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I MVKKSITY OF GEORGIA. ATI IK NS. GEORGIA 50602
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TUESDAY, MARCH 9. I97B
Pelletier resigns position,
draws mixed reactions
S. WILLIAM PELLETIER
University provost's resignation is effective July I
By PATRICIA TEMPLETON
Associate news editor
Dr S. William Pelletier resigned his
position as University Provost Friday
afternoon, expressing a desire to return
to teaching and research in his letter of
resignation to University President Fred
C. Davison.
His resignation will become effective
July 1, 1976.
Pelletier stated in his letter that he felt
he had accomplished the objectives
established for him when he took the Job
as provost in January, 1969. including
development of a new appointments and
promotion system for the faculty.
"I believe the result of my work in
these areas (appointments and promo
tion) has been the recruiting of many
distinguished faculty members, the
strengthening of all of our programs, and
an increase in the performance standards
Tate feels no triumph
over provost's resignation
By BUDDY WALLER
Staff writer
S.William Pelletier's resignation as provost gives the Univer
sity a chance to "get back on an even keel," Dean of Men
Emeritus William Tate said Saturday.
Tate, who has recently emerged as one of Pelletier's harshest
critics and who earlier accused the provost of “wrecking"
University President Fred C. Davison's administration, said he
was "glad" to hear of Pelletier's resignation, but added, “I
don't have any feeling of personal triumph. I feel it is a step in
improving the University. President Davison now has the chance
to be a good president of the University as a Georgia institution.
"The provost has been tough with people and that’s why I have
no sympathy with him,” Tate added.
In a prepared statement released to the press Saturday, Tate
said Pelletier's "decisions and policies las provost) have done, in
my opinion, irreparable damage to the University for years to
come."
THE STATEMENT called for Pelletier to immediately
relinquish his post, rather than continue in office until July 1,
because "a lame duck' term of continued confusion and
wrangling about tenure, promotion and new appointments will
not be helpful."
Additionally, the Tate statement called for the abolition of the
office of provost or its transformation into "an administrative
arm of the (University) president, without authority to run the
internal affairs of the University.”
With Pelletier's resignation. Davison now "has the opportunity
and duty to get this good school back to its primal function of
serving the people of Georgia, especially the undergraduates
"We reached a high point of prestige and effectiveness under
(the late University) President (O.C.) Aderhold, but in my
opinion the administration has recenlty been worshipping alien
gods." the statement said
TATE HIMSELF said the “alien gods" his statement referred
to were Pelletier's emphases on research and scholarly
publication at the expense of undergraduate classroom teaching.
Although Tate said the publication two weeks ago of a survey
of faculty members of the College of Arts and Sciences which
gave Pelletier an extremely low approval rating made the
provost's resignation “inevitable,” he added that the details of
the resignation “were played pretty close to the vest.
"Nobody in the administration consulted with me about when
Pelletier would resign They knew how I felt,” Tate added
He said he had heard fourth-hand on Thursday about the
impending resignation and received four telephone calls early
Friday afternoon informing him of Pelletier’s exit, jus* hours
before its announcement.
Tate said he did not discuss the resignation with Davison,
adding, “I haven't talked to the president, except casually, since
October.He’s not going to call anyone in that differs with him."
DISMISSING PEI I.ETIER'S stated reason for leaving his
post—a desire to return to scientific research—Tate said, "I'm
not denying the privilege of (people)...saying the provost is
voluntarily retiring to chemistry, but I don't believe It."
Tate added that he believes Davison and Pelletier pre-arranged
the resignation announcement. “Basically, they worked it out
euphemistically.
“It's very obvious the president is not going to say, ‘I'm going
to fire you because of the...(Arts and Sciences) survey.' He's
going to say. ‘I'm going to permit you to return to
chemistry—your first love,"’ Tate said.
While Tate said he has been contacted by over 200 University
faculty members and alumni, including several members of the
state legislature, who supported his criticisms of Pelletier, he
said he could not determine what role they might have played in
the resignation.
IF DAVISON decides to retain the office of provost itself, Tate
said he has no particular candidate he would like to see replace
Pelletier, but added, "The first thing that ought to happen is the
power of the provost be reduced."
At other colleges and universities, the provost serves as the
marshal at graduation exercises and the institution's official
greeter, according to Tate.
"A provost can be a very useful man. The error here was that
he was given internal management of the University," Tate said
Of Davison's role in the Pelletier resignation. Tate said, "I
don't have to deny I’m glad he let him go, do I?
