The so-called strike at Ruskin College has been much written
about in the newspapers during the past week. We have not space to go into the details of the dispute, but may state generally that the outbreak of indiscipline among the students was intended as a protest against the Executive Council for having, in effect, called for the resignation of Mr. Ifird, the Principal of the College. For some time past the Executive Committee had been confronted with a serious failure of discipline, and towards the end of last year a Special Committee was appointed to inquire into the causes. This inquiry showed that Mr. Hird was at variance on matters of general policy and administration with the Executive and House Committees, and that this was the main cause of the disorganisation. The Executive Council, we may add, while accepting Mr. Hird's resignation, acknowledged the services which he had rendered to the College in the past. It is not necessary to dwell here upon the foolish and disorderly proceedings by which the students endeavoured to emphasise their protest. We will only say that it seems to us that the Executive Committee have acted perfectly properly throughout.
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