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Western Carolinian Volume 39 Number 40

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  • TIhe V/s^rru^ C^LdUMM VOll'i: OF THE STI'IIK^'TS VOL. XXXIX NO. 40 THURSDAY FEBUARY 21, 1974 WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY CULLOWHEE, NORTH CAROLINA Appeals Procedure Released Acting chancellor Frank H„ Brown last week released a tenure appeals procedure to fa- culty members who were denied tenure. The procedure; which calls for a hearing under a three- member committee of the WCU Board of Trustees, came at the request of WCU faculty members Allan Grant, James Kasprzak and Newton Smith, of the English department. These three and Blaine Eldridge and Aba Wielhorski of the art department were denied tenure in January. All received notice of termination in June, except Wielhorski who got a one year terminal contract. The appeals procedure sent out by Brown stales that a hearing committee consisting of at least three members of the board of trustees shall be ap~ pointed by James H. Glenn, chairman of the board. The chairman Will notify the appellant of the date of appeal, at which time the appellant may be represented by a council that presents evidence in his behalf. All rules of evidence and procedure will be designated by the committee, the docu- ment states. The chairman of the board will notify the appellant through the chancellor of the committee's decision. If a review of the decision results, the appellant will be notified within ten days follow ing'the meeting of the board. If the original decision is.confirmed bv the committee, any further appeal should be made to the chancellor who will forward it to the chairman of the trustees. The board chairman will then send it to the Board of Governors through UNC Presi^ dent William Friday. Spaghetti Is Main Course For Dinner The C;ii (iliiuan misled its readers in Tuesday's paper a- bout the spagetti and beer din-- nor approved by the student senate. Tom Bummer of the University Center Board, who wishes to set ihe readers straights gave us these facts yesterday. The spagetti and beer div» ner is not a "beer blast." If approved by administrators Glenn Stillion and Frank H. Brown, the dinner will feature beer aonly as a beverage to go along with the spagetti. There will be a 300 person limit for the dinner, These persons must purchase advance tickets at S2 50 rather than the S2 price quoted Tuesday. C2v-sn at this price,, tlio UCB will s ise money.) Furthermore,- the breweries h:iv;> no', jfwi'illy agreed to ntatcMitis* ."itc'.i keg sold with a free one. So,, at present, $150 would buy only $150 worth of CONTINUED PAGE 3 . . ._-; Chancellor-elect Harold F. Robinson visited the campus yesterday to assess the current needs of the university. He will assume chancellorship June 1. (photo by Steve Cook) AFT Criticizes Appeals Process The local American Federation of Teachers today released a statement calling the appeals procedure for professors denied tenure "a cruel joke," The statement, drawn up by the executive committee of the AFT, declares that under the UNC Code the WCU board of trustees has "absolutely node= cision makingauthority" in ten - urc appeals. "Not only do the board of trustees have no authority over tenure decisions," the statement continues, "they, also have demon- strated a marked lack of concern or the interests of the facult.. individually and collectively." The AFT statement expresses disappointment with acting-Chancellor Brown's decision to channel the appeal through the board of trustees rather than through Brown himself. If the trustee's appeals committee takes a favorable view of those appealing their cases, the board could do nothing but grant a terminal sixth year to those now in their fifth year, the AFT states, The reason for this is because the board does not have authority to reverse the administration's decision to deny tenure; it can only reverse the decision to terminate, the statement points out. A faculty grievance committee which was elected two weeks ago for the purpose of hearing complaints should have been used to review the tenure decision, "in the absurd circumstance that the board would onlv be acting as an advisory committee to the administration," AFT maintains. AFT president and tenure- denied faculty member Allan Grant last night expressed his dissatisfaction with the appeals procedure, calling it an "absurd, tight little circle," His major grievance was that those who have been denied tenure still do not know the reasons, Under the current procedure, he pointed out, the appellant will probably not find out at all. The procedure has also received strong criticism from the American Association of University Professors. McEniry Is Doing Well William Hugh McEniry, who was acting chancellor here at WCU until a heart attack halted his activities, is now Well and expecting to continue his work as vice-chancellor of academic affairs at UNC-Charlotte early in March. In a recent letter to the administration, faculty, students, and staff of WCU, McEniry thanked all for the concern they had shown towards his heart attack and recovery. McEniry's physician told