EOBIE THE EEP
YEAR'S END, TIME T0 CLEAN
OUT THE OLD CLOSET,
(8080, TAKE OUR STUFF
WELL, ROACHES, I'M AFRAID TO THE CAR, I'LL
"THERE'S NO ROOM FoR You IN 7 QIN You AND SQUAT
THE CAR, SO YOU'LL HAVE To AFTER GRADUATION
ACK Té THE KITCHEN AND
oo OM Nels, NICE KNOWIN’ YOU CEREMONIES,
UNGIE, T'LL NEVER
FORGET You FoR THIS,
‘A SUITEMATE LIKE
you DESERVES IT,
ARISTOTLE.
jpPOSE YOU'RE ,
é id 10 4
T'M STONED AS
MOUNT RUSHMORE,
man!
MAN, Did WE EVER
6LOW THAT ONE,
We APPEAR TO HAVE
SET PRESIDENT
BENEZET'S ACETATE]
ROBE ON FIRE,
WE SHOULD
DO SOMETHING,
T BROUGHT
THE TIDE! The LEAST
As (7 18; 1T LOOKS
LIKE WE'RE GOING
To HAVE BARBECUED
HUNSBERGER!
BAD FORM 1S RIGHT, BENEZET'S
LOSING HIS COCL —THRASHING
ABOUT — Goop LORD! He's
SET DEAN HUNSBERGER
ON FIRE!
(Hat A yoRCA) |\)
CEREMONY! \
AND NOW,
WILL THE ARTIST‘S REAL
ALTER EGO PLEASE
STAND UP?
17 ALL, DEPENDS
on THE MOOD I'M IN.
TAD 1 KNOWN 1°D BF TRAVELING
EBBIE THE EEP
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cal ARTO eS
air
PAGE SIXTEEN
ALBANY STUDENT PRESS.
Hunsberger Expected To Address Faculty Today
by Gary Ricciardi
1, Moyer Hunsberger is slated to
speak before an assembly of the
College of Arts and Sciences 2:00
this afternoon in LC 1. His
scheduled appearance will be his
first. public one since this week's
confrontations between students,
faculty and administrators began
over the question of his possible
suspension and related issues.
The scheduled meeting of the
College of Arts and Sciences is
ordinarily a routine affair, but the
controversy surrounding Dean
Hunsberger adds to this assembly
the tension which has characterized
administrative and student relations
this past week.
Last night Dean Hunsberger an-
nounced in a written statement that
he has accepted the post of Provost
at the University of Oklahoma's
Norman Campus. It is expected
that he will personally announce his
resignation to the assembled faculty
ALBAI
Ul
AS Bars
Vol. LX No. 25
State University of New York at Albany
Friday, May 11, 1973
of the College of Arts and Sciences
at this afternoon's meeting.
The Steering Committee of the
loosely organized students who
have held” sit-ins in President
Benezet's office and public rallies
througout the week, is encouraging
students to attend today's meeting.
The Committee is urging students,
however, not to interrupt what is,
in formal terms, a faculty assembly.
According to Chris Masterson, a
member of the Steering Committee.
“Several faculty members arc
drawing up proposals concerning
Dean Hunsberger’s review and that
of the tenure and continuing ap-
pointment system, I hope that stu-
dents will be there to support these
proposals, But I think the faculty
should be allowed to dominate the
meeting. This is their issue as well
as the students’, I hope students do
not try to take over the mecting,
but help faculty at their request.”
HUNSBERGER OUT
The controversial Dean announced last night
he will take a position at the U. of Oklahoma
MEANWHILE...