"I feel strongly that the provost was not a good influence. I
said that he ought to be out of office Monday. What more can I
say?” Tate added
for our faculty,” Pelletier's statement
said.
DAVISON ACCEPTED Pelletier s res
ignation “with the strong knowledge that
your contribution to the University has
been one of unparalleled accomplish
ment While the total magnitude of what
you have given to the state of Georgia
through your service as provost of its
University will not be realized by many
for years, I recognize them now and
thank you in the name of all of us,"
Davison's response to Pelletier said
Pelletier's term in office has been
marked by heavy criticism in recent
months At a student rally on Jan 21.
Dean of Men Emeritus William Tate
charged that Pelletier did not hire
University graduates.State Senator Bev
erly Langford has also criticized Pelle
tier's term as provost.
In a recent poll of faculty members of
the College of Arts and Sciences. Pelle
tier was given a failing mark for his
performance as provost by 54 9 per cent
of the respondents
Pelletier s resignation was met with
mixed reactions from faculty and admin
istrators.
"I'M VERY surprised I am sorry to
see him go I think he has done an
excellent job." David P Anderson, dean
of the College of Veterinary Medicine,
said.
Anderson seeks
SGA presidency
By CHRIS GUIDE
Assistant news editor
Sid Anderson, a senior in the School of
Environmental Design and former stu
dent senator from that school, announced
his intention to run for the presidency of
the Student Government Association
(SGA) Monday.
Active in Coalition until last year.
Anderson decided to run as an indepen
dent because “I don't like what campus
political parties stand for right now.
They're a necessary evil but serve only
to alienate students from their governing
organization
“The campus is divided into parties,
the parties are divided into factions, and
the factions are divided into cliques—all
of this serves to divide student interests
and separate them from SGA."
Partly because of his independent
status, Anderson said he plans to run an
issue-oriented campaign. "It’s hard to
build a campaign on issues alone." he
said. "That's one of the draw backs of not
being supported by a party—you have to
generate your own publicity.
“NELSON ROSS (another candidate)
says SGA is powerless, but that's not
true The power is there, it's just not
used right. For example. SGA helped
eradicate the sophomore residency re
quirement and change the solicitation
rules on campus."
Anderson cited his authoring of the
motion which formed the basis for the
University Council resolution permitting
solicitation on campus by organizations
other than the University-run bookstore
as one of his qualifications for the office.
"I think the president of SGA should
act as an ombudsman between students
and the administration My office would
naturally be open to students with com
plaints. comments, and the like,” he
commented
He cited as issues in his campaign "the
fact that student workers often get less
than the minimum wage, and that some
University employes retire with 35 years
Sll) ANDERSON
of service with no pensions." Two other
important issues include the fact that
“legal adults are denied the right to
choose where they will live i referring to
the Irishmen residency requirement),
and that the sliKk'nts on this campus are
so underrepresented on the University
Council as to make participatory demo
cracy a joke at this school" he said
"It (Pelletier's resignation) is a big
relief. It will be good for the University,"
Calvin Brown, professor of comparative
literature, commented Brown has been
critical of Pelletier’s performance in the
past
"If this is a beginning of changing to a
community of scholars instead of a
dictatorship, fine, but his could be merely
throwing one man to the wolves." Brown
said.
Brown feels there is no need for the
position of provost "Why have five vice
presidents and then another person for
them to report to? It is like having three
men between the President of the United
States and his cabinet.” Brown said.
ACTING DEAN of the law school,
Walter Phillips said. “The bottom line
decision now is whether or not a new
provost is needed. The system can
function without a provost.
"This institution can go forward, no
one is indispensible," Phillips added. "If
there is no provost or intermediary to the
president the schools and colleges will be
controlled 100 per cent at the local level.
“Tough decisions wiil have to be made
at the local level The deans are going to
find they can no longer shield themselves
for actions or inactions. They can no
longer put the blame on the provost, but
must take the blame themselves." Phil
lips said.
Pelletier's resignation was “long over
due" according to Thomas Goolsby,
associate professor of educational psych
ology. “Now we can get to the business of
putting the governance of the University
back to the students and faculty,"
Goolsby said
GOOLSBY ALSO said he would like to
see the office of provost abolished.
“I think it is very sad I am very
unhappy about it," Joseph Berrigan,
associate professor of history and past
president of the American Association of
University Professors (AAUP) said
“He (Pelletier) is a most open and
constructive person. No one should have
to put up with as much as he has had to
put up with." he said.
