Atlanta Daily World

Regents Asked To Rescind Acceptance

BY MARIAN E. JACKSON

An Atlanta delegation and a representative of the Georgia Teachers and Education Association Thursday protested the resignation of President James A. Colston of Georgia State College and requested Chancellor Harmon Caldwell of the Board of Regents to rescind its acceptance of that resignation.

The group made its plea in the offices of the Board of Regents and affirmed their confidence in the administration of President Colston.

A delegation from Savannah which had requested an opportunity to appear was not present. Dr. Caldwell explained that the Savannah group had sought an interview with Chairman Hughes Spalding and when he telegraphed them that he could not be present some conflict no doubt resulted.

The delegation expressed opinion to Chancellor Caldwell that if the only charge against President Colston was "over expenditure of his budget then he merited another chance, but insisted that rumor were afloat of "radical speakers," political pressure" and "underhand politics" being involved in Colston's resignation.

PUBLISHED CHARGES

The group called attention to published reports that President Colston had permitted allegedly radical speakers at the college.

Charges that the institution had sponsored speakers who opposed segregation, that a student from the college chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People had gone to a national meeting in which picketing was involved and other factors hanging on the racial question. A Georgia State student also reportedly had protested the stand of Dr. J. W. Holley on a gradual approach to the racial question.

President Colston resigned his post at the Savannah institution July 22, after officials of the Board of Regents revealed he had over-spent his budget. The resignation has been accepted by the Board and is due to become effective September 1.

The delegation of Atlanta leaders was led by the Rev. William H. Borders, pastor of the Wheat Street Baptist Church. Other members included C. A. Scott, editor, Atlanta Daily World; Rev M. L. King, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church; Dr William Boyd, professor of social science, Atlanta University; William A. Fowlkes, managing editor, Atlanta Daily World, and H. R. Edwards, vice president of the Georgia Teachers and Education Association, who acted in the absence of C. L. Harper, president, who was out of the city on business.

Dr. Caldwell told the delegation that Colston's severance was "based on happenings that took place before I came into this office." He said that Georgia State College "ended 1947-48 with financial difficulties which worried members" of his office.

"President Colston entered 1948-49 with a clean sheet." Dr. Caldwell stated. "and even as late as June 1, 1949 we thought everything was in good shape. Despite this there were deficits of approximately $47,000 of which $25,000 was spent improving the plant and $16,000 in (Continued on Page 6 Column 1)
Golden Gleam

With hues like that when some great painter dips
His pencil in the gloom of earthquake and eclipse.