H-2885.1  _______________________________________________

                     HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4021

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State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Mastin and Grant

Read first time 03/19/97.  Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

Recognizing the authority of Whitman College to regulate its corporate concerns.

    TO THE HONORABLE TOM CRONIN, PRESIDENT OF WHITMAN COLLEGE, AND TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF WHITMAN COLLEGE:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, Whitman College was created by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington on December 20, 1859; and

    WHEREAS, The original act created a nine-member board of trustees; and

    WHEREAS, The Washington state Constitution was ratified by the people at an election held October 1, 1889; and

    WHEREAS, Article XXVII, Section 2 of the state Constitution provides:  "All laws remain in force in the Territory of Washington which are not repugnant to this Constitution, shall remain in force until they expire by their own limitation, or are altered or repealed by the legislature: . . . "; and

    WHEREAS, Whitman College is a private institution of higher education and its governance is not regulated by the Legislature; and

    WHEREAS, Statutes governing Whitman college are not codified in the Revised Code of Washington; and

    WHEREAS, Whitman College may regulate its corporate concerns by amendment to its bylaws;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the authority of Whitman College to change the number of individuals serving on its board of trustees as it deems necessary be recognized.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this memorial be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Honorable Tom Cronin, President of Whitman College and the Whitman College board of trustees.

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