Evening star., 1949-09-18
Howard Trustees
Back Johnson
In Corson Fight
Professor Refused
Permanent Tenure;
Heads U. S. Project

Heads U. S. Project
Howard University last night
gave what amounts to q dismissal
notice to a Medical School pro-
fessor who is attracting national
attention with Government
sponsored research project.
The professor is DR.. Samuel A.
Corson, associate professor Of
physiology and director of an
$4,000 research project on dropsy.
The university's trustees, in an
unusual action, not only backed
President Mordecai Johnson's re-
fusal to give DR.. Corson a per-
manent faculty post but decreed
that the medical research pro-
fessor must leave the university
by next June 80.
Working on Temporary Basis.
President johnson said a con-
tract ending on that date will be
offered to DR.. Corson to give him
time to find another job. DR..
Corson has been working on a
temporary basis since his two-year
term expired last June.
The action climaxed a long dis
pute which centered around re-
fusal of the Medical School Dean
DR.. Joseph johnson, to approve
a budget for the Government
funds paid DR.. Corson for his re-
search. The research grant is
to DR.. Corson, not the university,
but the professor uses laboratory
facilities and patients of Freed
mems Hospital in his expert.
ments.
DR.. Corson had appealed to the
trustees after refusing a one-year
contract renewal offered by Dean
Johnson. He sought a f1ve-year
contract, which under university
rules would mean permanent ten
ure.
Assistant Dismissed.
Dismissed outright last June 80,
when DR.. Corson's contract ex.
pired, were his research assistant,
Abraham Siegel, and DR.. Cor
sons wife. Mrs. Elizabeth O'Leary
Corson, physiology instructor.
They did not appeal.
DR.. Corson said last night he
had received only telephone noti-
fication of the trustees decision
and had not decided whether to
accept a temporary contract.
He desires to continue his re.
search and will decide largely on
that basis, he said. He expects
to consult the American Associa-
ton of University Professors and
the Public Health Service, he
added.
DR.. Corson's scientific acllieve-
ments had won him support from
a four-man committee elected by
the faculty. Three department
heads were on this committee, in
cluding DR.. Paul B. Cornely, med
ical director of Freedmens Hos
pital.
Urged 2-Year Renewal.
DR.. Charles r. Drew, surgery
department head and committee
chairman said last night the group
had recommended that DR.. Cor
sons contract should be renewed
for at least two more years.
1T was our opinion that his work
had been so good he should be
retained at least that long. We
will be sorry to lose a professor Of
his attainments under such cir
cumstances," Dr.. Drew declared.
DR.. Corson, explaining his dis
pute with the administration. said
he felt it was important for q
faculty member to make a stand
in order to encourage an attitude
more sympathetic to research"
He criticized the present admins
istrative atmosphere" at the uni-
versity.
The professor said he had been
supported by Local 80 Of the
United Public Workers, the teach
ers' union on the campus, but
President johnson said last night
that the campus unit of the union
notified the trustees yesterday it
had withdrawn its support Of DR..
Corson.
President johnson said Dean
johnson has dealt rather gen.
erously" with DR.. Corson and that
the trustees consider the deans
actions amply justified. II