University of Virginia Library

PETITION ON BEHALF OF CERTAIN FORMER MEMBERS OF THE GEORGE MASON COLLEGE
FACULTY

At the request of the Rector, Visitor Kuykendall, on behalf of the Executive Committee, presented a report on a petition for reinstatement filed by certain former faculty members of George Mason College. He reviewed in detail the previous actions of the Board on this matter and the lengthy study that had been made by the Rector of the entire matter, including the Rector's meeting with the attorney for the former faculty members. Visitor Kuykendall concluded his report by presenting a resolution on the matter, which bore the endorsement of the Executive Committee.

After a lengthy discussion, the following resolution was adopted:

• WHEREAS certain former members of the faculty of George Mason College of the University of Virginia filed with the Board of Visitors a petition dated 9 March 1966; and
• WHEREAS the Board has carefully considered the petition and the exhibits filed therewith; and
• WHEREAS the Board of Visitors on 8 October 1965 in a reply to the them counsel for these same former members of the faculty of George Mason College resolved that "his clients had voluntarily and on their own initiative submitted their resignations, that the resignations had been accepted, and that so far as the Board is concerned the matter is closed,"; and
• WHEREAS President Edgar F. Shannon, Jr., in a letter dated 2 December 1965 addressed to the same attorney for the former faculty members, stated that the records of the Board show only the fact of the faculty members' resignations, that "resignation of itself does not affect a person's standing with academic authorities," and that the Chancellor for Community Colleges "will do all he can to be of assistance . . . to the resigned faculty members" and "has already aided at least one . . . in obtaining a satisfactory position elsewhere";
• NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia (1) that the Board hereby confirms the action previously taken by it on 8 October 1965 and approves the statements made in President Shannon's letter of 2 December 1965 to the then counsel for the petitioners and (2) that the prayers of the petition be and they are hereby denied.