 | The Cavalier daily. Tuesday, May 20, 1969 |  |
Bowers Quits Dean Post;
Historian Named Successor
Peter Shea
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
Fredson Bowers has resigned
his position as Dean of the
Faculty, it was announced
yesterday. The resignation becomes
effective at the end of
next month.
Mr. Bowers will be succeeded
in his post as chief adviser
to the University's President
and Provost by David Allen
Shannon. A historian, Mr.
Shannon is presently serving as
chairman of the history department
at Rutgers University.
The new dean's election to the
faculty will be made official at the
June meeting of the Board of
Visitors which has already approved
it informally.
Mr. Bowers, who held the
position for one year, will continue
on the University faculty. He is a
former chairman of the English
department and a fellow of the
David Allen Shannon
month Mr. Bowers received the
gold medal of the Bibliographical
Society for his service to bibliography.
Mr. Shannon, 48-years-old, received
his B.S. from Indiana State
Teachers College in 1941 and a
Ph.M. from the University of
Wisconsin in 1946. His field of
study is 20th Century American
History and his writings cover a
wide range. His books include. "The
Socialist Party in America; A
History," "The Decline of American
Communism," and "Between
The Wars."
Past Positions
Mr. Shannon went to Rutgers in
1968 from the University of Maryland
where he had served as
chairman of the history department
for three years. He also has taught
at Columbia Teachers College, the
University of Wisconsin and at the
Carnegie Institute of Technology.
When contacted yesterday afternoon,
Mr. Shannon said that,
although he was in Charlottesville
during late March, he is not fully
aware of all the problems at the
University and was hesitant to
discuss them.
Faculty Meetings
The new dean was asked if he
was in favor of student attendance
at faculty meetings and replied that
he has lived under both systems and
that "I don't oppose the idea in
principle." He explained that the
faculty as a body would have to
decide the matter and "I hope that
a majority would be for admitting
students."
Although he did not feel prepared
to discuss the problems concerning
promotions and tenure, Mr.
Shannon stressed the importance of
the College faculty. He said that
graduate education cannot be
allowed to overshadow undergraduate
education and that the most
worthy teachers were the ones who
could instruct both graduates and
undergraduates with equal
efficiency.
Mr. Shannon expressed concern
for the first-year seminar courses. A
disappointing number of faculty
members have volunteered to direct
these courses despite the continued
pleading of many. Mr. Shannon will
teach an undergraduate seminar
course himself next year.
Presidential Praise
University President Edgar F.
Shannon (no relation) said "We are
most fortunate that Mr. Shannon is
joining the University as professor
of history and Dean of the Faculty
of Arts and Sciences. He has had
broad experience as a teacher and
departmental chairman at major
universities in the United States;
and as a distinguished scholar in
modern American history, his
stature has been recognized with
visiting professorships at universities
in this country and abroad.
"I am confident that he will give
strong leadership to furthering the
excellence of the faculty of arts and
sciences."
| The Cavalier daily. Tuesday, May 20, 1969 | |