FRIDAY,'APRIL 14, 1850 LA Open Letter Following is the text of an open leiier to the administration of, the College written by the Liberal Arts Student Council The -Liberal Arts Student Council has learned from accounts in the press of the 'decision of the Board of Trustees not to renew the contract of Dr, Lee Lorch, assistant professor of mathematics because of his activities in seeking to eliminate racial discrimination, particu larly in the StUyvesant Town project. This has been confirmed by an investigation by the Liberal Arts Council. This action by the Board of Trustees has aroused, local and national concern, since the very institution of academic freedom is endangered!. ... Mr. A. Q. Morse, assistant to the president, has informed us that neither academic deficiency nor relations with other faculty mem bers led to the refusal to renew Dr. Lorch’s contract; These qualifi cations apparently were not-the basis for the Board’s decision, al though they are the established criteria in the academic profession. This leads us to the conclusion that at State, a professor’s job depends upon the whims and personal interests of members of the Board of Trustees. If a professor is in danger of losing his job for liberal activity, liberal thinking, and liberal opinions, then the Lib eral Arts School is not a school of LIBERAL arts. . Reputation Jeopardised If by opposing racial discrimination and working for its elimi nation a professor may lose his job here at Penn State, then the Col lege’s reputation as an exemplary American institution is seriously jeopardized. • ' The Liberal Arts Student Council feels that the administration has violated the moral obligation to higher education with which it is vested. In taking stock of our administration, from the Board of Trustees down, we must conclude that principles and ethical respon sibilities have, been sacrificed for the interests of a select few. The Liberal Arts Student Council, faced with the failure of the Administration to make a public Statement, and unable to obtain a full account of the administration’s actions, has been hampered in its efforts to make constructive proposals. Nevertheless, after a thorough examination of the views of the parties involved, the Liberal Arts Student Council must conclude that a grave injustice has-been done not only to Dr. Lorch,-.but to Penn State’s traditional academic freedom. As the representative organ of the Liberal Arts Student body, we call upon the Adminis tration for prompt action to end this shocking violation of principles of academic freedom, principles which have for so long been tradi tional with Penn State. > ...■■•■ Lorch Case -- ' (Continued .from page'one) make no Comment on tne. matter; NAACP, Letter „ The NAA'CP;letter, to be; draft-; ed by an eight-man executive , committee, will point out that. Dr. Lorch; was recommended for. his ability as an instructor by Prof. I Orrin Frink, head of the math de partment. The Committee also stated that approximately :30 members of that department signed a petition approving Lqrch as a capable instructor. Dr. Lorch is! co-adyisor to the .campus NAACP chapter. * The LA council letter charges that Morse “haS informed us that neither academic deficiency nor . relations with other faculty mem bers led to the refusal' to-renew Dr. Lorch’s contract.” . ' Personal Interests . “This leads us to the conclusion that at Perin State, a/professor’s v job, depends upon the whims and personal interests of members of the board of trustees,” the letter continues. o; The letter states that the repu tation of the College is “seriously ' jeopardized" and that "principles and ethical responsibilities have been sacrificed!” ! ' NAACP members also voted to fofm a committee for academic freedom in conjunction with rep resentatives of . other campus or ganizations, and the executive committee termed Lorch’s - dis missal “an affront to democratic people and an encroachment upon academic freedom.” . Morse Questioned The trustees decided not to re- SAVE TIME ! SAVE MONEY! i . PURCHASE YOUR SUPPLIES at the BX IN THETUB (1) Penn Stale T-Shirts and Scarfs (2) Sorority Decorations (3) School Supplies VISIT THE "BX" TODAY The Liberal'Arts Student Council hire. Dr. Lorch after Morse ques tioned him in connection- with al lowing a Negro family to live in StUyvesant Town apartment. , David H. McKinley, associate professor of economics, co-.advisor to NAACP and a member of the AAUP, has stated that AAUP members on this campus are not tackling the Lorch base' because they concern themselves only with teaching contracts of more than one year. However, McKinley added that the national office of the AAUP is going oh record in defense of Dr. Loren and'.probably will blacklist the College if he is not reappoint ed. • ■ , . Grid Banquet ; (Continued from, page oriel Subjects of satirp in skits, will include studeiit politicians, ath letes, , arid other campus leaders, as-well,as- townspeople and mem bers of the faculty. . • The banquet was, inspired by that given' annually by. the Wash ington. Gridiron Club,; at which the national'government and ad ministration are; ,‘4roasted” on. a hypothetical, gridiron. It was err roneously stated in the Daily Col legian that the event was staged by the National Press Club in the nation’s capital. The last banquet put on by the Penn State chapter of SigmaCeL ta Chi -was held 1 in. 1942., Prior to that date it was andnnualevent. Admission is by invitation oiily. Persons who plan tq\attend- the banquet must obtain tickets at the Student Union desk in Old Main by noon. Saturday, Traditionally, dress is formal. { THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. STATE COLLEGE. PENNSYLVANIA Truman Busy (Continued from page one) ordered Federal grand .jury ac tion against crime there and told the Attorney General to get to the bottom of the nation-wide crime rackets. Bb'i ■ HB \ THEM ALL! NO CIGARETTE HANGOVER means MORE SMOKING PLEASURE! Then the President leaned back and discussed his five years on Pennsylvania Avenue. He said that he proposed to take credit for general business prosperity and improved international re lations. Later, without saying so di rectly, President Truman picked In Just ONE MINUTE. .. you can prove to yourself PHILIP MORRIS is definitely less irritating—therefore, more enjoyable—tban the brand you're now smoking! 1... light up a PHILIP MORRIS then, just take a puff dont iNHALE-and s-l-o-w-l-y let the smoke come through your nose. Easy, isn't it? N Thousands and thousands of smokers—who tried this test—report in signed statements that Philip Morris is definitely less irritating, definitely milder than their own brand. See for yourself what a difference it makes, what a pleasure it is, to smoke America’s FINEST Cigarette. Try Philip Morris today! r PHILIP MORRIS up the challenge of Republican critics, who want to use the bi-partisan foreign policy as a campaign issue. President Tru man says he wants to see the people elect a Congress this fall which will be wholeheartedly in favor of international coopera tion. . \ ' jifeSS Z... light up your present brand Do exactly the same thing don't inhale. Notice that bite, that sting? Quite a difference from PHILIP MORRIS* PAGE THREE
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers