Evening star., 1945-06-12
Maryland U. Group
Asks Mass Meetinu
To Air Grievances

Maryland student committee which
charged last week that the institu-
tion's administration was "undemo-
cratic and dictatorial," will ask the
student board today to arrange a
mass meeting at l 80 pm. tomorrow
at which students can air their
grievances and suggest changes in
the university's policies.
The action followed a two-hour
conference yesterday between the
committee and DR.. H. c. Byrd, uni
versity president, during which the
latter pointed out that most of the
things of which the group COM
planned were required by law.
In refusing to speak before the
proposed assembly, DIR. Byrd saio
he would prepare a complete state
ment on the committees charges
Proposes Grievance Meeting.
."If you want the university tx
consider what you want changed.
DR.. Byrd stated. you should gel
the Student Board to call a meeting
of all students to draw up the things
you want the University of Mary
land to do. These recommendations
then will be studied by the faculty
and even by the Board Of Regents,
if necessary"
Principal criticism by the commit
tee of the university's policies CEN
tered on these points:
Compulsory military training for
all students, including 4-Fs and
Army and Navy veterans.
A regulation giving DR.. Byrd
to dismiss any student at
any time without revealing the
charges against him.
Censorship by university officials
Of the Diamond back, weekly school
publication.
Claim Crippled Forced to Drill.
In discussing the compulsory mil
itary training policy at the institu-
ton, Leslie DAILY, jr, member of
the committee, said he had seen
students with only one arm forced
to take drill. -e
DR.. Byrd explained that operation
of the ROTC at the university Is
controlled by law and by the Board
OF Regents and that it has been in
effect at the institution for rs years
Declaring that he would investigate
the charge that students with only
one arm have to take military drill
DR.. Byrd said he believed every
physically flt student should par.
ticipate in the military training
even If he is not eligible for tn,
Army. He added that veterans ar.
given credit for their training whil.
in service.
Dismissal Rule Attached.
With reference to the regulation
giving him authority to dismiss stu.
dents summarily, DR.. Byrd pointed
out that this also is required by Law
and that II couldn't change it ever
If I wanted to-"
He said such a regulation is ir
effect In several other colleges anc
universities in the country, includ-
ing Princeton, Goucher College
Penn State, Stanford, the University
of Virginia and Michigan Uni.
versity.
In my 10 years as president oil
the university" DR.. Byrd declared
II have NOT dismissed a single stu.
dent unlesS requested to do so by the
Student Life Committee. The ques.
ton is not whether that power ex.
lists, but how it is used"
He denied that the Diamondbacl
is censored, adding that the only
time issues of the publication failee
to appear was in 1943 when 1t ex.
hauSted its funds.
The university head promised t.
hold weekly conferences in the fu.
ture with officials OF the various
school publications to answer ques
tions and to acquaint them will
any changes in administration
policy.