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T.D.’s Place 3rd
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fiercer faculty continue daily protest march
r jarome gautreaux
icspite the rain ami cold
ither. nearly fifty faculty
I joined by a number of
and alumni, have par-
i 1 in the ongoing protest
oh around the administration
, Dressed in academic regalia and
j a sign that read ''No Equi-
No Honesty," Dr. Rich Met-
Profcssor,
the Administration
Tuesday. January 2.
was soon joined by
and students who
s concerns over
financial]operations and the
iverning procedures of the
iversity.
Dr. Metger. along with the other
ulty members who echoed his
iments, believes that decision
2 at Mercer has come to be
nated by one person." As
ly faculty see it, that one per
son is Dr. Godsey. And many
faculty agree with one marching
professor who stated that "Dr.
Godsey is now widely perceived as
being less than perfectly honest.
Dr. Theodore Nordcnhaug, Chair
man of tfcg Philosophy Department,
commented more emphatically that
"it is difficult for a faculty and a
university that is devoted to the
search for truth to have a President
symbolizing it who has
demonstrated repeatedly that he has
no respect for truth."
Faculty members give example
upon example of administration ac
tions that they find disturbing. One
such instance is a recent .tatement
from Mr. Womble. Vice President
for Public Relations and Develop
ment, on a local television station,
that "faculty members are
demonstrating here today telling
people that changes need to be
made when indeed they have
already been made and they just
won't admit it." However, when
asked if he was referring to the col
lective concerns of the faculty, as
indicated in the statement, Mr.
Womble replied that he was actual
ly only "referring to a specific
question from Dr. Metzger." Dr.
Metzger does not recall such a con
versation. The entire College of
Liberal Arts, according to another
professor agreed unanimously to
send a demand for a public retrac
tion to Mr. Womble but have not
yet received a response from him.
Another example of what; many
faculty members see as the Ad
ministration's lack of honesty is
Dr. Godsey's admission of the ex
istence of a $900,000 annuity he
will receive in 1996. Dr. Godsey
had previously denied the annuity's
existence at a meeting with students
on January 30th, 1989. According
to Susan Glisson, she asked Dr.
Godsey "if he was going to be
receiving money for staying at
Mercer at least ten years." He
responded, according to Ms.
Glisson, "with a chuckle and said
Also, questions have been rais-
Continued on page 3
Merczr University faculty members march around the Administra
tion Building every day during activities period in protest of the
Godsey Administration.
rustees meeting held in December
Board upholds decision to close CAS
Ihc Mercer University Board of
ustces met on December 1. 1989
the Medical School Auditorium,
ic Mercer chapter of the
nencan Association of Universi-
Profe&son (AAUP) held a pro-
t at the medical school before
d after the meeting,
lobert Steed, Chairman of the
of Trustees, called the
to order and asked Dr.
Liter Shurden to give a pre-
ehng meditation and prayer,
airman Steed then recognized
rdy Gregory, Chairman of the
iversity Policy Committee who
ted that the committee had
eived a report from Vice Preai-
Coomer that outlined the pro*
led calendar change and propos*
semester system.
Resident Kirby Godsey then in
duced Dean Phillip Shelton of
s Walter F. George School of
Law, who reported on the
Woodruff bequest. George
Woodruff willed the law school 20
million dollars. Vice President of
Enrollment Services, Mill Miller,
was then recognized by Chairman
Steed. Miller reported on the
outlook of next year’s Freshman
class.
Tom Watson Brown, Chairman
of the Development Committee
reported that Mercer received a
total of S3 million in gifts during
the 1989 fiscal year, as well as. $2
million in gifts from the Georgia
Baptist Association, $10 million in
government grants and some $2 .
million from the Annual Fund
Drive.
Ctairman Steed then called on A1
Williams. Chairman of the
Finance. Investment, and Proper
ty Committee. Williams reported
that the University's deficit for
fiscal year 1989 was $8.8 million.
He also reported on the sale of the
Bond Swamp land for $2.5 million
and on the sale of the Pharmacy
school facilities in Atlanta to
Georgia Baptist Hospital for $3
million. Williams concluded by
reporting that the University's net
worth stands at $137 million.
David Jones, Chairman of the
Athletic Committee, then inform
ed the Trustee* that Bobby Pope
had been named Athletic Director
for the University and that Brad
Seigfned had beep named head
coach for the Men’s Basketball
team. Jones also stressed the need
for an on-campus athletic facility
and concluded that the possibilities
of this athletic complex were being
studied by the Athletic Committee
Preston Williams, Chairman of
the newly-formed Audit Commit
tee, reported on last year's audit by
Peal. Marwick, A Main accounting
firm. William reported that $38
million in adjustments had to be
made in Mercer’s books. He went
on to say that these adjustments
were all non-cash transactions.
Trustee Hardy was again called
on to inform the Board that the
Georgia Baptist Convention had
formally asked the Trustees to
reconsider closing the Mercer
University College of Arts and
Sciences in Atlanta. The Board of
Trustees upheld the April 1989
resolution to close the College of
Arts and Sciences.
President Kirby Godsey was then
asked to give his President’s Report
to the Board of Trustees. Godsey
stressed the need for an
athletic/recreational facility at
Mercer and the need for renovation
of many Macon campus buildings.
Godsey also reported that the Board
of Trustees confirm John Womble
as Vice President for University
Relations and Development. He
then extended a standing invitation
to the CLA faculty House of
Delegates to attend any and all
future meetings of the Board of
Trustees.
Eleven new Trustees were in
stalled. Robert Steed was
nominated for a second term as
Chairman for the Mercer Univer
sity Board of Trustees. No other
nominations were made, so Steed
was elected to a second term. Cor-
inne Houpt was also reelected to
serve as General counsel to the
University and Secretary of the
Board of Trustees. The benediction
was pronounced by Reverend Tom
Conky. A luncheon in the cafeteria
immediately proceeded the
meeting.