Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 603]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

6oo

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[July 25-26

HEARING OF DEAN T H O M A S E. B E N N E R

President Livingston requested Mr. Thomas L. Marshall, Special Counsel for the University, to take charge of the hearing of Dean Thomas E. Benner, granted on Dean Benner's request that he be given opportunity to appear before the Board to present his reasons for asking that he be continued as Dean of the College of Education after the expiration of his present appointment which terminates on August 3i. I 945Mr. Marshall stated that he had met twice with Dean Benner and Judge Johnson, and that all parties had agreed on the following procedure, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees: All witnesses shall be sworn, and the hearing conducted in a judicial manner. Brief opening statements by counsel shall be followed by the examination and cross-examination of witnesses. If objections are taken, the Board will rule on each one. This procedure, being approved by the Board, was followed throughout the hearing. Mr. Marshall read Section 8, a and b, of the University Statutes and Dr. Benner's contract as Dean for two years from September 1, 1943, to August 31, 1945, and stated that the issue before the Board did not include Dr. Benner's status as Professor of Education, on indefinite tenure, but only the acceptance or rejection of President Willard's announcement that he will not recommend Dr. Benner's reappointment as Dean of the College of Education. 1 Judge Johnson read his opening statement to the Board. 1 Mr. Marshall and Judge Johnson introduced a number of exhibits during the hearing. Since all are identified by serial numbers affixed by Mr. Copple and are on file, with the transcript of the hearing, in the office of the Secretary, they are not enumerated nor summarized here. Nor is the content of the testimony of witnesses given here, because it appears in full in the transcript.

WITNESSES FOR THE UNIVERSITY

Mr. Marshall introduced the following witnesses who gave their testimony (and were cross-examined) during the hours indicated: Dr. Coleman R. Griffith, Professor of Education and Provost: from 10:10 a.m. to 12:55 P- m - a n d from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Dr. Robert D. Carmichael, Professor of Mathematics and Dean of the Graduate School: from 3:15 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. Dr. Albert J. Harno, Professor of Law, Dean of the College of Law, and Legal Counsel: from 4:20 p.m. to 5:10 p.m. Dr. Arthur Cutts Willard, President of the University: from 5:10 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to 8:25 p.m.

1 The opening statements for the University and for Dean Benner are quoted verbatim from pages 3-21, inclusive, of the stenographic transcript of the hearing prepared by Mr. Copple, as corrected (see appendix, following page 615).