The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-23
COLLEGE RUMPUS' GETS BROADCAST
 AS CONTROVERSY
Student Body of New Lon don College Endorses
 President in Resolutions

New London, March 23.-The con- troversy between Dr. F. H. Sykes, president of the Connecticut College for Women, and F. Valentine Chap- pell, chairman of the board of trus- tees and chairman of the executlVe committee, is the main topic among those who are interested in the ln- stitution. Letters are pouring Tn on all those. concerned, for the most part defending Dr. Sykes and condemnlng the methods of F. V. Chappen.
 The students of the college have endorsed the president and others, outside the college, are strong in their condemnation of the board. The statement of the student body fol- lows:
 To President Frederick H Sykes: Upon publication by the press ot statements concerning the existing situation as regards the admin1stra- tion of the Connecticut college, mass meeting of the entire student body was held on Thursday, March l5. AL though the students realized that no Judgment from them was fitting and that they were in possession of no de- finite information on eithed side Of the question, the following motion was unanimously passed.
 Be it resolved that the student council be empowered to draw up ap- propriate resolutions to be sent to President Sykes upon the sanction of the assembled student body.
 Through the following statements the students seek to express to the president of the college their gener- al appreciation of his work with and attitude toward them during the two years of their association with him. In all these activities which have been the making of the social life and spirit of the college President Sykes has ever been a faithful guide and active participant. His wise council and untiring energy have aid ed materially the establishment of high standards of conduct, which we fervently hope may always represent the traditional spirit of Connecticut college.
 In the light of their inexperience the students feel that it is almost be- yond their power to express adequate ly in terms of language their appre- citation of Dr Sykes as great schol- ar and master teacher. Opening for his students broad fields of vision in to the realm of the best literary ideals,
 
 thoughtful discernment and finer sense of appreciation of life values. Above all he has given lasting and in- estimable inspiration for the cultiva- ton of those vital forces which mold the exemplary character of the nob- lest type of woman.
 At all times President Sykes has given the students to feel his ardent cooperation and ever-present inter est in >their activities expressed through entire self-government. The strong spirit of student government has been largely responsible for the unified and loyal attitude of the stu dents in their. great pioneer work of launching a worthy collegiate spirit. It is the wish of the students to ex- press their deep sense of gratitude to the far-sighted leader whose influence made possible this opportunity for the practical development of these in- te1lectual and moral qualities of indi- vidual responsibility and indepen- dence which combine to make the broad-minded, self-respecting indi- vidual of greatest service to society. | Faithfully and respectfully yours, Winona Young, Marion Kofsky, Alice Horax, Marenda Prentis,
 Ruth Trail,
 Esther Batche1der,
 Sadie Colt, Louise Ans1ey,
 N w. Harris of Yonkers, N. Y., has the following to say of the contrOv ersy:
 "Its battle between so-called ebusiness interests and the cause of education. It centers in the board of trustees itself.
 .sThe chairman of that board is one of your leading citizens" The rest are leading citizens or women unfa- n1iliar with either college or business world. On that board, except Dr. Sykes, there is only one man well known in the field of education Dean Wright of Yale, and he is a man of advanced years and not in robust health.
 '.It did not look exactly favorable at the beginning when the brother of the present chairman was selected as the college architect. It wasn't graft, but it hardly seemed the correct thing.
 "It did not look right when tie same interests entered the real es- tate Il0lu LO SCH IIlC SOlAO6O oAi portant part of it's site.
 "It is absolutely unspeakable in it's disregard of proprieties when the chairman of the board sells the col lege it's coal and other current sup plies, and when his friends are chosen for other contracts. Were he mayor of the city like conduct would be against the law.
 "The college in other words has been regarded as good thing for business interests to make money out of and the town has winked at it.
 Another phase of the situation has been brought forth by Walter w. Concklin, a former newspaper man and now a poultry raiser at Water ford. His letter to the New London Day is in part as follows:
 And pray what is the occasion of this row?
 Friction, jealosy, nepotism and "ebusiness reasons'' in a board of trus- tees which had never had any pre- vious experience in matters or the kind which 1t undertook to handle.
 The late Alfred H. Chappell was one of the most enthusiastic support CTS of the college and considering his resources possibly one of the most liberal donators to the fund which the city had to raise so as to obtain that mythical million dollars promised by the Hartford College club for build ings, and yet it has been town talk T, ,f t1,n sob