Faculty Bars Communists

The issue continued to be that of the Faculty opposed to control of educational policies by the Regents--not, for the most part, opposition to the loyalty oath as an abridgment of academic freedom. Earlier, the four-man committee of the Academic Senate had suggested to the Board of Regents that instead of signing the oath, the employees might simply affirm university regulation 5 which "prohibits the employment of persons whose commitments or obligations to any organization, Communist or other, prejudice impartial scholarship and the free pursuit of truth." On March 23 a poll of the faculty revealed that it had voted 1,025 to 268 against employing Communists on the faculty. Regents chairman Edward A. Dickson stated: "The result is of national significance. It is the first time that the faculty of any great university has gone formally on record as sup- porting a policy of outlawing subversive teachers and influences.

But the faculty on the same poll and by an almost similar vote had rejected the Regents special non-Communist oath. Opposition continued to grow against the Regents "sign--or else" ultimatum. Even the student body assembled in the Greek amphitheater on the Berkeley campus for a mass protest meeting.

Finally on April 21, the showdown came. The Regents voted 21 to 1 to accept a compromise proposal drafted by the Council of the California Alumni Association. Instead of signing the special oath required by the Regents, university employees would now sign with their new contracts the statement:

"Having taken the constitutional oath of office required of public officials of the State of California, I hereby formally acknowledge my acceptance of the position and salary named, and also state that I am not a member of the Communist Party or any other organization which advocates the overthrow of the government by force or violence and that I have no commitments in conflict with my responsibilities with respect to impartial scholarship and free pursuit of truth. I understand that the foregoing statement is a condition of my employment and a consideration of payment of my salary."

Regent Lawrence Mario Giannini, president of the Bank of America, was the lone dissenting vote. He had declared that if the Regents' oath were rescinded "I'm sure that the flags will fly in the Kremlin." Giannini tendered his resignation, saying, "I cannot bring myself to compromise with Communism in any way... (the new plan) is a masterpiece of compromise... I hope it will be effective, but I doubt it... if it is not I'll be glad to organize 20th century vigilantes to uncover Communism."

412 Fail to Sign

The Regents set May 15 as the deadline for filing the new affidavits. At that time all but 412 of the 9,919 letters sent out had been returned with the loyalty statements sworn to. The next action will come this Friday when the Regents meet to consider whether or not to dismiss those 412 who have refused to sign the affidavit