The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-06-07

Next to the publicity being giver
the tense situation that exists IN tht
South. Montana is probably getting
as much unsavory publicity at the
present time as any place in the
nation.
The NEW YORK TIMES has beer
covering the rightwingism IN genera
and Birchism in particular of the
Mountain Region for some time now
and this week TIME magazine flung
the ingredients ait the fam In an ar
ticle on the Montana University Sys-
tenn.
The New York TIMES article is
covered elsewhere in this paper; the
TIME article exposed all the painful
facets of our problems with higher
education, and put out for all to see
what Montanans have feared for a
long time, and that is that our units
of higher education are nothing more
or less than graveyard of Presl-
dents.
Next week the Board of Education
Regents meets in Missoula. A new
president for Montana State Uni
versity will surely be discussed.
A month after the public announce
ment, two months after the resigna-
ton was handed to the Governor and
four months (Feb.) after Newburn ac-
cepted his new position at the Tempe,
Arizona institution there is no indica-
tion that anyone wants to come to
Montana and take over the presidency
of the University. There are muted
rumors that there may be one appli
cation.
When the subject is brooched as
10 who might be the next MSU presi-
dent the answer is ,"Who would want
it?"
But a natural concern exists in
political and educational circles about
the position.
Perhaps never in state history has
there been such a tight-security as
exists in the State House today. If
anyone is being considered for the
presidency nobody knows about it;
and yet this is am important position
and moves must be being made to
I'LL it.
Who? If it is someone from out
side the state will we get a right
vinger, because who else would
.ome to the state with the political
et-up as it exists in education in
dontana today?"
This thought is tantamount to
'ushing the panic button. 1t will take
fontana education 100 years to re-
over from such catastrophe, some
ne will say. Someone else says we're
lready SO years along the way.
Right-wing and out and out poll
ical pressure is already being ex-
rted at the institutions, with Grip |
ling effects.
Some educators who feel that edu-
alton goes on forever and political |
administrations come and go, are try
lg to ride out the whole miserable
flair and no issue is being made of
ne instances where pressure from the
apitol in Helena is applied.
If, as reliable sources report, New
urn accepted his position at Tempe,
-rizona, in February, his unhappiness
18th the Montana situation did not
ome recently.
He has not been a dynamic presi-
emit; there are those who say he has
title if anything to show for his
,nure; in some instances he acted
SIS than heroically in times of edu-
ltional stress.
But these are changing and peri
JUS times for education, and there is
D little fear across the state that
rings could get worse at MSU; thus
lie change now is viewed with dread.
If right-winger is brought in from
lie outside to be president the up
laval could be violent; it would be
,litical as we'll as educational. This
recognized by both the politicians
I'd the educators.
On the other hand the right-wingers