New-York tribune., 1918-02-05
Columbia Trustees
Give Greater Voice
To Teaching Staff
Yield Partly to Long Agita.
tion for More Academic
Freedom

Columbia University's trustees. who
have been the target of criticism by
those who urge a more democratic
management of affairs at Morningside
Heights, yesterday expressed their
stand in the controversy.
Although rejecting tho specific pro-
posal of reform suggested by the fac
uIty through the University Council on
October 16, 1917, the trustees yielded
in part to tho demand for ga more for
NAL method than heretofore employed
for the close >ad effective cooperation
OF trustees and teachers in considera-
ton of matters Of Importance to the
work Of the university or affecting its
influence and good name" They au-
thorized the University Council, in
which the various faculties at Columbia
are represented, "to consider any ques-
tion that may arise as to the conduct
or efficiency Of any officer of admins
tration or instruction, and to report
thereon to the trustees through the
pres dent."
Resignation Brought Crisis
Definite demands for greater par
tlcipation of the teaching force in tho
councils of the university came di-
rectly after the Resignation from the
university on October last of DR.
Charles Austin Beard, professor OF
politics, who called the trustees men
who have no standing in education
who are reactionary and visionless in
politics, narrow and mediaval in re-
ligion." DR.. Boards action was hast.
ened, If not caused, by the removal
from tie faculty of Professors j. Nc
Keen Cattell and Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow Dana for their pacfist &C.
tivities
DR.. Beard said that though he dis
agreed with the ideas held by the dis
missed professors he believed, before
being removed, they were entitled to 6
"hearing by their peers" instead of di
rectly by the trustees. To create the
machinery for granting "a hearing by
their peers in future cases was the
object of the formation of commit
tee, composed of six professors, nance
October go
"A careful study OF these recon
mendations (for committee of refer
cnce) led to the conclusion," the trus
tees stated, chat if there would b.
created in the committee of referenc,
new and Independent university trib
unal, without detined duties and will
no obligation to report either to tn,
president or to the trustees. Such ref
erence would seem necessarily to imp!,
that the committee of reference hat
power to decide the questions sub
mitted to it. In this view Of the mean
ing of the councils recommendations, i
is clear that the trustees could not con
sistently with their duty approve tn,
proposals of the council Therefore,
conference in regard to the whole sub
ject was held on December II, at which
I seventeen members of the teachin,
staff were present. In the interchang
of opinion which followed any inten
ton to bring about the result whicl
would follow the acceptance of the res
olutions of the council was dsclaime,
by members OF the faculty. With tn
object of the councils recommendation
as thus explained we are heartily in &C
cord, since these recommendation
would simply continue and extend as
definite part of the unvershys ad
/ ministrativee policy edes,od proc sdur
which have been Established for a gen
Grafton past"
Adopt Committees Report
In taking this stand, the members O.
| the board of trustees adopted the join
report Of its committee on education