Commencement 1882: Darwin Issue
At the Syrian Protestant College Commencement of 1882, the institution entered a period of serious crisis following the controversy surrounding Edwin Lewis’s address, in which he expressed support for Darwin’s scientific theories. The issue led to the resignation of Edwin Lewis, followed by the resignation of several faculty members and the expulsion of thirteen students. With only thirteen days’ notice before the start of the fall term, the College struggled to replace instructors, particularly in the medical department, where qualified Arabic- speaking teachers were scarce.
Efforts to bring back Dr. Cornelius Van Dyck failed, prompting the faculty to secure temporary replacements. The Presbyterian Mission provided Dr. Calhoun to teach pathology, while Dr. Bashara Zelzel was assigned to Materia Medica.
Meanwhile, doctors Lewis, Van Dyck, and others offered independent teaching to the suspended students, even issuing certificates after examinations. However, these were not recognized by Ottoman authorities and held little value compared to the College diploma. Consequently, many students returned after their suspension, signing formal apologies and resuming their studies. By the end of the term, twenty-eight students were enrolled in the medical department.
Tensions nevertheless persisted, particularly among literary students. Disrespect escalated into violence on May 24, when several students attacked medical students with clubs. The police intervened, and following an investigation, the faculty expelled three senior students and suspended two others. This decisive action restored order and brought the crisis to an end.
The graduates of the Class of 1882, of the School of Medicine – M.D. Shukri S. Boutagy , Shakir Dabaghi ,Salim Dawud , Sim'an Khuri, Mikha'il Mussallim , Nasif Mutran , Wihbeh Salibi , Yusuf Slim . While the graduate of the School of Pharmacy was Ph.M. Sulayman Kahil ; School of Arts and Sciences – B.A. Antun Haddad, Joseph Faris Haik, Nami Jafet , Dawud Kurban.