Berrigan feels the job of provost is a
necessary one “Davison has enough to
do now The University has 21,000
students now, not 6000 We can't turn
back the clocks and do away with the
position of provost." he said
Pelletier, Davison, and other top ad
ministrative officials were unavailable
for comment
New members tapped
Men tapped last night are among the
first male members in the 57-year history
of Mortar Board, traditionally a national
honorary society for university women
William Tate, dean emeritus, was
tapped into Mortar Board last night
David Barrett and David Day are the
first male student members of Mortar
Board at the University.
Other students tapped for their out
standing records in scholarship, leader
ship. and service are Margaret Bauer.
Connie Boyles, Marilynn Brame, Ann
Chandler, Nancy Clark. Ina Cook, Flor
ence Gardner, Kathy Gill. Gail Law
rence, Marie LeCroy, Mary Miltner.
Lucia Nasuti, Terry Parker, Ellen Pat
rick. Brenda Pullin. Domini He, Jill Anne
Bitch. Carol Hobbins. Elizabeth Ross.
Carolyn Seymore. Christina Simmons.
Nancy Williams. Vicki Williford, and
Gretchen York
New members will be wearing aca
demic caps and gowns and will not be
allowed to talk today.
Photo by JOYIA ANTHONY
SECRETARY OF STATE HENRY KISSINGER SPOKE IN ATLANTA
Saturday's speech concentrated mainly on foreign policy
FOR ANGOLA
Kissinger supported aid
By JOYIA ANTHONY
News editor
ATLANTA—America's refusal to sup
ply direct military aid to Angola before
that country was conquered by
Communist-backed forces "will be aven
ged in similar situations which arise in
the future." according to Secretary of
State Henry Kissinger.
Kissinger, who appeared in a press
conference Saturday sponsored by Sigma
Delta Chi. said the loss of Angola due to
the United States' failure to adopt his
position in favor of direct assistance is a
tragedy for which we will pay a long
time "
The type of situation similar to Angola
which might appear in the future was not
specified by Kissinger However, “the
U S will not accept the introduction of
Cuban forces in any area of the world."
he said
The Cubans cannot force "the kind of
turmoil" that occurred in Angola on
other countries in Africa. Kissinger said
The United States supports United Na
tions policy in "other African countries."
but favors "majority rule in Rhodesia ”
TIME IS running out for negotiations in
Rhodesia, another African nation threat
ened by civil war. according to Kissinger
The United States is continuing negotia
tions with Panama concerning the return
of the Panama Canal to Panama,
according to Kissinger "The issue is not
in relinquishing the canal, but whether
the U.S wants a confrontation with the
Latin American States who are baling
Panama." he said
"The U.S. is determined to safeguarn
our interests in Panama, but it is too
early to tell if the negotiations will be
successful," he added
Kissinger told newsmen at the hour
long conference that former President
Richard Nixon's trip to China "had not
been originated by the state department
That should be an indication ol how the
trip was related to our conduct ol foreign
policy."
mm EVER NIXONS talks with Act
mg Premier Hua Kuo-long are of con
siderable interest "to the state depart
ment."Kissinger said Nixon has agreed
to submit a report of his meeting with
Chinese leaders, he added
Nixon made his visit to China in a
"private capacity" which does not serve
United Slates loreign policy. Kissinger
emphasized "If the Chinese government
wants to communicate to the U.S they
should do so through established chan
nels.”
Kissinger said Nixon did not consult
with him about the China trip "I have
my hands full advising President (Ger
ald! Ford.” he added
Former Secretary of State Dean Rusk,
who moderated the press conference,
commented on the Nixon trip, "If I or
any other private citizen had spent time
talking with the leaders of the People's
Republic of China, you would be inter
ested in what we had to say, would you
mg?
NO FEDERAL LAW has been violated
by Nixon during his China trip, according
to Kissinger The Logan Act which has
been cited by Nixon critics as a basis for
possible legal action, does not prohibit
private talks by citizens although it does
prohibit "negotiations" by citizens, he
said.
Frequently a target of criticism him
self from presidential candidates, Kissin
ger said he has no plans to resign his
current post
"How can I deprive the candidates of
something to talk about’" he asked
Kissinger said he supported President
Ford's decision to abandon the word
"detente" in referring to Soviet-Ameri
can relations because the foreign word is
unfamiliar to many Americans
However, the policy change did not
alter "our policy of seeking peace while
remaining strong to prevent the use of
military power by other countries for
constant confrontation "
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