University of Virginia Library

Civil Liberties Union Accepts
First Academic Freedom Suit

By Chris Donart

The American Civil Liberties Union of
Virginia has authorized adoption of its
first official "academic freedom" case,
involving Lawrence Cranberg, physics
professor at the University.

Filed Suit

Mr. Cranberg filed suit last March
against President Shannon, University
Provost Frank L. Hereford, Jr., the Board
of Visitors, and the rector of the
University. He charged them with breach
of contract and violation of his
academic freedom following his removal
as director and principal investigator on
federal grants for nuclear physics at the
University's nuclear accelerator. Mr.
Cranberg filed for $350,000 in damages
and restoration of his position as director and
principal investigator.

Mr. Cranberg stated that Mr. Hereford had
given him as reasons for his removal "a lack of
rapport with his colleagues" and dissent from
their views.

He was also dismissed from the General
Security and Radiation Safety Committees.
William F. Evenson, attorney for Mr. Cranberg,
said that he did not know of any reasons given
for the dismissals.

The Committee on Contractual Relations of
the Assembly of Professors, composed of 10
faculty members, ruled that the decision did
not comprise a breach of contract but did
violate academic freedom.

Trial Date

The date for the trial has been set for March
20, 1971, The prosecuting attorneys will be Mr.
Evenson and Richard S. Callahan, Jr. John
Battle of Richmond and Leigh Middleditch, Jr.
will act as attorneys for President Shannon and
Mr. Hereford.

Mr. Evenson stated that it was too early to
establish developments or evaluate the charges
as they now stand. At this time, he said, the
case was in its "discovery" stage, in which
questioning of each party was being carried out.

Arthur Schulman, chairman of the American
Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and assistant
professor of psychology at the University,
stated that any action by the ACLU was now in
the hands of its state legal panel.

At its last meeting, the State Board
authorized its legal panel to enter into the case
in "whatever manner it found suitable." The
manner and time of involvement will be
determined by the cooperating attorneys and
has yet to be worked out.