Letter from
Henry Harrisse
to the
Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, September 27, 1856
Harrisse, Henry, 1829-1910
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To the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina
Gentlemen:
It is a difficult matter at all times to command the attention and respect of a large
class of College Students; but when the discipline is lax, and impunity an occurrence of
every day life, the task of the instructor becomes altogether impossible. If to his
manifold tribulations, we add a disposition on the part of his colleagues to drive him to
a resignation, or if such a belief is current among the students, a due sense of
self-respect makes it incumbent on him to apply for redress to those to whom the
individual welfare of the members of the Faculty is entrusted.
Without referring to the difficulties which of late have been a cause of great annoyance
and mortification to me, I shall limit myself to the case which today, and for the last
time, brings me before you.
Mr. William Whitaker
of the Junior Class had often been guilty of
disorder and impropriety in my recitation room. I was at last compelled to resort to
stringent measures, and on the 4
th of October last, summoned him to appear
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before the Faculty. There, in the presence of all the officers of the
Institution, he grossly insulted me. An explanation was demanded of him; and here are
almost the very words of his communication:
"I have been told by
Dr. Mitchell
that if I do not retract what I said yesterday, I
shall be dismissed.
I therefore retract."
Strange as it may appear to those who are not familiar with the proceedings of this
Faculty, such a letter was accepted.
A few weeks afterwards,
Mr. Whitaker's
improprieties of conduct became again so intolerable
that I had to reiterate my summons.
Mr. Whitaker
was heard, and the Faculty decided that if he ever was
guilty of such an offence again, he would be dismissed.
He kept on! The whole section became very difficult to manage; several members of the
same class had to be admonished for disobedience to me, but finding that I could no longer
command the respect of the students if
Mr. Whitaker's
conduct was tolerated, I ordered him to come before
the Faculty.
No notice was taken of the determination of the 13
th of November, although it was of record and stood unrepealed.
"A motion was made to dismiss him," says the journal, "in
consideration of his repeated offences of this description," and it was laid on
the table
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with the special warning, that if he ever was guilty of the same impropriety of
deportment, he would be removed from the Institution. This was also recorded.
With due respect, I ask whether this was not carrying forbearance to the extreme, and if
perchance I submitted once more to such a course, I had not the right to expect that
Mr. Whitaker
should be made to treat me with the respect due to a
gentleman and a teacher; and if he failed to do so, that the Faculty was in duty bound to
remove him? Knowing, however, how much I had at stake, and how precarious were my hopes of
redress, I took pains to avoid all further collisions with
Mr. Whitaker
.
To-day, when called to recite, he replies in a very impertinent manner, refuses to
comply, and by mimicking my imperfect pronunciation of English, throws the whole class
into a violent and protracted fit of laughter. In accordance with the regulations of the
University which say, (Chapt. IV. 6.) that "for
gross and persevering violation of the rules of decorum, the student may be forthwith
dismissed when the instructor shall deem it necessary." I quietly tell
Mr Whitaker
to retire. He ridicules me again, and peremptorily
refuses to obey. Incensed by his language and demeanor, I reiterate my summons, adding by
way of threat, that if he does not leave the room, one of us two shall have to leave the
Institution. "Then it will be you," says he," and he sinks back
into his seat.
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Six members of the Faculty voted that
Mr. Whitaker
be dismissed; five against it, and were joined by
Gov. Swain
, which caused the motion to be lost. After the vote had
been taken and result ascertained, the President, little willing, as I imagine, to bear
the responsibility of such an unjust measure, found that the motion was out of order.
Dr. Phillips
was then instructed to see
Mr. Whitaker's
parents. And this, in the very face of his repeated
offences, and of the two recorded resolutions of the Faculty, is the only punishment which
is to be inflicted on him!
P.S. Sept. 27th 1856
Mrs. Whitaker having asked time to write to her
husband, in reply to
Dr. Phillips'
remarks, and an answer having been received; the
letter was read, and as Mr. Whitaker showed no disposition whatever to withdraw his son
from College, the vote was again taken whether he should be dismissed. The motion was lost
by a majority of one, and none substituted in its place. The intention of this vote is so
manifest, that I shall abstain from all comments. I can only add that thereby I am left
powerless to meet two hundred and thirty students.
In the hope and sincere belief that justice will be done to me, I appeal to your
well-known impartiality.
I remain, Gentlemen, with great respect, your obedient servant.
Henri Herrisse
, A.M.