Gilchrist Replies To Six V S A Accusations
In a statement to the Board
of Directors, President Gibb
Gilchrist on Saturday morn
ing answered the six specific
questions asked by the Vet
eran Students Association at
their Thursday night meeting.
The complete text of Gil
christ’s statement follows:
In connection with the present
troubled situation at A. and M.
College, I hope we may not be de
tracted from the main immediate
issue, hazing. If this great insti
tution is to reach the status and
standing intended by the people
of Texas who own and control it,
hazing in all its forms must go.
In your investigation of hazing
and in your deliberations you have
reached a conclusion—in which I
emphatically join—that such steps
as may be necessary must be taken
to insure that a student coming
here can attend this institution and
be governed only by the regula
tions and the Basic Policy of the
College. You have ordered the
President of the College and other
officials to see that this is made
possible, and we are taking steps
to carry out your orders.
Since I have been made a focal
point of attack in one of the efforts
to divert the thinking of the people
of Texas from the main issue, it
is appropriate that I make a few
statements that may be helpful to
the members of the Board in an
swering inquiries.
I do not know of any employee
of the College who has been placed
under duress by the administration.
The policies adopted by the Board
in the Rules and Regulations adop
ted October 14, 1944 are clear and
seem to be fair to the College and
employee alike. These have not
been changed but are in full force
and effect. Under these rules ev
ery employee is given the freest
and fullest opportunity for ex
pression.
In the letter inviting me to ad
dress the A. and M. Mothers’ Club
at Dallas, I was asked to choose
my own subject, which I did. I
chose to talk about our building
program, especially those plans
for a Union building, a Chapel, and
a physical education plant, and
other important items in connec
tion with the spiritual, moral, and
physical welfare of our students.
On Mother’s Day 1946, I was
in Washington as Chairman of an
Engineering Committee concerned
with highway safety. I was ap
pointed to this place by President
Truman, and I felt it my duty to be
there, as did the Board of Direc
tors.
Blue Star
A complaint is made about the
loss of the blue star by the cadet
corps. The advanced course was
not reactivated until February
1946. Inspection was made the lat
ter part of April. I think it best
to enclose a copy of a letter which
I wrote to General Devers regard
ing this report. Later it was de
cided that the best way to get
back our rating was to a good job
and the enclosed more recent report
is evidence of what Colonel Meloy
has done.
I fear, however, the effects of
the present action of the senior
cadets on the military rating.
Vets Question
Six specific questions came from
the Veterans Association meeting
Thursday night. These questions
with their answers follow:
“1. Q. What has happened to a
fund established prior to 1943 for
a new classroom and laboratory
building to augment the Science
Hall, and why hasn’t construction
started on the building This fund
was in the amount of approximate
ly $200,000.”
Ans. In September 1940, $200,-
000 was set aside for the erection
of a classroom building. $140,000
was from local funds and $60,000
from Pure Feed funds. Plans were
prepared, but it was impossible to
construct the building on account
of the War. In July 1945, the
Board of Directors found it neces
sary to transfer $70,000 of this
fund to current expenses pending
the payment of fees by the Veter
ans Administration. In September
1945, the Board transferred the
remaining $70,000 of local funds
to the student recreation account,
which was allocated to a softball
diamond, intramural message cen
ter, outdoor slab, intramural foot
ball goal posts, tennis courts, hand
ball field, and renovating of old
consolidated School building.
In May 1946, the Board of Dor-
ectors transferred the $60,000 back
to the Pure Feed Fund which was
needed for operating and research
purposes. During the same fiscal
year, $275,000 was added to the
physical plant fund, and this re
mains available when it is possible
to construct the building original
ly planned.
Farm Land Valuation
“2. Q. What was the basis of
the purchase of a Brazos River
Bottom farm at approximately $78
per acre when adjacent farm land
was, and still is, selling at approx
imately $60 an acre?”
Ans. On January 8, 1944 the
Board of Directors authorized Dean
Kyle to secure options on the 2776
acres in the Brazos River Bottom
farm and make recommendations
to the Board at its next meeting.
On February 19, 1944, on the rec
ommendation of Dean Kyle, the
Board authorized the purchase of
this land at $75 per acre, and all
of the equipment and teams at a
price of $18,750.
This land was appraised by
George C. Chance, M. W. Sims,
and J. Earl Porter, all owners of
Brazos River farms, at an average
price of $78 per acre, and separate
ly by W. M. Pinson, Chief Ap
praiser for the John Hancock Mu
tual Life Insurance Company and
a graduate of the College in 1926,
at an average of $76.34 per acre.
