Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1886 [PAGE 79]

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ization a n d the enjoyment of t h e privileges conferred thereby. He is u n d e r no obligation t o join a n d subject himself to the regulations prescribed, n o r is he u n d e r any obligation to r e m a i n . But so long a s he does r e m a i n t h e obligation which he voluntarily took r e m a i n s in force, u n l e s s relaxed by the p o w e r s which imposed it. I find a m o n g t h e rules for t h e g o v e r n m e n t of t h e s t u d e n t s t h e following: "9. E a c h a p plicant for admission shall sign t h e following p r o m i s e of good c o n d u c t : 'I, t h e undersigned, w i s h i n g to become a s t u d e n t in t h e Illinois I n d u s t r i a l University, h e r e b y promise t h a t d u r i n g m y connection therewith, I will perform all duties with fidelity, will yield loyal and i n s t a n t obedience to all lawful authority, and at all t i m e s will strive to m a i n t a i n a g e n t l e m a n l y (or lady-like) d e m e a n o r in public and in private, always mindful of m y own good n a m e a n d of t h e fair fame of t h e University which I join.' " On e n t e r i n g the University every s t u d e n t agrees, in a c c o r d a n c e with the foregoing, to yield loyal obedience to t h e lawful authority of said institution. I n t h e case in question, the student a s s e n t e d to tin's, and for nearly six y e a r s had yielded obedience before he s e e m s to have discovered t h a t t h e exercise in question w a s an a b r i d g m e n t of his rights a s a citizen. He, doubtless, at t h e s a m e time yielded obedience to m a n y o t h e r rules w h i c h were restrictions upon his liberty as a citizen, and which, h a d he n o t b e e n a s t u d e n t in t h i s institution, would not have b e e n binding upon him. I t c a n n o t be d e n i e d t h a t the faculty might properly require his p u n c t u a l a t t e n d a n c e at all recitations, t h a t it might also forbid h i m to visit n e i g h b o r i n g cities d u r i n g certain d a y s in the week, or a t certain h o u r s of t h e day. These would be r e s t r a i n t s upon his personal liberty, a n d yet no one will deny t h a t they m i g h t be enforced, even if t h e enforcement required t h e expulsion of any one who refused obedience. But the rule in question is not in a n y proper s e n s e c o m p u l s o r y in m y opinion. H e could attend chapel exercises if he wished, or if he did not so wish, he would be excused upon r e q u e s t ; and the rule r e q u i r i n g such r e q u e s t w a s a p r o p e r regulation, a n d w a s a n infringement of no n a t u r a l or legal r i g h t . I do not t h i n k t h a t t h e other constitutional questions raised by t h e petitioner have a n y b e a r i n g upon t h i s case. Any discussion of t h e m , therefore, will be u n n e c e s s a r y . I a m of •opinion t h a t t h e t r u s t e e s and faculty had t h e right to adopt t h e rule in question : and for a •continued refusal to obey it, t h e y m i g h t s u s p e n d t h e student from the University. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, GEO. HUNT, Attorney General.

The Regent submitted the following report, which was received:

To the Trustees of the University of Illinois: G E N T L E M E N : Your committee intrusted with the sale of the University l a n d s in Neb r a s k a , respectfully r e p o r t : . Since t h e date of the last report, the following sales have been m a d e : No. Name. Tract. N.W. S.E. N. W. S.W. S.E. F, ^ S. E. W. V2 S. E. N.W. S.W. 26 31 34 3 3 15 15 5 2 3 3 3 2 2 3 3 2 Price. 8 $2, 000 00 8 2,000 00 8 2,000 00 8 2,000 00 8 9 ooo oo 8 1,120 00 8 1,120 00 8 2,074 80 8 1,600 00 Cash. $500 00 500 00 500 00 500 00 500 00 280 00 280 00 518 70 400 00

38 David M. Gilmore 39 J o h n E. Blickenstaff 40 J o s e p h D e z o r t 41 J o h n S. Beynold a n d A b r a h a m L. F r e n c h 43 44 Charles E. B a k e r 45 Jefferson Blevens a n d Robert J. Miller 46 J o s e p h M. T h o m a s Before r e p o r t e d Total sales to date

#15 914 80 $3,978 70 77,356 57 19,339 14 193,27137 $23,317 84 Respectfully submitted, , CHAS. BENNETT, S. H. PEABODY, Committee.

UKBANA, D e c e m b e r 8, 1885

Adjourned to meet at 10 P. M.