University of Virginia Library

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.