Students continue their
day-old sit-in and
press for tenure reform
Page 3
Council demands Benezet
order an investigation of
faculty members’ charges
Page 3
Benezet spurns student
demands at Wednesday's
public meeting
Page 2
by Al Senia
1. Moyer Hunsberger has resigned
The Arts & Sciences Dean, 2 contro:
versal figure in numerous tenure cases at
he university this year said in a written
statement last night that he will avcept a
provost position at the University of
Oklahoma
“I have been offered and I have av-
cepted the position as Provost of the
University of Oklahoma at Norman,” the
statement said in pert
As Provost, Hunsberger will be second
only to Oklahoma President Paul Sharp in
deciding internal academic affairs at the
umversity. Jack Corcoran, Director of
Communeation at the Oklahoma cam
pus, sud in a telephone interview
yesterday that Hunsberger will be in
ye of “preparing the total academic
progiam and budget tor the university.”
Hunsberger, he added, will be “in charge of
all faculty appointments, promotion and
tenure issues." His salary will be $38,000
a year
Jn his statement last night, Hunsberper
suid he made the move “with mixed
emotions” because “I have truly enjoyed
my work here and am leaving because this
ew appointinent appears so promising.”
“1 have appreciated the opportunity 10
work with faculty, students and admin
istrators at Albany," Hunsberger's state
ment continued, “and particularly the
support extended to me from many sides
even when the circumstances may have
been difficult
University President Louw T Benezet
was quick (0 offer congratulations to the
departing dean, Benezet, in his public
statement, said the appointment “is: 3
recongniton of his stature ay an ed
ucational leader,"
Hunsberger, Benezet added, made “a
significant contribution” to the university
through fis deanship,
Both Hunsberger und Benezet were un-
available for additional comment. An
unidentified spokesman at the Huns-
berger residence said the Dean was at-
tending a dinner in Massachusetts. There
was no comment from the Benezet 1es-
dence
Hunsberger’s announcement confirmed
rumors of his imminent departure that
had circulated around the. univeristy
throughout the day,
The search committee that selected
Hunsberger to be Provost at the Okla:
homa campus had been looking fo1 avail:
able candidates since last fall, Corcoran
suid. Hunsberger was one of three names
sent along to the university president
“within the last week.”
President Sharp, Corcoran added, se
lected Hunsberger on the basis of the
committee's recommendations “as well as
personal interviews
Corcoran revealed that Hunsberger had.
travelled 1 the Oklahoma campus last
week to meet with the president and
discuss contract terms,
Reading fiom a press release issued by
the Board of Regents yesterday, Corcoran
quoted the Oklahoma president as saying
1am delighted Dr, Hunsberger has
agreed to serve as Provost.” The position
was chureterized by the president ay
being “one of the most significant at the
university.”
In the telease, Hunsberger way quoted
as saying: “TE look forward to my new
duties as provost.”
Corcoran also revealed that the search
committee and the university president at
Oklahoma both knew of Hunsberger's
past problems at the University of Mass-
achusetts and SUNY-Alb But he indi-
cated that knowledge did not seriously
lessen Hunsberger's charices of employ:
ment at the university
The search committee was described as
a “faculty committee,” But aseneond
university spokesman said three students
served on it and that all elements of the
university community were included
Hunsberger will assume his new duties
on August Ist. It is expected that
search committee here will name his
replacement as Dean of the Coll
Arts & Sciences sometime ov
summer.
Full text of Dean I. Moyer Hunsberger’s resignation statement
appears on Page Four.
Benezet Rejects Most Student Demands
by Al Senia
President Louis T. Benezet publicly
spurned student demands for the investi-
gation and suspension of Arts and Sci-
ences Dean I. Moyer Hunsberger Wednes-
day afternoon, saying such action could
come only after “direct” and “reason-
able” evidence was presented to him.
‘The SUNYA President, making his first
public appearance since the escalating
Promotion and tenure dispute began, also
rejected student calls for a review of
tenure cases already decided.
In a stormy session before some 600
students and faculty in the Campus Cen-
ter Ballroon, Benezet endorsed the idea
of a review committee that would investi-
gate promotion and tenure procedures at
the university, But he did not outline the
extent of the role students would play on
such a committee.
