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Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946
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856 BOARD OF TRUSTEES [October 18 TELEGRAM FROM DR. GEORGE D. STODDARD President Livingston read the following telegram from Dr. George Dinsmore Stoddard, President-Elect of the University of Illinois. On the occasion of your October Board Meeting I feel that you should have a statement from me concerning the recent controversy as President of the University of Illinois. My fixed policy will be to uphold our democratic institutions in which is imbedded the right to religious freedom. T h e University of Illinois belongs to the people of Illinois who erected it and who support it. It must be administered in the light of their social ideals and principles. Freedom of religion involves respect for the religious beliefs of the citizens of Illinois. While adhering firmly to my own personal convictions I shall administer the University within the limits of academic freedom, and I shall respect and endeavor to make respected the religious beliefs of all students. In these critical times educators recognize the responsibility of stressing the moral values which religion inculcates and supports. In twenty years of professional life I have had no interest in the private beliefs of any person, and I have not known, save incidentally, the church affiliation of any student, colleague, or associate. I will follow the same policy at the University of Illinois. GEORGE D. STODDARD Mr. Davis stated that the Committee on General Policy had met earlier in the day and had recommended that the Board adopt the following statement of policy: T h e Board of Trustees is committed to the principle, which it now reiterates and clarifies, that every student of the University of Illinois and each member of its faculty and administrative staff is entitled to freedom of religious belief. Included in that principle must be the practice that no member of the faculty, or any administrator of the University, may do anything by word or act to influence, change, or criticize the faith or religious conviction of any student. Freedom of opinion and religious faith are fundamental in American life. T h e employment of any member of the faculty or any administrator has attached to it the condition that untrammeled freedom of faith and opinion will be respected and observed. Any member of the faculty of the institution is entitled to entertain such beliefs, disbeliefs, or opinions as his conscience may dictate. Dr. George D. Stoddard was employed on the basis of a distinguished record as an educator. H e is now the President of the University of the State of New York, and Commissioner of Education of that State, and, as such, the head of the educational system of that State. His educational qualifications are of the highest. On thorough inquiry, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois ascertained that Dr. George D. Stoddard is in complete harmony with and fully committed to our firmly established basic principle ever to maintain this great University and its affiliates free from any and every religious controversy and prejudice. W e are assured by Dr. Stoddard that in his twenty years of professional life as an educator he has never made inquiry into the church affiliation or beliefs of any student, colleague, or associate, and that he will demand strict adherence to this policy as President of the University of Illinois. On motion of Mr. Davis, this statement of policy was unanimously approved and adopted. Dr. Karl A. Meyer, who was present at the committee meeting, instructed the Secretary to record him as voting in the affirmative on this matter. REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF OCTOBER 1 8 , 19 4 5 MEETING The Secretary presented for record the following report of a meeting of the Executive Committee. T h e Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois met at the University Club, in Chicago, Illinois, at 11 o'clock a.m. on
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