/Statement by President Showing The President of St. John's University sends us a statement in regard to the sudden closing of the Herm, The following main points, jonly can be given.
'Owing to the excitement caused the riot on May 30, an organiza ton called the Students' Union was formed by the student body at St. John's. A. communication was re-[ceived from this organization asking that the students might allowed to suspend their studies indefinitely and also containing the following clause:—"During the period of suspen. sion, it is our express desire to make sure thet no student necessarily absent from the campus, For this reason, you to refer all that are from the studerite' parents or guardians asking for Jeave. We have a special committee [to attend to this matter."
A. Joint faculty meeting of the College and the Middle School was!
on June 1, when it was de-Jelded to appoint six members of [the faculty, three Chinese and [three foreign, to meet with six embers of the student body. Aa! the result, the faculty then adopt-fed, the following regulatic "The University has decided to allow the students to suspend their studies until next Monday morning!
If at the end of that period, they are not ready to resume their regular duties, the University will be closed and all students Will be requested turn to their homes. living in the vicinity allowed to return to their homes "Letters will be sent to parents and guardians informing them that the' University disclaims any res-Fonsibility for the students' welfare or safety while they are off the premises.
Students" remaining on the grounds and occupying the Colleg: Cormitories will be expected observe the regulations put out by the Administration,'
This was announced to the sto-dents at a meeting held at 1230 pom, (Tuesday).
On Tuesday night the Assistant] Scoutmaster called on the President and asked if the Chinese flag could be flown at half mast, As} it was late, the President had no! ime to confer with anyone and /eave the permission. On Wednes-eay morning two flags were raised fen the flag poles, the Chinese flag at half moat on one pole and the American flag at the top of the: other pole. Bishop Graves requested that the flag be taken: down, giving as hin reason that} the flying of the Chinese flag at] Ralf mast indicated that as an institution, we considered the: action of the municipal police to have been wrong, which we were not prepared to do. The President} promised to comply with hi Quest and sent for the Ast Scoutmaster. Owing to the fact that the Assistant Scoutmaster did come immediately, the President decided to take down the flags himself which he proceeded to do. The students sent a deputation to ask why they had been lowered. The President informed them that he himself had lowered them and that owing to the objection made their being raised, he thought it was better to follow the rule hearing a commotion he went out from his offic and found some of the students about to raise another Chinese flag. No permission had been asked for doing this and no explanation had been. given to! kim. It seemed to him that it im. plied that the student body was in such a state of excitement that! it was unwilling to abide by the regulations. One of the conditions upon which they are allowed to remain in residence while suspending their studies was that they would observe the regulations put out by the Administration.
The President came to the con-Glusion that the only way to avoid) conflict with the students was -to idose the "institution for the term, end he asked the students to go {0 jthe Assembly Hall so that he might speak to them. While they, Were assembling he conferred with the Dean of the School of Arts and Science and the Headmaster jthe Middle School. After they had assembled he made the following!
"The University in all ments is closed from this date until farther notice, "Students are requested to return to their homes.
"Parents and guardians will be informed of the closing of the institution, "The University Buildings and Grounds cannot be used for the Purpose of carrying on a political It meant that the University was closed for the term and would not [be reopened until next September. The students were not expelled. No threats were used, but they, [were requested to return to their homes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.