The public meeting was the highlight of
Wednesday's’ protest activities. Easlier in
the day, students staged a brief sit-in at
the president’s office while a negotiating
committee met with him, Later Wed-
nesday night, 125 students met in the
‘ampus Center Ballroom, discussed tae
tics and strategy, and walked en masse 10
the Business Administration building,
There, they hoped to confront Benezet
with their demands and to underscore the
seriousness of the tenure issue by bringing
it to the attention of several leading
Albany community teaders, The leaders
were mapping plans for next year’s Com-
munity-University Day with admin-
istrators and students. But Benezet had
not, been invited to attend the session and
Vice-President Louis Welch short-
circuited the student plan by quickly
adjourning the gathering.
The afternoon Campus Center meeting
began with Benezet reading the demands
to the audience and observing: “What is
being held in question here...is an entire
university system.” He then responded,
point by point, to the student demands
Suspended faculty could not be rehired,
he explained, because the necessary
budget lines had already been committed
to new facwhy members, reassigned, or
used for recruitment purposes, *
no practical possibility,” Benezet said,
“of retaining peuple already terminated.”
He termed the second demand ~~ the
call for Hunsberger’s ouster -~ a “pretty
serious thing" and said an investigation
might best be ordered by the University
Senate or University Council (local board
of trustees), At any rate, Benezet ex
plained suspension could not come about
without a hearing ~- and there has been
no direct evidence of formal charges to
warrant @ hearing.
There is
“I respect. Deun HMunsberger’s com.
mitment to his duties,” Benezet added.
The call for the establishment of a
review committee to deal with promotion
appointments was more favorubly re-
ceived, Benezet said he was “concerned”
at the provedures as they currently exist
and the “uneven” degree of student
participation at various stages of the
process, He said he “was prepared to ask”
for establishment of such a committee to
review tenure procedures and that the
committee should report back to him and
the University Senate next year, But he
did not detail the student-faculty break-
down on the committee.
Benezet tossed back the fourth student
demand ~- 50-50 student-faculty repre-
sentation on departmental committees
and the Council on Promotion and Ten-
ure — by asserting the responsibility for
sch action rests with the individual
schools involved and the University Sen-
ate. “It is a matter of school governance,”
he said, “which can be worked gut in any
way the school governance systems de-
ide.”
Students also demanded the aboliton of
the de facto quota system at the univer-
sity ~ a system that sets limits on the
number of tenured faculty under employ-
ment, Benezet said quotas on tenured
faculty are necessary to preserve “\Muidity
and flexibility for the faculy of the
future” and that “any live university has
Mexibility” The Albany State president
aid the sixth student demand ~~ a pres
idential directive stressing diviersity, aca
demic freedom and student participation
“throughout the university. system”
Hunsberger
by Glenn von Nostitz
Aa meeting with the student sitin
Steering Committee Wednesday after
noon, President Louis T. Benezet com
mented that, “1. Moyer Hunsberger is a
controversial 1m
Although this may appear to be a gross:
understatement, it does nevertheless say a
lot. For the fuct is that Dean Hunsberger
is perhaps the most controversial admin:
istrator this university hay ever seen, The
President was right
Unfortunately, however, the deeper re
sony for his controversial nature have
been obscured in much of the discussion
heard at the rallies, meetings, and sit-ins,
Ie iy not only the allegations made by
professors here and at the University of
Maysuchusetty about “serious misdeeds"
hat make him controversial, And it is not
due merely to the stands he has taken on
tenure caves, Ht hay more to do with style
and with his own personal convictions
Hew a man with some very definite
ideas - about students, about research
and about academic excellence, And as
one professor recently vemarked, “He
perhaps the only aman in thy. adm
stration who stands up) to, diy Cony
sections
Much of the trowtile has resulted be
: A Controversial Man
cause these convictions, as honest as they
might be. athema tw too many
people on this
excellence, but his concept of excellence
ts entirely different from Curtis Smith's,
Leruy Pelton’s. or Robert Allen's. They
dislike the use of the word “rigor” in
some of his transmittal letters. They
disagree with his emphasis un the “al
mighty Ph.D." And they are upset when
snpus. He believes in
excellence ts equated with large amownty
of advanced research produced by pre
fessors Iidden away in their laboratones:
And so there hay been conthiet = be:
tween the Dean and his interpretation of
excellence and the interpretation held by
students and a large portion of the
faculty
One professor at UMass walled
Hunsberger and “administrator of the old
style." Another one said that he tnes to
2 ““tyght ship" with his subordinates
finnly under his control, And still
another called hum an “excell
qanizet
However, ay anany
SUNYA see il that style ot cumin a
w But
people here at
university way tine wor decades
wie that time we have seen the tree
Speech movement start at Berkely as well
1 the enstuny wove toward preater deme,
AS
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funded by student tex
cracy in university decision inaking. The
day of the strong man is gone, Things
have changed, and the university can no
longer be run in a manner more appro:
priate to 1935. ‘There are the restive
students to contend with, There is an
increasingly imdependent union-minded
faculty. There is a new. emphasis on
quality teaching
research
rather than pedantic
None of this sits well with the old
concepts of how a university should operate.
