Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1978 [PAGE 381]

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370

BOARD O F TRUSTEES

[September 21

INTRODUCTIONS President Howard recognized and introduced a number of officers attending the meeting in new capacities: Dr. Peter Yankwich, appointed vice president for academic affairs at the July 20 meeting, and Dr. Morton Weir, who is serving as acting chancellor at U r b a n a until the new chancellor assumes his duties. H e also recognized Dr. A n n Reynolds, newly appointed dean of the Graduate College at the Medical Center campus. BUSINESS PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY President's Reports President Corbally presented a report on selected topics of current interest, copies of which were distributed at the meeting, and a copy was filed with the secretary of the board. University Research Allegedly Related to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) "MK ULTRA" Project President Corbally referred to newspaper accounts concerning University research of some years ago, allegedly related to a CIA project known as "MK ULTRA." He reported that he had received a letter from the general counsel of the CIA, apparently sent to a number of colleges and universities, indicating that records in old CIA files indicate some relationship between the University of Illinois and the MK ULTRA project — presumably a project related to behavior modification activities, and concerning seminars, conferences, and research. He had replied, asking for more information, and had received a staff reply from the CIA counsel's office, indicating that materials providing more details were being prepared and would be sent in some three to four weeks. It had been reported that four subprojects had been identified with the University of Illinois, in the period approximately 1953 through 1957. The president had issued a press release reviewing this information and indicating that, until he had received further documentation, there would be no further statement from the University.1 (A copy of the press release is filed with the secretary of the board for record.) REGULAR AGENDA T h e board considered the following reports and recommendations from the president of the University. Annual Operating Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 1978 (1) The University budget for operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1977, is submitted herewith, including recommendations for (1) academic and administrative appointments beginning August 21, 1977, at Urbana-Champaign and September 1, 1977, at Chicago; and (2) funds for the nonacademic personnel staff on a continuous basis. Authorization to pay salaries and wages for the period July 1, 1977, to the new contract dates was granted by the Board of Trustees on June 15, 1977.

1 Subsequently, the president issued a statement of the University's findings on this subject. The statement appears as an appendix to these minutes, following page 432.