The presidency of Claude R. Sowle: August 1, 1969 to September 1, 1974

              The Presidency of
Claude R. Sowle
August I, 1969 to September I, 1974
by Robert E. Mahn
The Ohio University Libraries
Athens, Ohio
© Copyright 2007 by the Ohio University Libraries
Printed in the United States of America
All rights reserved
Preface
This is the story of the presidency of Claude R. Sowle. Much of it is told by the
President himself through excerpts from his extensive correspondence pertaining to
University matters, his voluminous and lucid notes, memoranda, and statements. Every
action was fully documented and preserved under a topical- numerical file of three
hundred entries. It was of his own design and carefully administered by his
Administrative Assistant, Marie P. White. The materials constitute thirty tightly packed
file drawers.
The author had the good fortune of serving as Assistant to President Sowle
during most of his term, as well as Secretary to the Board of Trustees. He continued his
services as Secretary to the University and of the Faculty during President Sowle's entire
term. This made possible service to the President in special ways beyond that of
Assistant. Under the care of Helena 1. Palmer, Administrative Assistant to the Secretary
of the University and of the Faculty, a voluminous file of every aspect of University
activity related to the position was assembled. This constitutes seventy archival storage
boxes under four hundred topics. Along with the President's papers, these materials,
and the author's experiences and memories of the period, constitute the primary sources
for this story. In the few instances where additional information was desired, the author
consulted University publications and the papers of administrators, committees, senates,
and other organizations, all of which are part of the Ohio University Archives. Use of
textural references to sources of information and dates made unnecessary the use of
footnotes.
A challenge in presenting this story was to keep the text within reasonable limits
without sacrificing detail. Attention to detail and insistence on its application to every
circumstance typified Claude Sowle, making a detail- filled account of his presidency the
only appropriate kind. Another challenge was to present adequately the contributions of
those who served with the president, for the President's style of administration made for
relatively low visibility of his administrators. The story provides insight into the diverse
ways in which a president affects the life of his institution.
R. E. M.
Table of Contents
Preface
1. Election
2. The Program of Transition
3. The Swearing- In Ceremony
4. Profile of the President
5. The Alden Legacy
6. The President's Agenda
7. The Board of Trustees
8. Administration: Structure, Practice, Budgeting, the Statement of Aims,
and the Search for Goals
Section 1: Administrative Organization and Personnel
Section 2: The Senior Administrators' Group
Section 3: The Faculty Senate
Section 4: The President's Advisory Council
Section 5: The Administrative Senate
Section 6: Undergraduate Student Government
Section 7: Graduate Student Council
Section 8: American Association of University Professors
Section 9: Ohio University Federation of Teachers
Section 10: Committees
Section 11: The 1969 Task Force Project
Section 12: The 1970 Workshop on the Future of the University
Section 13: The University Council
Section 14: The Annual Budgeting Process
a: 1969- 1970
b: 1970- 1971
c: 1971- 1972
d: 1972- 1973
e: 1973- 1974
f: 1974- 1975
Section 15: The Aims and Objectives Committee
Section 16: The Statement of Aims
Section 17: The Search for Goals
9. Academic Structure and Programs
Advisory Groups
Section 1: The Deans' Group
Section 2: The Deans' Council
Page
1
9
24
27
39
42
47
81
101
104
158
167
193
221
227
235
251
273
343
394
421
427
439
471
496
533
577
589
602
613
623
Academic Entities
Section 1: The University College
a: The Reserve Officers' Training Corps ( ROTC)
Section 2: The College of Arts and Sciences
Section 3: The College of Business Administration
Section 4: The College of Communication
Section 5: The College of Education
Section 6: The College of Engineering and Technology
a: The Flight Training Program
Section 7: The College of Fine Arts
Section 8: The Honors College
Section 9: The Graduate College
a: Research Institute
Off Campus Academic Programs, Regional Campuses
Section 1: The Proposed Campus for Ironton
Section 2: Cooperative Arrangements between Zanesville
and Muskingum Area Technical College
Section 3: Regents' Search for Solution to Rio Grande
College Problem
Section 4: Portsmouth- Scioto Technical College Merger
Section 5: Other Developments
Extension Division
Black Studies Institute
Libraries
The University Curriculum Council
The Ohio University Press, Inc.
International Programs
Intercollegiate Athletics
10. Educational Services
Section 1: Student Services
Section 2: Ombudsman
Section 3: Student Government
11. Support
12. Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Programs
13. Communication
Section 1: Purpose and Policy
Section 2: Publications
Section 3: Press Briefings and Open Forums
627
640
669
703
713
719
736
761
764
797
819
843
844
881
891
904
926
940
960
990
1000
1018
1031
1056
1065
1115
1131
1163
1219
1273
1278
1287
Section 4: " Open Line" Radio Program 1292
Section 5: The Post 1300
14. May 4,1970
Section 1: Anti- Fee Increase Demonstration 1360
Section 2: Immediate Aftermath to Closing 1371
Section 3: Anti- War Demonstrations & Decision to Close University 1406
15. Employees' Union Action
Section 1: Nonacademic Employees' Union Activities 1455
Section 2: The Spring 1973 Disaffiliation Attempt 1489
Section 3: The Spring 1974 Workers' Strike 1502
16. Resignation 1521
17. Taking Measures 1564