POLITICAL QUESTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21647, 18 May 1932, Page 10

POLITICAL QUESTIONS

ATTITUDE OF PROFESSORS ' ACADEMIC DETACHMENT DESIRABLE. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 17. Auckland University Council, in committee, discussed the matter of a foreword contributed by a lecturer on its staff to a political pamphlet relating to Russia, published recently in Auckland. The matter was considered in consequence of a letter received from the Minister of Education. The president (Sir George Fowlda) reported that he bad replied to the Minister, and also had sent a memorandum to all the of the staff. This memorandum in part read as follows: —“It is my personal opinion that any public statement by a member of the college staff, either under the address of the college or in his capacity as a private citizen, should be made only after full and thorough examination of all the known information. It should be a reasoned statement, giving both sides of the question. The university attitude should be detached and impersonal. I regard recognition by the staff of the responsibilities referred to in this memorandum as a matter of vital importance, and as being intimately related to the question of fitness for the tenure of a university post. Finally, my fixed purpose is to maintain and uphold our old-established university right of academic freedom.” A resolution of the Professorial Board expressing sympathy with the principles of the memorandum and loyal cooperation with the president was received.