By William Nash
Daily Staff Reporter
The Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs met yesterday to discuss and suggest action with former faculty and University President Lee Bollinger on the 1954 suspension and termination of three former faculty members.
During the red scare, the University held investigations involving three instructors: mathematics instructor Chandler Davis, biology Prof. Clement Market, and pharmacology Prof. Mark Nickerson.
"We were engaged in a nationwide witch hunt," Law School Prof. Emeritus Ted St. Antoine said.
The employment of two faculty members charged with having communist affiliations - Davis and Nickerson, was terminated by then-President Harlan Hatcher.
Market retained his tenure status but left for Hopkins University soon after.
In 1989, a motion to express regret for the terminations and suspensions was brought before the University Board of Regents and never passed.
In response to the rejection, the Academic Freedom Lecture was established to remember the events of the McCarthy Era.
It is held each year, but Peggie Hollingsworth, president of the Academic Lecture Fund, said an apology is still necessary.
"The argument (to not apologize) continues to be one-sided," Hollingsworth said at the SACUA meeting yesterday. "The families of the two fired faculty members had to leave the country."
Bollinger responded to the suggestion by saying the University was "wrong" in firing the two faculty members, but passing a motion wouldn't really accomplish anything.
"Are there more things that can be done?" Bollinger asked. "I don't quite know; it is open for discussion."
Bollinger said he supports the lecture, at which he spoke in 1992.
Hollingsworth described the University's contribution for the upcoming 10th anniversary speech as substantial.
But to truly bring the closure needed, another motion would have to be placed before the regents, Hollingsworth said.
Although the last one was not passed, the current group of regents may have a different viewpoint than those serving in 1989.
"That's the real issue," Antoine said. "Will the regents sign on?"
SACUA discussed whether the motion should be approved before the other surviving former faculty members pass away.
Although Hatcher ultimately made the decision to terminate the two faculty members, SACUA and the faculty body also played a role in the investigation.
"We are the faculty, and I get the uncomfortable feeling we're trying to put the blame somewhere else," biology Prof. Lewis Kleinsmith said.
The two committees that were formed to investigate the cases were comprised of faculty members. Some faculty members also put pressure on the administration to fire the suspected communists, Kleinsmith said.
"We need to take responsibility for this," Kleinsmith said.
09-15-98
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