The equipment and teams were ap
praised by representatives of the
State Board of Control.
Exchange Store
“3. Q. Why should the College
Exchange Store, located here on
state-owned property be permitted
to make a net profit last year of
$54,000 at the expense of the indi
vidual student and the Federal
Government?”
Ans. The operating profits of
the Exchange Store for 1945-46
were used as follows:
$18,004.64 (representing o n e-
third) was retained by the store
for operation.
$3,864.21 was set up to pay a
10 per cent dividend to students
on sales slips signed and deposited.
$8,036.26 was transferred to a
fund for student recreation.
$24,108.81 was transferred to
the Union Building operating fund.
This is considered a good busi
ness operation. Note that all prof
its go to student benefits.
Wind Tunnel
“4. Q. Why is the $100,000 wind-
tunnel located at Easterwood Air
Field not in operation? Why was
the survey and subsequent recom
mendation of Dr. A. A. Potter, of
Purdue University, to spend not
over $25,000 on a wind tunnel ig
nored?”
Ans. The wind tunnel is not yet
in operation because it has been
impossible to secure electric power
equipment and power line equip
ment. We hope that we may soon
be able to buy this and put the
wind tunnel in operation. Dean
Potter made no such recommenda
tion as indicated.
The first appropriation of $60,-
000 was obtained from the Legis
lature in 1943 under the adminis
tration of Dr. T. O. Walton. It
was understood that this would not
complete the project, and the Leg
islature in 1945 appropriated an
additional $45,000 which is suf
ficient to place the plant in opera
tion when the power units and
power line can be secured and con
structed.
Late we hope to add further re
finements to the wind tunnel, such
as a completely closed circuit and
perhaps pressure facilities. This
will likely be provided by returns
from the operation of the unit
now nearing completion. We are
very proud of this installation and
its possibilities.
Bryan Field
“5. Why did President Gilchrist
refuse to accept the outright gift
of Bryan Army Air Field from the
Federal Government for the use
of the Aeronautical Engineering
Department”
Ans. No such offer was made by
the Federal Government. An Id-
Board Estimates $250,000
Loss in Prairie View Fire
The Board of Directors estimated Saturday that it would
cost $250,000 to rebuild the main administration building at
Prairie View State College. * For sixty years the center of
Prairie View’s activities, the building was totally destroyed
by fire Saturday morning at 5 a.m.>
It will be necessary for the di
rectors to ask the Legislature for
an appropriation to cover the build
ing and equipment cost, since Pra
irie View is a branch of A. & M.
Nearby Waller and Hempstead
fire departments aided the pajama-
clad students fight the flames, but
could do nothing more than pre
vent the fire from spreading to
other buildings.
Dr. W. R. Banks, principal emer
itus, estimated the building’s value
at $50,000, but the directors gave
$250,000 as a replacement cost.
The Prairie View administration
building houses the offices of the
president, treasurer, dean of men,
social science departments, and
the post office.
ROTC head, Col. W. A. Hamilton,
supposed that the fire commenced
in the post office, but no cause
was learned.
Arrangements were already
made Saturday to tear down the
burned walls to prevent a possi
ble collapse and accident.
Discovered by a night watch
man who immediately turned in
the alarm, the fire was too far
gone upon the arrival of the Hemp
stead and Waller fire departments.
The volunteer fire department of
the college was hampered when
the first line put down burst.
Spring Recess
Library Hours
According to Paul S. Ballance,
librarian, the library hours for
the Easter holidays will be as
follows:
April .3-4—8 to 5
April 5 —8 to 12
April 6 —Closed
April 7 —Regular
quiry from the College brought
the information that the status of
the field would not be determined
until the Congress had determined
future appropriations and author
izations.
Tenure
“6. Q. Why doesn’t Texas A. &
M. have a definite tenure system
for the right of appeal for its fac
ulty members?”
Ans. Tenure rules for faculty
members have been discussed from
time to time but it was felt any
formulation of rules would of nec
essity be restrictive rather than
liberalizing the present policy un
der which tenure js practically con
tinuous except for cause. Rules
and Regulations of the College as
adopted by the Board of Directors
in 1944 and now in effect provide
“teachers and employees shall be
subject to dismissal for cause at
any time by the President of the
College, subject to review by the
Board of Directors” and further
“any employee, feeling himself ag
grieved, shall have the right of
appeal.”