|, Moyer Hunsberger
At the smeeting in the ballroom Wed
hesday afternoon a number of people
pomted out simularities between the situa
Hon here and Watergate. They compared
the “coverup” activities af the Heneze
adiimmistiation with those of the Nixon
aduuustration
The Comparisons with Watergate
deeper than that. fhe the Watergate scan
dal. the burglary sew the ends ay justity sng
the meaty. It way deemed acceptable to de
wnything = even burghire in ander ts
achieve then end. They were fanati al
uiitt Communist
So it ts with Dean Hunsberger, although
fis end is different. He ts pushing for his
own conception of “excellence,”
which it is apparently acceptable to per
form “questionable activities” of the type
charged by U. Mass professors and
sources here in Albany, and reported in
the ASP
Wis all for the sake of “excellence,”
was unnecessary. The university already
encourages diversity, Benezet said, and
academic freedom exists. He added
“there is more student participation at
this university than at any university |
know of.”
With that, Benezet sat down and sem
bers of the negotiating committee rac
speak.
Harry Weintraub strode to the povli
and (old his audience: “Whenever ys
talking with administrators, it’s a 1
trating experience...Dr. Benezet ha
acterized our complaints and denuint
calling our whole univeristy commun
into question...The question is tle
petency of one man in this university. |
us remember that a system is manned
individuals that act, hopefully, wt
conscience.
‘When someone breaks the sl
doesn't hide within the system. 1
deal with Sirotkin.
berger not the Vice-President
Benezet aid I
President, of the Dean.
“The President is a very slick man M
Sirotkin is also. The elusive Dean (lun
berger) is also...we want these
investigated. Until he (Beneset)
such action, we can only view hn
extreme suspicion and distrust
Weintraub sat down to thunderoe
plause as other members of the St
Committee = Rick Ginsberg, Barry D.
