1923: Fighting for higher education

[NewsCopy]

When it is reported that Edwin Lewis Stephens, its first president, fought for SLI (now UL), the words can be taken literally. The fight was with former lieutenant governor Fernand Mouton, then a member of the State Board of Education, and, as witnesses described it, the scuffle wasn’t much to see. But it did bring to a head an animosity between Stephens and Mouton, and brought about a vote of confidence in Stephens’ leadership. In the fall of 1923, Mouton charged Stephens with “extravagance and irregular methods in the disbursement of state funds allotted to Southwestern Louisiana Institute.” Stephens replied with a long and pointed rebuttal in the newspapers and the men had heated arguments until it all came to a head in “a personal encounter” after a board of education meeting in April 1926. “After the session of the board,” the Advertiser reported, “words ... followed between Dr. Stephens and Mr. Mouton and are reported to have been climaxed by a clinch in which blows between the two men are said to have been passed and reports state that it was necessary for Dr. Stephens to go to a nearby drug store.” The students loved it. At an assembly shortly afterwards Dr. Stephens “was greeted upon his appearance in the assembly hall with what is said to have been one of the most enthusiastic demonstrations ever known [at] Southwestern. The students cheered and cheered; threw their hats and books into the air, and, with a prolonged yell wound up with 15 Rahs and Southwestern, [and] gave their president a demonstration of how the college body felt with reference to him.” Jim Bradshaw

[Turbine]

A president who "fights" for his university!

Wow those were the days.

[USL1970]

The specific incident that sparked this confrontation was in the board meeting, Stephens requested a raise for an SLI employee, and Mouton blocked it.

Stephens was interested staying beyond normal retirement age, but politics brought Frazar to SLI. Stephens did not participate in the selection his successor, but was told who it would be.

Every wonder why Frazar does not have a building on the campus?

[Turbine]

The specific incident that sparked this confrontation was in the board meeting, Stephens requested a raise for an SLI employee, and Mouton blocked it.

Stephens was interested staying beyond normal retirement age, but politics brought Frazar to SLI. Stephens did not participate in the selection his successor, but was told who it would be.

Every wonder why Frazar does not have a building on the campus?

He didn't stay long enough?