Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1928 [PAGE 106]

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1926]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

IO3

WIRING O F A R C H I T E C T U R A L BUILDING (14) The Supervising Architect recommends, and I concur, that the contract for the wiring of the Architectural Building be awarded to the Kehl Electric Company of Green Bay, Wisconsin, on the basis of their low bid of $5,565. O n motion of M r s . Busey, this contract was awarded as recommended. RESOLUTION FROM CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT O F OBSTETRICS A N D G Y N E C O L O G Y (15) The following resolution has been received from certain members of the staff of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, of the College of Medicine. 1 understand that copies of these resolutions have been sent to members of the Board of Trustees as well. Whereas, gynecology is represented in many of our best schools by a distinct Department of Gynecology or in some by a separate Division of Gynecology, and Whereas, such an arrangement has seemed to develop more outstanding obstetrics and gynecology, and Whereas, gynecology has always been a distinct specialty, separate from obstetrics in the University of Illinois Medical School,firstas a department and later as a division, when certain specialties were grouped under three heads, namely, Surgery, Medicine, Obstetrics, and Gynecology, and Whereas, the "Divisions" thus grouped were authoritative, being the creation of the Board of Trustees, and Whereas, appointments were made year after year tofillthe positions in these "Divisions", including a Head of Division and staff, and Whereas, the Head of Division and staff in gynecology received appointments for the definite period from September 1st, 1925 to September 1st, 1926, the same did those in other divisions, namely, pediatrics, neurology, etc., and Whereas, these appointments were in the nature of a contract between the Board of Trustees and the appointees, and Whereas, neither the Head of a Department or the Dean or the President of the University or the Board of Trustees has power to set aside or cancel or abrogate these contracts without sufficient and demonstrated reasons, and Whereas, during the life of these contracts and while they had yet seven months to run, and while no vacancy existed in gynecology, and without consultation with the Head of the Division of Gynecology or any member of the staff, a new Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology was installed with the avowed authority to do away with the "Divisions" of Gynecology and make of obstetrics and gynecology one specialty with no divisions, he having full charge and full control of what had heretofore been two specialties and two "Divisions," and Whereas, without any advice from the administration that such a radical change was contemplated or notification from the Dean's office or the President's office that such a change had been made and while the period of our contracts are yet unexpired, complete support has been withdrawn from the Head of the Division of Gynecology, all matters pertaining to gynecology being withheld, and Whereas, no action of the Board had been taken, making one specialty of the two former specialties. The Action of April, 1925, cited by the President, having reference in no sense to this combination, as shown by the fact that the appointments were made, after that date for the ensuing year, as usual and functionated as usual until February 1st, 1926, and interruptedly thereafter, and Whereas, numerous efforts since February 1st, 1926, to gain audience with the President have failed, and Whereas, the Dean and President have given as their reason for ignoring the rights of the Division of Gynecology was that a division is entirely unofficial and a matter for the Head of each Department to determine for himself, and