him that his recovery had been both rapid and excellent, McEniry summed up his hospital exper- ience in the following passage, "After the usual encounters with hospital nightgowns, well- intentioned personnel who Cotton Comes To Cullowhee by Dwight Sparks Chancellor-elect Harold F. Robinson was in Cullowhee Tuesday and yesterday assessing the current problems and needs of the University. Robinson will not officially assume the chancellorship until June 1, but he will visit Western periodically until then. He is now provost of Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, While here he met with the search committees for deans in both the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Business, He also conferred with top University officials on other matters. An interview with Robinson proved the future chancellor to be both a warm personality and a catholic intellect. The Mitchell County native is a specialist in genetics and plant breeding. That of course makes him something of an expert gardener. He said he used to have a large garden when he was a professor at North Car- olin State University from 1945 until 1962, However, since he entered administrative work, he has had only a little time for gardening, he said. Asked about gardening plans here, he said he had not been able to see how much space he had around the chancellor's house, but he did not think he would have a great deal of gardening time, He does plan to have a small garden, But probably no watermelons could grow on the chancellor's mountain for students eager for a free meal, Rovinson is a veteran fisherman and hunter, He enjoys both trout and lake fishing and expects to find some time for both when he comes in June. In Indiana he goes pheasant and quail hunting often during the season, However, he admitted he was only an average golfer having only taken up the sport since he has been at Purdue, Still, he dedicates most of his time to his work which he enjoys. He has two daughters. His oldest is married and getting a degree in microbiology at N.C. State. The youngest is a freshman at Purdue majoring in retail merchandizing. His wife, the former Katherine Palmer, is a native of nearby Waynesville. Nationally recognized in his field, Robinson has been on several studies of food problems including presiding over President Johnson's Science Advisory Committee Panel on the World Food Supply. Currently he is a member of a committee on genetic vulnerability which works closely with the federal Agriculture Department. The committee has been concerned with dangers with close breeding of plants and animals that could result in crises similar to the corn blight which swept the nation four years ago. He said there was an "extremely serious problem" with the world food supply. He has been working with the National Academy of Sciences to update its documents in order to balance America's food supply with foreign need. In coming to Cullowhee, Robinson said the problems that Western Carolina University faces now with tenure, enrollment and financial shortages and other are are not unique, and could be solved. He hoped that all people at WIT would have the same great deal of enthusiasm that he has for the mission of the University, He expressed great confidence in Western's students, faculty and admini strati ve personnel, "We have the opportunity to help move this University to more broadly serve the people of this region," he said, He hoped to " provide excellent university educational opportunities " for the region, "Western North Carolina has not been provided with its share of the resources as provided to the other parts of the state." He hoped to work to get more finances for the institution, Citing plans for the university, he aims to expand professional and career programs here. He wants a broad base of educational opportunities to serve the students, Special curricula to encourage the most brilliant students is also being considered by Robinson, The chancellor - elect stressed though that "you can't be everything to everyone." He said he did not believe in lowering standards to maintain a certain number of students in the university. "I believe in top quality programs, Reducing standards is- not a correct procedure in attracting students," he commented, However, he did envision certain programs that could be open to anyone, In coming here, he stressed that he was "anxious that everyone have a positive approach with regard to Western Carolina University." Robinson also cited his desire to beautifx Western's campus. Realizing that funds for campus projects are limited, he still felt that WCU has the surroundings to be "one'of the most beautiful campuses in the United Slates." He hoped to find more funds to beautify the campus. Citing his heritage as a native of the North Carolina mountains, Robinson said his arrival at WCU was more than a homecoming. He said he had always had a desire to serve the people of this region and felt he could do so as chancellor. He hopes to promote the University's service to the people of the region and establish a "broad based, well rounded academic program,"
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