Evening star., 1935-03-26
U. of M. WeekIy's Editorial
Hits Presidents Policies
as "Disastrous."
HEAD OF UNIVERSITY
DEFENDS HIS ACTIONS
Depreciation of Teaching Staff in
Standing and Morale Is
Alleged.
By a staff CORRESPONDENT Of The Star.

BY stan Correspondent OF The star.
COLLEGE PARK. Md, March 26-
Charges that DR.. Raymond A. Pear
sons administrative policies are
having disastrous effects" " the
academic standing of the University
of Maryland. as voiced in the Dia-
mondback, weekly student publication,
yesterday, will be aired before the
next meeting OF the universitys Board
Of Regents.
Representative william p Cole, jr.,
a member of the Board Of Regents,
said he thought the matter should be
sifted by the regents at the flrst op-
portunity. Taking an active interest
in the charges, he ordered copy OF
the student paper that he might learn
the students attitude as accurately as
possible.
Pearson Replies.
Responding promptly to the facts
set forth in a front page editorial OF
the student publication, DR.. Pearson
said every possible effort is being
made to retain the best teachers. We
should have a mutually helpful spirit
If We would secure the best results"
He also disclosed that, In the face
of the dilemma caused by reduced
State appropriations end increased
enrolment, officials of the institution
are studying q suggestion that the
student body be decreased. 1t was
learned that the suggestion came
from a member of the Board Of Re
gents. This might make possible a
reduction in the teaching force and
an increase a the salaries OF those
retained. it was noted.
The editorial brings into the open
dissatisfaction with, the university's
administration which has been
smouldering for months.
Laxity Charged.
Those critical Of President Pearson
have charged him with failing to
exert efforts to avert additional uni
versity budget cuts in his conferences
with Gov. Nice early this year. On
this point the editorial says:
when on top Of this glaring neglect
Of the teaching stan, additional salary
cuts are proposed and the president
Of the university, in his private con-
ferences with the Governor. is unable
to avert such reductions. the time
has come for the students to speak
in their own behalf"
The editorial concludes that "other
impending designations among the
professors Of higher academic stand
ing and a deplorably low faculty
morale magnify the Importance OF
these already significant facts. bodins
no good for the future Of this
institution"
In the eight years since DR.. Pear
son fell into the presidency Of the
University OF Maryland, the number
Of full professors actually has de-
creased from so to 4s, at the very
best figure" the student paper says
This is true despite the fact thai
the enrolment has grown from l,23t
in 1926-27 to 1884 at present. Ad'
mittedly the instruction staff has beer
increased, out this increase has beer
in those groups of lower academic
standing.
Hit Requirements.
But the real and incriminatine
evidence Of the disastrous effects oi
DR.. Pearson's policy on the academic
standing of this institution is in the
fact that these mer Of higher pro-
fessional standing who have left the
institution nave been replaced by
lesser qualified instructors, with the
resultant wrecking Of many Of the
departments.
I'VE do not argue that these lesser
qualified instructors may not develop
into valuable teachers, but We DO OBJ
ject to playing the insignificant role
of guinea pig for those inexperienced
educators to make their mistake:
upon"