1972 letter from SGA President Jesse Harris III

[handwritten: for John from Jess] Student Government Association TOWSON STATE COLLEGE BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21204 On Monday, October 2nd, the Academic Council amended the calendar by passing a bill calling for the suspension of all classes on Election Day, November 7, 1972. This bill passed the Academic Council by an 11-7 vote. On Tuesday, October 3rd, I personally went to Dr. Fisher's office and talked to him about this bill. At that time he stated that he saw no reason why he should veto the bill, yet expressed a desire to investigate it more thoroughly before making a decision. On Thursday, October 5th, Vice-President Shaw distributed a letter, which among other things stated that after he had discussed the above mentioned bill with Dr. Fisher, it was decided to exclude from this bill evening classes and others which meet only once a week. [handwritten: New intent (?) by vote. Simply didn't agree.] As SGA President and as a member of the Academic Council, I deeply resent the way in which this bill was handled by the administration once it left the Academic Council. Dr. Fisher took it upon himself to change the intent of the Academic Council without first consulting with members of that Council, myself, Hank Muma, President of the Faculty Association. In fact, the only input that I can see that had a relevant effect upon his decision was that of Vice-President Shaw's. [handwritten: by by-law 30-day veto or accept] In Dr. Shaw's letter, addressed to the college community in general, dated October 5th, he alluded to the fact that the Academic Council should not have suspended classes on that day. His rationale was that the schedule had been approved last year for this year, and that if the Council had wished Election Day to be a day off they should have planned in advance for that change and should not have done it at the last minute. I would respond by saying that the Academic Council ~Jt was given the right to approve the academic calendar by the administration and that same right allows alter that schedule upon the needs of the students. I would also say that it would have been virtually impossible for the Academic council to anticipate last year the importance of this year's Presidential Election. My feeling is that the faculty members on the council showed a ~reat amount of flexibility and concern for students' desires to participate in this upcoming election by their vote to suspend classes. Also contained in Vice-President Shaw's letter were certain [handwritten: his opinion not ->] aspersions, which he cast upon the Academic Council. In effect they amounted to a slap on the wrist and a repremand for not acting consistent with our policy of not dismissing classes except for inclement weather. The need to refute the statement at this point is absurd. I would much rather see it stand or fall on its own merits.