The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1938-10-27


fair to point out tho that the Darb
has picked So okay, with only 10
marring his record as bad guesses.
PUBLIC OPINION
University Regents Fail to Meet
Their Responsibility
Last week the University Regents
elected Dean Ford president Of the
University. The inference has been
drawn that the minority, Of which
I was a member, opposed his cleo
ton for political reasons. This idea
is so preposterous that 1t would on
ly be advanced in an election year.
However, as there were arguments
offered by the minority that were
omitted by the daily press, would
like to submit to you people Of this
community the view held by the
dissenters.
DR.. Ford Is man OF scholastic
standing, has a delightful personal
ity and is thoroughly likable in
every respect. He would, I am
sure, class himself as Liberal. He
stands well in the educational
world.
DIR. Ford has passed his sixty
fifth birthday. The retirement age
at the University is sixty-eight. His
appointment therefore is temporary.
He can head the University for
about two and one-half years. Twice
during the time DIR. Ford has been
connected with the University has
the Board found it necessary to Sc
lect a president. Some of the same
Regents that were instrumental in
his selection now passed him by
when he was of an age when he
might have given the University
years Of leadership.
Frequent changes in the Presi-
dency of this large institution are
surely not advisable. The minority
felt that the Board should meet the
issue before it; that it should as
sumo its full responsibility; that to
temporize was out of order; and
that the Regents without delay
should start the search for a permy
anent president He should be a
young man with physical and men
tai vigor but old enough, however,
to have given promise of real abil-
ity.
At an early meeting it was de-
cided to go about the selection of
a president with due care and no
haste, but the inner circle of the
University plus the Snyder influ-
ence was able to rally sufficient
support so that they knew in adj
vance that they had enough votes
to put their program through. In
fact, the Minneapolis Journal car
ried an accurate account of what
the Board would do prior to the
Board Meeting.
In elevating DIR. Ford from a
Deanship to the Presidency, his
salary was increased from $4,000
to $4,000 per year. He is given the
free use of the old Pillsbury House,
the upkeep of which runs about
$27OO a year. He Is also provided
with an automobile, chauffeur, and
so forth, and he is further provided
with an entertainment expense ac-
count. However, the important part
to the tax payers of the state Is not
the salary increase. It is the change
of DR.. Ford's retirement pension. As
a Dean DR.. Ford would retire al
the age of sixty-eight on pension
of $500 per year; as President oil
the University his retirement PEN
sion is $4,000 per year, a difference
Of $500. If DR.. Ford should live
ten years, and this is highly prob
able, and I hope he does, it would
cost the state an additional sum OF
5000. The University has always
been thrifty in paying out money to
the lesser employees. A few dollars
raise in salary in the lower bracket
is viewed with alarm, but in the
upper brackets less thrift Is mani
tested.
I cannot help but feel that the
Board was rather derelict in their
duties to the state by temporizine
with this important appointment
also feel that they have placed toe
heavy a burden upon an elderly
gentleman, who, when he was Act.
ing President, found it necessary
to take long vacation during the
middle of the school year to recup.
crate. The University Is entitled to
aggressive leadership. 1t should
have as president an outstanding
individual, man who can maintain
the traditions of the past, but the
matter has been temporarily set
tied, and the responsibility is with
the majority.
Ben Dubois