St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-01-11
DIR. Morrill, Makes A Statement

In Minneapolis Monday just President James Morrill, Of
the University of Minnesota issuing five page statement
in which he denied legislators influenced his decision dismiss
DR. Forrest Virgins Fay George Child publisher OF
the Maynard News was telling audience that DR. Morrill,
had promised him year ago that Virgins would be dis
charged The statements were at complete variance
Senator Chld's both at the Monday meeting
which he addressed and in he previously gave TO
Virgins dismissal Mr. Morrill, the other hand while ad-
hitting that Legislators talked to hm about Or
claims that such conversations had nothing to do with the na
decision terminate the philosophy Instructors services rms
we 10th to believe, -,
spell out the alleged ncOmpeency of Virgins ignored the
fact that Virgins spent large portion oil his teaching career
setting up classes which have accounted Tor ms
failure publish than two scientific articles since ms
original appointment
If the Virgins has developed into state of confus-
ion as claimed the Morrill, statement it is clearly aceabe to
the which the University administration has handled
If Virgins incompetent as claimed and lacked
the scholarship to fill place on the university Sa
with credit the school administration was long time aScer-
tanning the facts
Morrill's statement did squarely fairly the
position which the philosophy department under the leader
shin of DR. George COnger had taken 1t still puzzles plenty OF
people that Virgins associates in the philosophy department
did his dismissal anu as matter OF tac asker
that he be continued for year.
DR. Morrill, may make statements until he is figuravely
blue in the face but he will never convince large body OF
citizens nor large group of his students that Virgins po
cal beliefs not the basic factor IN his termination
He may deny with all the vehemence at his command that
did enter factor in the case but tins newspaper rs
of the same opinion as It was when 1t sid eltoay Dec 81
of the for his dismissal in its opinion was
The mponderabe factor of which affects the atti
tudes and life of many Americans
DR. Morrill, thinks that statement is irresponsible We
submit that he ignoring the fact that while he may be
free race lily he be all of the others who
played part in setting the Virgins discharge are without
color prejudicef
This newspaper any special favors for Negro
teacher the U" place just because he she is
Negro However cannot ignore that while race sometimes
advantage to Negro situated as Virgins it may also
more than openly admitted be distinct handicap
If convinced Virgins was discharged because he
proved incompetent so far as this paper concerned lGe
case would be closed issue We don't think Virgins should
have kept he the first Negro the staff
think he should have been discharged because he
was a Negro whose political views ncidently did not follow
those generally popular
SO stand with the $500 students who think that
something odorous about the Virgins dismissal We
will with them despite the tremendous pressure which
university administration easily fellow teachers
as evidenced by the of the 20 faculty
of week-n which they theoretically sided with the
administration before the American Association of unver
sity Professors had completed its investigation