Since the President of the Vet
erans Association refused to an
swer questions and comment on
the complaints, I make no attempt
to answer some of the more indef
inite accusations pending further
information. In so far as I know,
none of the specific questions have
been raised with the College ad
ministration. We have always been
receptive to veterans requests. Ev
ery man in supervisory capacity
dealing with the veterans is a vet
eran himself.
Underlying Cause
I think the Board should inquire
into the underlying cause of the
v e t e ra n s action. The charges
which came from the meeting are
not such as to justify the call
which went out, and we did not
learn anything more yesterday. It
is my own belief that the interest
generated in the meeting and in
the charges stems from the same
old cause; namely, hazing, and the
determination of the College ad
ministration to stamp it out.
I believe very strongly in con
stituted authority. The people of
Texas have been very kind to me,
and I have served them many
years. These people through legal
processes have created a Board of
Directors to whom I am directly
responsible and through them to
the people of Texas.
I believe this College should be
operated under the Rules and Reg
ulations of the Board of Directors.
It happens that the present Board
has shown itself receptive to any
suggestions, criticisms, or c o m-
ments for the betterment of the
College. I hope the Board will
take action at this meeting that
will leave doubt in no mind that it
expects to exercise its sworn ob
ligations in the operation of this
institution.
Investigation
The House of Representatives
has provided for an investigating
committee. I think the Board
should welcome this investigation.
I hope that such committee will be
given sufficient funds and clothed
with authority to summon witness-
ers, take testimony under oath, and
to punish anyone refusing to testi
fy, and to make transcript of tes
timony to the end that a full and
complete hearing will be had.
Scholastic Standing
The statement that A. and M. is
going backward scholastically is
untrue. The Board can satisfy it
self as to that by conferring with
many of the forward-looking men
engaged in our work toward the
betterment of the College. The
whole program is being modernized
and made more efficient. I do not
think any Board has ever taken
such a forward step as that taken
by this Board in providing for the
coordination of agricultural acti
vities. We are making some real
progress in getting outstanding
men here.
The people of Texas deserve real
service from this institution. We
are on the move aggressively to
achieve the objectives for which
this institution was created. The
opportunities in the fields man
dated to us by the Constitution are
limitless. Objectively we propose
to make this institution second to
none. Nothing should be permit
ted to stand in the way of this
movement.
GIBB GILCHRIST
President
VOLUME 46 COLLEGE STATION (Aggieland), TEXAS, TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 1947 Number 54
COTTON QUEEN JOANN DOBBS in a solo pose. She was
chosen by the Cotton Ball Committee to reign during the festivities
of the Cotton Ball and Pageant taking place on April 18. Her court
will include the eight runner-up Tessie beauties in the contest and a
duchess from every club on the campus.
Cadet Seniors Go on Trial
Before Boards of Officers
Trial of the senior cadets accused of flagrantly disobey
ing orders of Col. G. S. Meloy got under way Monday after
noon in Ross Hall, with sentences varying from removal
from the corps to restrictions to campus and demerits.
Boards of officers, presided over4
by Col. G. S. Meloy, commandant,
with Lt. Col. Bennie Zinn and three
other officers participating, were
in session all Monday afternoon,
spending about twenty minutes on
each individual case.
The Board of Directors, in ses
sion Friday and Saturday, issued
a statement Saturday directing
that this means be used in dealing
with the senior cadets. The board
explained this departure from
a long-standing policy of non-in
tervention in operational affairs
by the exigencies of the situation.
Sessions began Monday after
noon at 1:30 p.m. and were still
continuing at deadline. A second
board of officers, different except
for Col. Meloy and Lt. Zinn, was
scheduled to meet Monday night
at 7:30 p.m. Two sessions are
also slated for Tuesday, with the
final meeting Wednesday after
noon at 1:30 p.m.
One hundred and forty-one sen
iors, practically the entire class
except for three veteran cadet of
ficers who agreed to interviews,
are scheduled to appear.
McCormick Busted
Those receiving punishment as
of 6 p.m. Monday included Bill
McCormick, president of the senior
class and prominent figure in the
recent episode. McCormick was
sentenced to removal from rank as
cadet major commanding the en
gineer battalion, restriction to cam
pus for the remainder of the se
mester, assessed fifteen demerits,
and put on military probation.
