administration of the college as an educational fnstftu- ton, which Is an acknowledged signal
 success. The trouble lies in the board itself.
 The president of the college has had to oppose the appointment to the coI-
 1ege staff of one trustee. the sister of |
 the brother of another. These four
 trustees oppose the president, who has
 had to work with an executive com mittee of the board that has neglected
 for instance. the Winthrop dormitory
 was two nonths late for occupancy. the Field house lost for the entire year and certain collecg roads impossible. knowledge of the president of the col lege or consent of the board of trus- tees.
 Ons trustee. Mir. Colin s. Buell., has zation of the ege-appointments and salaries of the faculty. courses of instruction, etc. Another trHstee, Miss Elizabeth Wright. who is registrar and bursar, has interfered in college ad-
 ministration at every point. MT. r. V. Chappell is not only chair man of the board. but of the executive committee;- he has made MT. Buell. Elizabeth Wright, chairman of an- other. By leaving the building com
 nittee in abeyance he has Kept the building contracts of the college in the control of his executive committee and excluded the president of the college from its meetings. And the president has had to face the efforts of the Chappen Coal CO. of which MT. Chap
 is treasurer. to break their contract
 with the college for 400 tons of bitutni- nous coal at s per ton. for which the Chappeli Co. tried to get $9. And he Is the brother of member of the firm of the college architects, Ewing & Chappen, who have. while they rem dered as much good service, left us considerable troubles through imper- tractors. MT. ChaDpell desire2, he tells, me. a change in the presidency for business reasons.
 know of no legal suits over the ialI fa6 ad tlf of
 my control in February. 1916, when the orieinal building committee was dissolved. I know of no trouble with MT. Morton F. Plant. who has assured me recently of his keen interest in the future of the college.
 The whole question is, does the board of trustees, do the people of New London does the world of edu- cation, wish the high destinies of this college left in the hands of F. V. Chappe1? That is what l am under obligation to ascertain? There is no other question.
 Mayor Ernest E. Rogers. one of the three members of the executive com mittee of the board of trustees, like wise declined to make any statement in reference to the situation. T have absolutely nothing to sav.' said Mayer Rogers, "and I believe the only proper person to speak is Chairman F. Val entine Chappell."
 William H. Reeves, another trustee on the executive committee, took a similar position to the mayor and re- fused to discuss the controversy in any manner. "whatever statement there may be should come from Chair man Chappel1," he said.
 MT. Chappell is in New York on a business trip and it is therefore i'm possible to tell whether he will talk for publication on his return.
 Miss Elizabeth c. Wright, registrar of the college and also a trustee was asked regarding the matter and re- piled that she would prefer tn leave the question of any public atterance to Chairman Chappell.