and. Chris: Masterson
podium and sounded
stepped
iilar themte
Ginsberg said: "We need com
research this whole question
Hunsberger Davis. commented
now nobody has mide any chaty
Pm going to make some." He we
accuse Hunsberger of ignoring
And Ch
terson, calling Hunsberger ™
geevanees and needs
the hei
Benezet remained cal, selusmy 1
wer questions direetly and preter
let others speak
Faculty meinbery Curtis Sanh 1
Pelton, Nathan Friedman, Catedy a W
man and Walter Goldsten px
speeches tthe audience, the
interspersed with stort question
wer sessions between Heneset
audience
As the meeting continued sit it
hour, student spokesmen told
ence to break for dinner if th
to retin at X pan, for a secon
By 3.40, Benezer had stepped te
podimm and felt the dyad
gathenng.col students and tae ult
hind
Hater that night, some 12
teasembled my the Balloon a
Short discussion of tactics, nove
Business Adnumististic
gtoup of adiunistiators
elected student leaders were the
Ung with several Athany
sind civic Headers, ase ussiny: patty 1
Community Univeraty Bas
The students, ted by Ob
wud Stacy fant, +
Htrators, studenty and civic lewd
they wete there hecause ol the
a the situation on campus
The students sant they would fea
fequested to do su but Vice Presules
Louis Welch apolugwed to the cone
munity members
the meeting,
nd quickly adjounied
The students then began discussing tu
Heal questions. The meeting culnunated
about 45 minutes later, with the call tor
yesterday's sit-in in President Benevet’s
office,
PAGE TWO
ALBANY STUDENT PRESS
FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1973
Students Continue Sit-in: Demand Reform
by Bob Mayer
Some SO students vowed to continue
their sit-in last night on the 2nd floor of
the administration building. The action
which had begun yesterday afternoon did
not end with an administration press
release that announced the departure of
Dean I. Moyer Hunsberger
Over 100 students began the occupation
of the president's outer office early yes
terday afternoon hoping 10 receive from
Benezet some assurance that their
demands would be met. When President
Benezet failed to arrive at his office late
yesterday afternoon, the protesters’ ranks
were cut in half.
Students occupied their tine discussing
future strategy and placing signs on the
walls of the outer office, The Callege ot
Arts and Sciences lounge. plastered with
signs reading, “Quiel, Library
place where students readied themselves
became a
for upcoming finals, A sign that was
taped to one administrator's atfice read,
MeDonald’s announces the 1/4 th, Huns.
berger.”
After seven hows of waiting, the str
dents heard Rick Ginsberg, a member of
the steering committee, read the unver
sity’s official announcement regarding
Hunsberger’s termination ay Dean of the
Arts & Sciences college
The reading brought connnuous. out
breaks of laughter as Ginsberg read Huw
herger’s statement. It ancluded such t¢
marks as
tunity to work with faculty
and) administrators..." When
continued reading the Dean
It is. with mixed emotions that | content
Mickey Green, a
student, said, “Yes, fear and more fear
J have appreciated the oppor
duudent
Ginsberg
remarks
plate this move
Dean Hunsherger’s closing remark was.
“Lam convinced that SUNYA ny well on
its way to becommyg a Unversity Center
of true excellence.” Ginshene. 1m tefer
ence to the Dean's resignations. way quick
‘and we are one Step cleser NOW
to say
The students do not regard the at
houncement of Hunsberger’s tanyter
major victory. Then general concer now
§§ that the other issues may be obscured
in light of Hunsberger’s absence from
the university, Ginsberg suid that the
students still supported an investigation
of Hunsberger’s hiring and noted: “The
point is not Hunsberger; it is what he
stood for.”
Some students expressed concern about
the Dean's replacement, They noted that
the new person will probalby be chosen
during the summer when most students
will not be available to work with the
jew search committee. Mickey Greene
remarked that, “the wi Deans are
chosen should be a number one demand,
The students felt that one reason Ben-
evet refused ( call an investigation of
Hunsherger at Wednesday's meeting was
hecause of his knowledge that the Dean
was leaving SUNYA. It he had done so,
they claim, he may have feared the
possibility of appearing to have capit-
ulated to student demands,
The goals of the students, who have
openly demonstrated their grievances
with the promotion and tenure system,
were expressed by Patty Lipshutz, a
graduating senior, and a week-long pat
Hictpant im the student events, She ex
planed. “Students are
show the importance
system, They ate not working against the
faculty, but for a more integrated com
munity of people ar searet af far and
equil education
Where the students go naw ts not quite
contain, They ate hoping to speak with
President Beneset sometime today. pro
viding he can be located. The group ts
anxious to work out something with the
President before the long summer recess
hegins. ‘They anticipate difficulties im
mobilizing students early next Fall
Chris Masterson, a spokeswontan for the
Steering committee expressed that un
certainty saying “We would like some
how 10 te a ubbon aournd this we
don't know where we stand, Benezet has
left too many questions unanswered.”