Others removed from the cadet
corps were A. O. Hamon, Mike
Cuscurida, Moon Mullins, Oscar
I Jimenez, J. M. Pankonien, and L.
| W. Pollard. Dick Jones and Bob
| Sanders, who appeared before the
; Board of Directors Saturday, were
also moved from the corps.
Punishments varying from re-
I moval from rank, restriction to
campus, assessment o f demerits
and combinations of all were ac
corded Bill Freeman, Clyde Hud
dleston, John Kelso, Melvin Maltz,
Bill Mannas, and J. D. Roper. All
contract men were placed on mil
itary probation.
Some of the men appearing be
fore the board have requested that
their punishment include removal
from the cadet corps.
Background
Charges against the seniors
grew out of a meeting of the class
on March 19, when seniors pres
ent returned a vote of “no confi
dence” in Cadet Col. Ed Brandt
See TRIAL, Page 4
Senate Joins House
Investigation
The Senate yesterday asked the
House to join with them in a leg
islative investigation of the past
two months flare-up at A. & M.
between the cadet corps, veterans
and administration.
Senator Moffett of Chillicothe,
an Ex-Aggie, made the resolution
to the Senate and broke down in
tears while making his speech. He
won unanimous approval by the
Senate on his resolution for legis
lative help in “clearing the good
name of that institution from all
the adverse publicity it has been
receiving.”
Funds of $2500 has been set up
for a ten man committee—five
senators and five representatives
—to investigate the happenings at
A. & M. and also passed yesterday
in the Senate. This committee will
not begin its investigation until
next week due to the Easter holi
days beginning Wednesday. The
committee will have the right to
subpoena witnesses for the inves
tigation.
‘Board Will Not Hesitate To
Make Environment Change’
The following statement
was issued Saturday after
noon by the Board of Direc
tors :
In view of recent statements and
demands which have been made in
student meetings, in the press and
in letters circularized throughout
the State, the Board of Directors
of the Agricultural and Mechani
cal College desire to place before
the people of Texas this statement:
The presidency of this institu-
★ ★ ★
Comptroller Answers Room
Rent, Mess Hall Complaints
Saturday morning the following statement was read
to the board of Directors by W. H. Holzmann, comptroller
of the college, regarding room rent and mess hall complaints:
This is with reference to the*
‘general’ complaints filed by the
Veteran Students’ Associa t i o n
March 28:
On October 8, 1938 the Board of
Directors fixed the room rent at
a minimum of $5 per student per
month to provide for the payment
of the principal and interest of $2,-
00,000 building revenue bonds is
sued for the construction of twelve
dormitories and a dining hall, in
pursuance of Article 2063c Revised
Civil Statutes. These bonds are
secured solely by the net revenues
of the twelve new dormitories, the
old dormitories and the new din
ing hall. The room rent must at all
times be sufficient for costs of op
eration and maintenance and bond
service.
Due to a decrease in the enroll
ment and increase in costs of oper
ation and maintenance the Board
of Directors on March 10, 1945,
deemed it necessary to increase the
room rent to $10 per month per
student, effective June 1, 1945. On
January 12, 1946 the Board of Di
rectors reduced the room rent to
$7.50 per month per student effec
tive February 12, 1946. This was
made possible by the increased en
rollment.
Present Rates
Effective September 2, 1946, the
room rent was changed to $7.50
per month per student for two stu
dents per room, $5 per month per
student for more than two students
per room and $5 per month per
student for the College Annex at
the Bryan Army Air Field. Since
these dates did not provide suffi
cient revenue at the Main College
to service the bonds and at the An
nex to cover operating and main
tenance costs they were changed
effective January 27, 1947, to $7.50
per month per student, regardless
VSA Telegram
To Governor,
House Speaker
The following telegram was
sent t o Governor Beauford
Jester and Speaker of the
House W. O. Reed, Sunday
night by W. S. “Bill” An
drews, President of the VSA:
“IN VIEW OF THE PREJUDG
ED OPINION OF THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS AND THE PRES
IDENT OF TEXAS A&M COL
LEGE WE REQUEST THAT YOU
EXERT YOUR INFLUENCE IN
THE SELECTION OF AN UN
BIASED, OPEN MINDED INVES
TIGATION COMMITTEE THAT
WILL WORK FOR THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF
THE STATE OF TEXAS.”
Copies of the telegram were also
forwarded to the press syndicate
correspondents in Bryan.
of the number of students per
room and $6 per month per student
at the Annex.
