The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-22
NEARING ROW CUTS
TRUSTEES POWER
l.. Of P. Board Cant Dismiss
Teachers without Hear.
ing by, Faculty.
LIBERAL SPIRIT AT WORN

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 21.-The DISMISSAL
OF DR.. Scott Nearing from the s,ar o.
the University OF Pennsylvania which
created such a storm. has resulted .b
sweeping changes regarding the method,
by which a member of the faculty caa
be relieved of his job.
In the future no professor or ass.-t.a.
professor may be dismissed by the hoard
Of trustees except after a conference.
between a committee composed % on.
representative from zach of the nine farul.
ties-such representative to be closeb
by the faculty he represents-aad
committee Of equal lumber from -.
board of trustees. The provost snail
preside at such meetings.
When DIR. Nearing was dismissed ls
friends contended that the trustees at-
ton was part of a campaign TO ieg.la'.
free speech. but the trustees said ,ha'
Nearing went because he had an obnoa
ious habit of speaking freely without per.
hitting COMMON sense and a regard TO-
the rights Of others to limit his ey
pressions that ne was intemperats o;
speech and persisted in making aston
ishing statements regarding unt.sted
theories.
Students OF the university circulated
q petition to have him retained, tie
alumni took the matter IN. and much
was said and written in hhs behalf, bu'
he was ouste1.
or the seven rules adopted by III.
trustees II grants a teacher a hearing
before he can be dismissed. Other rule,
provide that a professor shall be az.
pointed for an indefinite term. that an =
y.stant professor shall receive a first a..
pointment for three years and suUse.
quent appointments for FIVE years eaca
heretofore assistant professors were
appointed from year 10 year,. and -
case II is decided not to %reappoin, an
assistant professor he shall be notified
not later than April 1 before his cor
tract expires. DR.. Nearing was not.
fed that he would not be ~reappoin,ed
in June this year
Trastees Feel Ehec1s
In exceptional cases, where loss 10
the university of a man of recognize
ability might follow delay IN his Az
pointment. action may he taken by 10.
provost and board of trustees wirhuu'
prior consultation with or recommends.
ton OF the group of instruction OF which
he would become a member. INSTRUCTORS
are to be appointed for a term Of ore
year.
1t is understood that a far ~acr.r
change in the method Of selecting ;rl,s.
tees also is under consideration a'4
probably will be acted upon Al an etr'
date. Up 10 this time, as required vs.
the charter. the board has made III
appointments to its own body for u
and II has been the custom Of the boa
to ask the directors of the ';.f
eral Alumni Society for nominations
I'LL a vacancy. who suggested toy
names. from which one was chosen. i
however. none Of the four names p
posed was acceptable TO the trustees -
other names could then lie proposed
the General Aiumni Society. ard So o
until the vacancy wac filled.
The objection to this system 10 n
the alumni as a whole did not woe t'a
could not secure election to the boo a n
an alumnus not acceptable TO the ro7"I
but acceptable to the alumni. T. is a.
serted that this has the appesraun, o.
doing something to crafty the alum
while preserving intact the self-peT'
uating power of the board of trustee
1t is now proposed, and the ma o. e.
under discussion by a committee ~
board. TO change the relationship ~ O.
alumni TO the board along the foi'"'
lines:
Want Liberal spirit.
On the occasion OF every vacanc' ..
after among the twenty-fou men .
comprising the board the trustee sHr
advise the hoard Of manager %, 90
Genera Alumni Society, Or any q. a.
agency OF the ALUMNI which ma7 ."
created. and shall invite tIts tscuc.
submit not less than - names - i'e'
sons. preferably alumr. from whom tN-'-
shall be chosen by RE nosrd e. yti %
dates. Instead OF stoppin= here -
the past without an vote helng tal'en
the alumni now viii re asked 20 vo'e
upon the three candidates, The boa
shall then. II the plan goes through &C.
Indicated. elect 30 membership III" ca
didate receiving the highest nun be-
OF votes, provided that at leas' orr
thousand votes h a have heen cas-
Should this number OF votes TO PEE
cast the board OF trustees vii t"s"-re
the right to diSreSard the result, an %
the event OF A tie the trustees Wrl "a
decide the issue II undoubtedly " n
stipulated that the lights 81 IN" 'fIs'"s-
as expressed in the charter shall ~ ="
wise be Rhrogated or impaired
While this does not hherdlize 70 '
ton of trustees to the extent ma ''
Harvard election Of overSecrs - tN-'N
open TO the alumnl-the Hoar>''vt' '
charter prevents that--it + obvious
great step forward. Most 81 the 'rus'"f
are Philadelphia men, hut Il the s'i
take sufficient interest q 20 GuI'.
sible that men living I'm New N". 'l
elsewhere Will now md thor N'- ''"
board.
M TIC rN vpTE