Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-12
BIG ISSUE UNSOLvED
ATU. P, MEMBERS
OF FACULTY DECLARE
Trustees Fail to Act on Ques-
ton of Who Should Deter
mine Tenure of Office of
Those on Teaching Staff
MAY REQUEST DECISION

Although the "free speech" controversy
at the University Of Pennsylvania is con-
sldered closed incident, tFe faculty of
the institution seems to feel that the
main issue at stake has been avoided.
the question as to who should determine
the tenure OF office OF faculty members
ana how dismissals and appointments
should be made.
This phase OF the problem was not con-
sidered by the trustees at the board meet
ing yesterday. IL is believed now that
the board viii not take the matter up
until the faculty members act. Even the
most enthusiastic supporters ot the trus-
tees In the recent controversy have ad-
mitted that some change should be made
which would insure faculty members
against such summary dismissal as Dr.
Scott Nearing experienced last June.
NOTICE SHOULD BE GIVEN.
II is generally believed that prior to
dismissal of n faculty member the trus-
tees should give at least six months no
tice OF the contemplated action. Among
the opinions advanced on tho subject 10
that of Robert ]. Sterrett, Assistant
United States District Attorney, who said:
THE faculty itself should decide upon
all appointments and dismissals. Who
knows the value OF faculty member
better than his colleagues or the dean OF
the department In which he teaches?
Who dismsses the brakeman employed
by the railroad? The president Of the
company? No. the man who has direct
supervision over him and who knows his
value to the railroad.
The analogy can be carried into any
business you oan name. I believe you
will find that It is the faculty and not
the trustees who rule appointments and
dismissals at virtually every university
and college in the country, even though
the strict letter OF the law at the various
institutions does not specify that they
do so.
'The necessity Of giving faculty MEM
Der due notice Of dismissal is so apparent
that there Is no reason for going into
that phase Of the situation"
SAYS DEAN KNOWS BEST.
Mr. Sterrett also expressed the opinion.
which is advanced by many other mem
bers of the alumni OF the University,
that the trustees have not taken a keen
enough interest in the faculty at the
University to know the value of the va
rious instructors and professors, and for
that reason should not take II upon
themselves to dismiss a man against the
recommendation of the dean of the col
lege Of whose faculty he is a member
Harrison S. Morris, executor of the
Wharton estate said today:
"The trustees ignored the issue, which
Is that certain pubic service corpora
tions represented on the board have en-
deavorcd to strangle free speech by dis
couraging those who exercise It. They
will not dare to do II again."
Another opinion expressed by many Of
the alumni is that a joint committee
should be appointed by the trustees and
the faculty to confer on all contemplated
appointments and dismisSals, this COM
mittee to recommend a course of action
Ao hue
cision entirely with the board of trustees.
1t is pointed out that this method
would not only give the faculty repre-
sentation, but In all probability would
result in closer cooperation between the
faculty and the highest court at the UNI
versity.
When seen today at his residence at
Queen Lane, DR.. Scott Nearing would
make no statement relating to the action
of the Board OF Trustees yesterday.