Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-06
Curly Byrd Replies

MdlCii 90, IlAClc dppCdIcu oil
editorial critical of the pro-
poSal in the Legislature to
enlarge the Board of Regents
Of the University of Mary
land. 1t said categorically
that mo need for reorgani-
cation of the Regents has
been shown"
There has been no attempt
to reorganize the Regents.
No such proposal has been
offered. What alumni sought
was to provide for additional
membership in order to give
the Board broader represent
tation. This need is acknowl-
edged even by those who put
pressures on members of the
Legislature to delay such ac-
ton for another year, There
has not been the slightest
thought on the part of any
body, SO far as I've been able
to learn, Of interfering in any
way with the present men,
bership of the Board. either
with their terms of Office or
with their appointments.
The editorial further states
that University officials
were fully justified in view
ing the proposal as rejecting
on their competence" The
editorial thus accepts at face
value statements made by
members of the Board and
the Administration. Such
statements carry little
weight. For If such reason
ing were accepted, the Legis-
lature, which has final re-
sponsibility for the UNIVERSE
ty, would never be able to
make any change in the gov
eminent Of the University or
in policies of the State relat-
ing to it. Such a situation
manifestly would be absurd.
Some years ago a bill was
passed by the Legislature in
creasing the membership of
the Board from 8 to IL. No
one thought that was a re-
Election on the Board or on
the Administration. Also
some time back the Legisla-
ture took away from the Uni
versity two big departments.
But while the University
presented many reasons why
1t felt this should not be
done, when it was done no
one thought that it was a
reflection on the competency
of the Administration or of
the Board.
In years gone by, the Uni
versity of Maryland has been
subjected to many investiga-
lions. Why such fear of
learning more about Univer-
Sity affairs? When investi-
cations we're proposed in
former years, the University's
Board and officials regarded
investigation as a right and
duty of the Legislature. The
Board never offered objec-
tionS. The University came
out of every investigation
with flying colors. But the
present Board and the Ad-
ministration have brought
every pressure possible, even
threats of resignation. to
bear on certain members OF
the Legislature to prevent
either an investigation or an
enlargement OF the Board Of
Regents. The big question
is, Why? Is it that they are
afraid of something coming
out? Personally, I'm inclined
to think so.
The editorial said: This
was regarded as a slap at the
policy of the Elkins admin
istration to stress academic
rather than athletic achieve
rnent. No college administra-
ton should be condemned
for adhering to such a
policy"
The first sentence of this
statement is a perpetuation
of the kind of fiction that
has. been coming out of the
University's publicity depart
ment and from other sources
for the last four years. 1t is
Misrepresentation in the
sense that it implies that the
University ever had any 9TH
er policy. The President of
the University himself was
recently quoted in a WASH
ington newspaper as saying:
Maryland had exceeding
ly strong football for a few
years. Perhaps some confu-
sion arose whether football
should be primary or second
airy at the University. I don't
believe that any special in
terest - football or any
thing else-should dominate
the University"
This is the kind Of innu-