Dean 1. Moyer Hunsberger nity not be
able to escape Ins problems easily, Stu
dents pledged last might to mform then
collegues. at Oklahoma about the in
formation that hay appeared in the
Albany Student Press, and he ditficuttiey
he encountered here at SUNYA
The steering committee meets (o discuss strategy
while others wait for President Benezet who ne-
ver returned (o his
Students continued to occupy President Benezet's outer office
throughout the night awa
tion and tenure reform.
ing word on their demands for promo-
Council Asks Investigation
Received Faculty Complaints
by Ann E. Bunker
“T charge Dean 1, Moyer Hunsberger with
an arrogant contempt for students, good
teaching and the denueratic process.
Gurtis C Smith, English.
“Dean Hunsberger letter of transmittal
questioned the deciswn of the depart
ment te recommend me for continuing
appommtment, 1 firud this disturbing, Ht is
dicate of a distrust on the part of an
administrator of a department's ability: to
make decisions affecting its fuutut
KD, Hartzell, Music
“Typical of his actions along these lines
sy his unwillingness: 10 give any explana
Rene Prins, Music
tion of his decision
Charges suchas these prompted Cental
Counedl Thursday yh ter en:
demanding the apporntment by President
Heneset uf a committee to snvestygite the
facts behind Dean Hunyberyer's. pronto:
te decision
Cou which passed by a
directs that a commit
comprised ul five students, ditee faculty
members and two adimmustiatory be a
pomted to vestigate the charpes lodged
ayauinst Hunsberger Ihe conmuittece as bo
report on ity fmdingy 10 the Seplenber
Xo meeting af Central Counetl
Complaints Lodged
Formal stitements were prepaed and
submitted to student government repte
sentatives by faculty members dissatisfied
”,
with Hunsberger’s performanee. ‘The
statements came in reaction to President
Benevet's claim that he had received
nno..dlirect evidence” regarding charges
of Hunsberger’s malfeasance in office
‘A number of those letters were at tached
to the Council bill, ‘The allegations ran
from claims that Hunsberger “creates his
own standards" for judging & teacher's
effectiveness to the contention that he
ered with the normal working” of
a department to remove two faculty
positions currently occupied by “conti:
versial” people
Facully members submitting complaints
lepresented a near cross-section of the
depariments under the College of Aris
and. Sciences, of which Hunsberger is
dean
Bill to be Shared
Discussion in Council yielded the sug
gestion that copies of the bill be sent to
The student government at the University
jal Oblahonma, where Hunsberger has ae
cepted a position effective August Ist
feaders of the movement to oust Huns:
exper andicated that steps would be
taken fo mntonn the student Fody:at the
Oklahoma campus of Hansberger's coun
here and at U. Mays Sand View President
elect Barry Davis, “HE would he doi an
injustice to them if we did not wun
Demonstrators prepare
for a long night in the
administration build
ng by bringing every:
thing~ including their
children
FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1973
ALBANY STUDENT PRESS
PAGE THREE
Dean Moyer Hunsberger of the College of
Arts and Sciences has informed President
Louis T, Benezet this evening that he has
accepted appointment as Provost of the
University of Oklahoma, The following is
Dean Hunsberger's statement:
“I have been offered and | have
accepted the position as Provost of the
Unversity of Oklahoma at Norman,
[have appreciated the opportunity to
work with faculty, students, and admin-
istrators at Albany and particulasly the
support extended to me from many sides,
even when the circumstances may have
been difficult
RT
fA
¢
It is with mixed emotions that L con-
template this move at this time, because |
have truly enjoyed my work here and am
leaving because this new appoints
appears so promising,
Fam certain that the future of State
University at Albany and the College of
Anis and Sciences is indeed promising. |
um convinced that SUNYA is well an its
way 10 becoming: University Center of
true excellence,
Hunsberger's Resignation
and Benezet’s Response
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALBANY
May 10, 1973
(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)
T extend my best wishes for success to
all of you on this campus.”
