The Stetson Reporter

Vol. 83 Friday, Oct. 16, 1970 No. 7 Our Baptist Affiliation Determined At Forum 'We may not make it, but we'd like to try" Last Monday evening, Stetson students met with representatives from the administration and the faculty to discuss the relationship between Stetson University and the Florida Baptist Convention. A panel of administrators, faculty members, and students convened in the Stetson Room at 7 :00 p.m. in order to answer questions from concerned students. The panel was composed of the following men: Dr. John Johns, President of Stetson University; Mr. H. Graves Ed- mundson, Business Manager of Stetson University; Dr. Rollin Armour, President of the Faculty Senate, and President of the Florida Baptist Historical Commission; Dr. Earl Joiner, an historian who has done a considerable amount of work concerning the relationship between the Florida Baptist Convention and Stetson University; Mr. Ric Crosby, President of Stetson Student Government Association; , Mr. Larry Arrington, Vice-President of Stetson Student Government Association; and Mr. John DuPree, Chairman of the Publications Board at Stetson. The meeting lasted well over two hours. It was interrupted briefly when Mr. H. Graves Edmundson announced that there was a report of a bomb in the building and advised the audience to evacuate. The forum was continued in Elizabeth Hall while the police checked the Carlton Union Building for the reported bomb (which, incidentally, did not exist). Among those questions asked and answered were the following: EDITOR'S NOTE: The following answers are all direct quotes unless otherwise noted. Because of quotations within the answers, in order to facilitate reading, we have omitted the opening and closing quotation marks around the speaker's answers. Q. What is the purpose of the forum? A. (Mr. Crosby) The purpose of the forum is to clear up some of the questions which have been Seated from L. to R.: Dr. Earl Joiner; Mr. Lany Arlington; Dr. J. E. Johns: Mr. Richard Crosby; Mr. H. Graves Edmondson,- Dr. Rollin Armour; Mr. John DuPree. Miss Wendy Solheim, 1970 Freshman Beauty Queen and her court. (Photo by Micheal G. Partlow) raised in regard to the relationship of the University to the Board of Trustees and to the Florida Baptist Convention. It is also the purpose of the forum to examine the financial commitment involved in Stetson's relationship with the Baptist Convention. We should like to gain an understanding of why we are a "church related school," or a "Christian institution" and of what these terms mean. We hope to answer the questions regarding where Stetson is going and what we are doing toward that end. What is meant by academic excellence and does it exist at Stetson? What is holding us back? We would also like to find out who has the right or the responsibility to govern Stetson's campus. (Ed. Note: This has been a paraphrasing of Mr. Crosby's opening comments and not a direct quote). Q. Who "owns" Stetson University? A. (Dr. Johns) Stetson University is "owned" by a self- perpetuating Board of Trustees...Now, under the charter which was passed by the laws of Florida in the Acts of 1887,...Section 3 says that "the number of Trustees...shall never be,less than eighteen nor more than twenty-four, three-fourths of . whom shall be members of the Baptist denomination in good' standing with their several churches and which number shall always include the President of said university for the time being as ex officio Trustee who shall also be a member of the Baptist denomination." Now, it does not say "Florida Baptist;" it does not say "Southern Baptist;" it does not give anything except the term "Baptist." They do not have to be a member of any convention. Now, Section 4 says that the Trustees..."shall have the power to elect their successors and associates in perpetuity, voting therefore by ballot at a duly notified meeting, and for this purpose a majority vote only of the Trustees shall be necessary." Section 5 says thaf'said Trustees shall be deemed to hold office without expressed limitation of time, but any Trustee may be removed on a % vote at any duly notified meeting of the Trustees." That's legal jargon for, very simply, saying this: that the Trustees elect their own successors...and they are elected for life. Q. How is it that Florida Baptists and Stetson University have a working agreement? A. (Dr. Johns) For years there was no formal agreement other than an agreement that would be reached at a convention where they would say "We'll give you X number of dollars if you'll have a Department of Religion staffed by Baptists.. They have tried to formalize this thing from time to time. And, at the present, we are operating under an agreement which is completely non- enforceable at law. Q. What is this agreement? A. (Dr. Johns) This agreement, very simply, is this: that a 3 man committee of the Trustees of Stetson University will, with a 3 man committee of the Florida Baptist. Convention, together, these six men will nominate a Trustee. They cannot elect him...By the charter, . the Trustees of Stetson University could refuse to elect the person nominated and nothing could be done about it. Q. How many of the present Trustees are Baptist? How many are Florida Baptists? A. ED. NOTE President Johns, called the roll of the Board of Trustees and commented on the religious affilation of each. Let it Continued