The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-04-28
University OF Florida Prof.
Suspended By Pres. Hitler

0AlNE0NlLLE k1-A university
q Florida professor who refused
70 tell a congressional committee
whether he ever has been a men,
Der of the Communist party has
been suspended.
J. Hills Miller, university presi-
dent, announced the suspension a
lew hours after John H. Reynolds,
assistant professor Of social sci
ences, was questioned by the House
Unamerican Activities Committee
n Washington Monday.
Reynolds, named by three other
witnesses as a member Of Red
group at Harvard around 1870,
pleaded the constitutional guaran-
tee against Standardization in
refusing to answer certain Ques-
lions.
Miller said in q statement:
Fl regard Mr.. Reynolds refusal
70 answer questions of a duly con-
Stituted agency Of the government
as q serious breach Of his moral
responsibility to the university, his
colleagues, and the public which
his university serves"
He added that Reynolds twill
have a right to an expeditions
hearing before a committee of the
faculty on the basis of the findings
Of which the president viii be
pleased to make bis recommends
tons to the Board Of Control"
Reynolds refused to tell the COM
mittee whether he was ever ac-
quainted with Norman Divinson
and DR.. William T. Martin Of the
Massachusetts, Institute of Tech.
nology and Robert G. Davis of
Smith College.
These professors had testified
that they were members of a Red
organization at Harvard more than
10 years ago and knew Reynolds
as a member Of the same organi-
cation.
Reynolds also refused to affirm
or deny testimony by Courtney
Owens, committee investigator,
that he denied Communist party
membership in an interview at the
University Of Florida last month.
The interview was held in the
presence Of Dean Winston w. Little
and Prof. William G.. Carlton. Rey-
nolds was not under oath at the
time.
Reynolds told the committee he
believed its Reds-in-E Education
probe Is detrimental" However,
replying to a question by Rep.
Doyle 3D. Calf.), he said he does
not believe a member Of the Com
munist party should be allowed to
teach In American universities.
Quoting from a statement Of the
Assn. Of American Universities,
Miller said that If a professor sis
called upon to answer for his con-
victions, It Is his duty as a citizen
to speak out. II is even more
definitely his duty as a professor.
Refusal to do so, on whatever
legal grounds cannot fail to reflect
upon a profession that claims for
itself the fullest freedom to speak
and the maximum protection OF
that freedom available In our So
ciety."
Miller said 1.-THE legal right Of
citizen to refuse TO testify under
protection Of the Fifth Amendment
(the right against self-incrimina-
ion) Is not in dispute in my mind.
However, the moral right Of Mr..
Reynolds to exercise this legal
right under the circumstances is
open 10 serious doubt"
Reynolds was appointed to the
Florida staff In 1886 after UNDER
graduate and graduate work at
Harvard and teaching at the Uni.
verxity Of New Hampshire.
The university president said |
that before Reynolds was appointed |
for second year he was informed |
by letter: IF your personal belief |
Is such as might lead colleagues |
and students 10 think Of you as a |
radical. ISM teacher, or other |
extremist, DO not accept, because |
the offer is made on the opposite
assumption"
Reynolds agreed 10 this without |
qualification" Miller said.