Dining Hall
The dining hall has been charg
ed for such items as ice, steam,
heat and lights and power as far
back as 1924 or longer. The rates
charged at present were fixed by
resolution of the Board of Direct
ors adopted June 5, 1941, in pur
suance of H. B. 338 passed by the
Regular Session of the Forty-Sev
enth Legislature, covering issuance
of $1,220,000.00 building revenue
bonds for the construction of five
dormitories, a laundry building and
and equipment, and for expansion
of the central power plant.
These bonds are secured solely
by the net revenues from the five
dormitories, the laundry and the
central power plant and the rates
charged must be sufficient to pay
operating and maintenance costs
and bond service. Since no State
Appropriation is made for operat
ing the dining hall, it must be self-
supporting.
W. H. HOLZMANN
Comptroller
Engineering
Students Plan
Easter Trips
Engineering seniors at A.
& M. will devote the first half
of Easter week to field inspec
tion trips, according to an an
nouncement by the office of
the dean of engineering.
Approximately 325 seniors,
drawn from the departments of
civil, mechanical, electrical, chem
ical, and aeronautical en
gineering, will form the various
groups which will inspect indus
tries and installations in the Hous-
ton-Galveston-Beaumont area, in
the Dallas-Fort Worth region, and
at Lufkin.
For the first time, the inspection
schedules of the various depart
ments have been coordinated so
as to involve least loss of class
room time, it was stated.
Largest of the groups is the
mechanical engineer contingent,
135 strong, which will visit the
Lufkin Foundries Corporation
Monday, March 31, and then be
divided into two sections, one going
to Houston for the next two days
while the other visits Dallas and
Fort Worth.
The electrical and chemical en
gineer parties will number approx
imately 70, and both will go to the
Gulf area. Seven civil engineering
seniors will visit Houston, while
30 aeronautical engineering stu
dents will go through the Lus-
combe aircraft factory near Dallas.
Purpose of the field trips, which
will be emphasized in the future,
is to acquaint the college student
with industrial conditions which
he is soon to face.
tion is not an issue for controversy
between this Board and the student
body of the College. This matter
is one placed legally in the hands
of the Board of Directors and we
recognize responsibility, within the
limits of the exercise of our best
judgment, only to the people of
Texas.
The eradication of hazing at this
College has been ordered by this
Board. It is our firm belief that
this not only is in compliance with
the laws of Texas, but is necessary
to the well-being of our College.
The president and officers of the
College have been directed by us
to take the necessary steps to
this end and are doing so with our
full support.
In our opinion the authority and
duty of this Board to determine the
policies for operation of the Col
lege, and of the administrative of
ficers appointed or approved by us
to execute them, are clear. We
accept this responsibility and are
exercising this authority as
charged by law.
No Facts Developed
We have held meetings of the
Board of Directors to which stu
dents have been invited and urged
to present any factual information
bearing upon charges which in
clude mismanagement, misuse of
funds, and any other matter that
would constitute a basis for charge
against the proper conduct of the
office of the president or any oth
er administrative office of the
College. We have not been able to
develop one single factual charge
in these hearings.
President Gilchrist is carrying
out the policies established by this
Board, and as long as he pursues
this course, has our complete and
unqualified support.
The Agricultural and Mechan
ical College of Texas belongs to
all the people of the State of Tex
as, and they are the final authority
for the laws under which it is
governed.
By law, the people of Texas have
placed the direction and the admin
istration of the affairs of this in
stitution in the hands of its Board
of Directors, appointed by the Gov
ernor of the State. In turn, the
Board is charged with the selec
tion of the president and the es
tablishment of policies under which
its affairs are administered.
In view of these facts, the final
decision on College policies must
be made by the Board regardless of
the approval of the student body.
This Board is determined to de
velop a College second to none in
educational opportunities and use
ful services.
One of the principal declared
objectives of this institution is an
environment for student bodies
comparable to that which usually
prevails in the substantial Texas
homes from which these students
come, superior instruction includ
ing requirements in the study of
the national and state governments
under which we live, with constant
training in leadership, character,
tolerance, clean living, and physi
cal drill and development.
To bring this environment in
to being may involve future
changes in policies and regula
tions which this Board will not
hesitate to make.
It is our belief that the people
of Texas desire the affairs of their
Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege administered by constituted
authority in the manner provided
by law. This we shall continue to
do to the best of our ability.
This Board welcomes a complete .
investigation by the Legislature
of Texas of any and all matters
connected with the operation of
the College.