President Benezet has responded to
Dean Hunsberger as follows:
Moyer Hunsberger upon his appointment
as Provost at the University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a highly
regarded institution. The opportunity for
Dean Hunsberger toserve as the principal
academic officer of that University is a
recognition of his stature as an educa-
;
“1 offer my congratulations to Dean i
g
i
i
tional leader.
{ should like to express our appreciation
to Dean Hunsberger for the significant
contribution he has made to this Univer
My. sinverest
sity during his deanship
wishes for success go 1 him in his new
post.”
“My sincerest wishes
for success go fo him
in his new post.” - Benezet
ste
Questions unanswered after Benezet
and Steering Committee meet
Steering Committee statement
Wednesday, seven students met with
President Benezet, Vice President Sirot
kin and Mr. Welch, Vice-President for
University Affairs, President Benezet be
gan the meeting by asking for a clanifi
‘ation of a few points and discussing
generalities with the Steering
The students were subdued,
respond to the
few
Committee.
waiting for Benezet 10
demands presented to him the day be
fore
At the meeting, the President agreed
that he would wate a letter stressing
academe freedom, diversity uf ideas, amd
student participation throughout the un
versity, The SC (Steering Committee) telt
it Unfortunate that they could not get
any Of the mien 1 agree with the serious
lack of {ieedom and diversity here. ‘They
were alse surprised to hear lint read tn tis
that “no presidentiah
to underscore the
State Univer
to these tdealy
statement
public
directive 1 needed
commitment of the
sity of New York"
The SC already knew of the
commitment but felt they were not being
stated
Jollowed up on, Because of all this, there
fusion concerning whether or
Wy still co
nol a state
will reach if one ts sent
The next pomt way the SC concern with
the de facto quota system here The
President and Mr Sirotkin said that there
was no official quota system here, but
there way a “range” and “distribution
consideration. In effect, it was said that
age, sex, make-up of the department and
fields uf concenteatton in the department
must be considered so that a department
dues not become lop-sided, However, the
suspicion that there is harm done to
ent would be sent or whe it
certain potentially controversial teach
because of a de facto quota system was
not allayed
With regard to 50-50 representation on
personnel committees of the respective
schools and the Couneil on Tenure and
Continuing Appointment, the
stated that this was not within fis jutis
esident
diction. ‘The respective sehaals had te
decide about their personnel committees
and the Senate must deal with the Coun:
ceil. The SC decided that this pomt had to
he pursued through other channels. Cer
bers agreed to present
proposals ta the faculty af Arts aud
Sciences and a few of next year’s student
Senators have agreed to present this next
yeut
At the meeting with the SC, Di. Bene
¢ Low was dissatisfied with
in faculty me
vet said that
the recommendations, espectally om tet
ure, system. What remains to be seen 19
just how this revision of the systenn will
he reviewed and, hopefully, corrected
Regarding the Hunsherger ease, the S¢
was under the impression that if charges
were furmally lodged against (he Dean, an
investigation would take place.
Because of a lack of time, the Prest
adinunist
with his othe:
with teachers staying on her
timated, He said tt way
to senew ther
contrnets have
not within his power
contacts, nor did he have the money to
do so, Closed issue.
The SC left the meeting wih many
questions and a feeling that a very long,
and heetle meeting would take up the rest
of the afternoon. Because of student and
faculty interest and frustration, this in
deed came about
Benezet’s Public Response
fo Student Demands
The following és the text of a statement
issued by President Louis Benezet at
Wednesday's open meeting:
A group of students visited my office
Monday, May 7 to present a list of
demands concerning the process of
awarding promotion and tenure. They
asserted that decisions on our campus are
being affected by attitudes toward per-
sonal and political factors in individual
cases, They raised questions about the
role of the Dean of Arts and Sciences in
this regard. They asked that the circum-
stances of his original appointment be
reviewed and the President suspend the
Dean “pending an invistigation by a
# committee.”
A revised set of demands was presented
to my office the afternoon of May 8. To
its items it is my responsibility now to
reply.
