Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1890 [PAGE 137]

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

The request from t h e s t u d e n t s ' societies for one-half h o u r ' s g a s additional t o w h a t is now given them was p u t over, with other questions relating t o the societies, until the J u n e meeting of t h e Board. The question of fire escapes was referred t o t h e Committee on Buildings and Grounds, t o report on a t t h e next meeting. The appropriations asked for in t h e Regent's r e p o r t wrere made, as asked. T h i r t y dollars was appropriated from current funds for cementing the floor of t h e wash-room in the basement of t h e main buildiug. The Business Agent and Professor Palmer were authorized t o procure bids for the a p p a r a t u s and supplies for t h e chemical l a b o r a t o r y and t o c o n t r a c t for t h e same upon a satisfactory bid—the t o t a l cost t o be limited t o $1,000, of which $500 shall come from the s t a t e a p p r o p r i a t i o n for a p p a r a t u s and m a t e r i a l a n d $500 from the l a b o r a t o r y fees. The Acting Regent was, on motion of Mr. Bennett, a u t h o r ized t o have t h e changes made in t h e courses of study, a n d in other respects, in the catalogue, as suggested in his report. The following communication wTas received from Mr. F o s t e r North, of Kewanee:

To the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

The undersigned, Foster North, of Kewanee, Illinois, respectfully represents that he was matriculated as a student in the University of Illinois in September, 1879, and that after he had completed enough studies to entitle him to a certificate of graduation, and forty days before he was to graduate as a bachelor of science in school of natural history, he was suspended indefinitely, April 30, 1885, from said University; that the only charge against him was his refusal to attend religious worship in said University; and that this Board being duly petitioned, refused to restore the undersigned to his right of attendance as a student upon the University and this action of the Board is still unrevoked; that the rule requiring attendance of students upon religious worship was and is a violation of the constitution of the State of Illinois; that the undersigned has violated no lawful rule nor disobeyed any lawful authority of said University, and his suspension was wrongful and illegal. And he further says that on the 11th day of March, 1890, he applied to the Regent of the University, who is a member of the Faculty of said University and is authorized to admit students to the said University, and thereupon, the said Regent, in behalf of and for the Faculty, refused such admission; which refusal he says was wrongful and illegal. Wherefore he asks that this Board, at the present meeting, restore to him his right of attendance as a student of said University. And he further asks to be allowed to appear before this meeting of the Board and be heard upon the matter of this petition. Champaign, 111., March 11, 1890.

FOSTER NORTH.

Mr. North h a v i n g asked leave t o s t a t e his case t o t h e B o a r d , and this h a v i n g been given, he said, in substance, t h a t his a p plication t o the Supreme Court a t O t t a w a for a m a n d a m u s t o compel the Board t o reinstate him as a member of t h e Univer-