{ start with the general observation that
what is being held in question by the
students involved is an entire university
system engaging the participation of very
many faculty, students, and admin
istrators: systematic student evaluation:
departmental action; the chariman’s
recommendation; the action and
ecommendation of the Council on Pro
notions and Continuing Appointments;
and the ultimate approval or disapproval
by the President,
(1) The lines for faculty whose ap.
pointments end the last of June or the
last_of August 1973 have either been
committed to new faculty or have been
reassigned or are being used for recruiting
teplacements, Some of the faculty not
being renewed have found employment in
other parts of the University; some others
have resigned. The exact number of lines
we may grant, as you know, is specified
by the Division of the Budget
Faculty whose appointments are due
to end in June or August 1974 will of
course retain (hose lines until the end of
their term,
The President's Discretionary Fund is a
small SUNYA Foundation account for
special purposes. Is total is $5000 per
year. The Research Foundation of SUNY
stipulates that so. campus foundation
funds may be used toward the salaries of
State University staff members.
(2) The suspension of an officer of the
action which could take
n official hearing had
mune whether there is
University as.
place only after
been held to dete
reasonable evidence 10
pension and trial, [have no stich evidence
warrant sus:
and do tot intend to call for a hearing,
much less a suspension. Any such grave
action should come before the Senate and
the University Council before it is. ser
The disagreenent
dations of an
jously contemplated,
with actions of reco
administiative officer may
expressed on this campus. That ts not the
sanething as accusing the officer ot al
feasance in office. J respect Dean Huns.
berger’s commitment to his duties and
find no reasons to challenge the integrity
freely be
(3) 1 am dissatisfied in a number of
ways with the procedures of recom-
mendations, especially on tenure, on our
campus. They are cumbersome, long, and
highly costly in the time of faculty,
students, and administrators, | am like-
wise dissatisfied about the uneven degree
to which students participate in depart-
mental reviews of candidates. The Coun-
cil of Promotions and Continuing Ap-
pointments has too heavy an assignment,
more responsibility should occur at de-
partment and School level, and 1 would
favor this provided we could achieve a
more regularized procedure of review of
the criteria, For all these reasons 1 am
prepared to ask for a committee forreview
of the tenure procedure and to join in
seeing that the committee be repre-
sentative of faculty and students chosen by
their peers. This committee should report
Wo the Senate at the start of the next
year; | will take an active part in whatever
way it is deemed appropriate
(4) The make-up of the School per
sonnel committees and the Council of
Promotions and Continuing Appoint
ments may be revised if the respective
Schools and the Senate decide 10 dy. s0.
Whether or not students should be SO% of
the voting members is something the
President cannot order: this is the bus-
iness of those bodies to decide for them:
selves
(5) Whatever “de fact quota system
we may employ relates to the general
necessity to preseive Muidity and Nex-
ibility for the faculty of the future. Hts
the President's responsibility to look at
1 of his final approval or
this factor as
in each case the merits of
the recommendations have always played
the uppermost role in my own review. We
approved 56% of tenure applications this
year which will raise the total number of
disapproval; bu
faculty on tenure to about 60,
(6) No presidential directive is needed
to underscore the committment of the
State University of New York toa
“diversity of ideas, academic freedom,
and student participation thoughout the
University system.” By objective evidence
we have greater student participation in
the governance of this Cniversity than in
any university | know, [believe that it
can be further extended to the review of
tenure and promotion, 1 assume in this
that students will face the responsibilities
of sharing in decisions, some fo which
will not be popular with fellow-students
or faculty members. is our job to find
and retam the best people the University
au have for effective teaching and scholar
ship in the broadest sense over a perivd of
many years. have come to this meeting
in the belief that the SUNYA community
is sincere about wishing to make our
University a better place for teaching,
community service, and dis
learning
covery
Louis TV. Benezet
it is our job to find and retain the best people the
university has for effective teaching and scholarship.
PAGE FOUR
ALBANY STUDENT PRESS
FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1973
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0