tl19691212-000 "Students petition Fisher for Marcus hearing Dr. James L. Fisher: January 5 deadline by STEPHEN KIRSCH During his campaign for the Vice-Presidency, Spiro T. Agnew (in a speech in Detroit) said that there wre two pri, lessors at Towson State College, in his own home state, who were advisors to Students for a Democratic Society chapter. Agnew continued that it was time to begin thinking about whether employment of this kind of professor should continue. In December, 1969, the same two Towson State College professors were called to testify before the Baltimore County Grand Jury, who were investigating the SDS chapter at Towson. Philip L.' Marcus, Physical Science Instructor, is one of these two Professors. In March, 1969, Marcus was informed that his contract would end in June. The alleged grounds were the embarrassment caused to his department by Marcus' anti-war activity. Innuendos were made as to other charges, but they have not been put in writing. Although Marcus has made at least five requests to the Towson State administration to hold a fair hearing, he has not yet received one. In order to avoid breaching his contract, he was given a one year ex-tension, but not beyond that. On Tuesday, December 9, The Coalition for the Defense of Academic Freedom at Towson State College, after a news conference on the step of Stephen's Hall, presented to Dr. James Fisher, President of Towson State, a petition containing over five hundred signatures of students. The petition read as follows: ""We demand an open and fair hearing to examine the legitimacy of any and all action taken against Philip L. Marcus, Physical Science Instructor."" Early that morning, about two dozen students met on the front steps of Stephen's Hall. When all were present, Barbara Paskoff, a member of the Coalition, read a press re-lease outlining what had happened Marcus explains position on ten-month old dispute Following is the text of An Open Letter to the TSC Community, written by Philip L. Marcus, physical science instructor, and recently distributed on campus. The letter explains, from his own viewpoint, the circumstances surrounding Marcus' not being rehired as a faculty member. I am writing in the hope of clari-fying the situation surrounding my contract termination. This letter is motivated by a number of inquir-ies from students and teachers, and the feeling that there may be others similarly in the dark and wishing to be in the light. As it stands now my contract will not be renewed after this aca-demic year. In view of an attack on my outside political activity by ex-Gov. Agnew (during his vice-presidential campaign) and other facts they considered, the College Executive Promotions and Tenure Committee reported last June they could not reasonably conclude that my academic freedom had not been violated. Situation unchanged Despite this finding my situation is unchanged, I have had no fur-ther hearing although promised one by Drs. Fisher and Shaw, and none is in prospect. (The com-mittee which Dr. Shaw hopes will consider the case does not yet exist, and will first have to be approved by the Senates of the 6 State Col-leges and the Board of Trustees. Thus any favorable decision from them would be too late to be of benefit.) Reasons for dismissal It is germane, I think, to dis-cuss the involvement of my de-partment's evaluation committee in this case. In February '69 I met with two members of that com-mittee, who brought with them 3 matters that disturbed them: the (fabricated) rumor that I intended to lead a student takeover of Ste-phens Hall, my policy of utilizing lab time for individual counseling (which violated no department policy), and my policy of directly involving students in grading (which is similar to that followed by other instructors.) Reappointment recommended They appeared satisfied with my answers, and ?the evaluation com-mittee subsequently filed a recom-mendation that I be reappointed for 69/70. However, a minority report from the committee was also filed, which recommended non-renewal on the ground that my ""actions"" were, through no fault of mine, embarrassing to the department. In late March '69, following a meeting he had with the evalu� ation committee, Dr Hawkins wrote that he was accepting the minority report, i.e. terminating my service after June '69. He was also going to investigate a charge that I cancelled 6 hours of labs in order to do draft counseling. So far I have not had the opportunity to offer evidence in refutation of the charge, although the evidence abounds. Decision reversed During April my department's evaluation committee reversed its recommendation of renewal for 69-70, found out that (due to a legal technicality) it was too late to carry out that intent, recom-mended no salary increment for 69-70 (which they said was to in-duce resignation) and recommend-ed termination after June '70. Dr. Hawkins accepted the latter recommendation. Teaching praised I have been told many times, several in writing, that my teach-ing is superior, these comments having come from students, some of whom held opposite political views. Indeed my teaching, per-sonality, and participation in de-partmental affairs were praised by the unfavorable minority re-port. Department embarrassed In summary, as of now I will not be allowed to return next September, apparently because the physical science department is embarrassed by my political ac-tivity. If it has other objections it has not been willing to have them come under public scrutiny. No hearing has been held to re-solve the case and none is in prospect in time to have any effect. I hope this letter will re-solve confusion and allow individ-ual assessment. Philip Marcus to Marcus. She then read a statement of demand, the text of which follows: ""Dr. Fisher: We, The Coalition for the Defense of Academic Free-dom at Towson State College, de-mand a one year extension of Phil-ip L. Marcus' contract. We con-sider this a viable temporary solu-tion because: It will produce an unhurried atmosphere in which a fair hearing can be held. ""It will give the Physical Science Rank Committee an opportunity to reconsider their recommendation, and granting this condition is not tantamount to granting tenure."" The Coalition asked for a 1-year extension because the administra-tion has continued to delay form-ing machinery to hear the Marcus case, even though Dr. Fisher, ear-ly in August, promised Marcus that this situation would be cleared up by the first of January. However, because of the delay, Morning action on Stephen's steps... the earliest hearing would be too late to be of any benefit. The dead-line for the administraton is Jan-uary 5. After reading of the petition and the statement of demand, the mem-bers went to Presient Fisher's of-fice. The group was quiet and or-derly. Marcus noted that the news conference outside Stephen's Hall was not publicized because of the Coalition's fear of too many stu-dents entering the president's of-fice. However, the News American and the Baltimore Sun were rep-resented. Dr. Fisher Photo by Quante Before going to President Fish-er's office, (l-r) Barbara Paskoff, Philip Marcus, and Jacob Cook, read their demand for a hearing for Marcus. ""I certainly hope that it will be resolved."" He went on to say that there will be a faculty-student com-mittee to review the case, and that, if an agreement cannot be reached by both sides, an open hearing is in order. If the administration does not meet the statement of demand by January 5, some kind of mass ac-tion on the part of the students and those five hundred people who signed the petition could occur. As for what kind of action, this re-mains to be seen and depends on said afterwards that the administration. towerlight Vol. XXII, No. 12 TOWSON STATE COLLEGE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21204 December 12, 1969 A welcome addition? Parking meters populate campus Photo by Thomas TIME'S UP for some unlucky driver now that TSC's avenues are sporting brand-new parking me-ters. Each meter cost $83.00 to in-stall, and if they are successful, more will come in the future. by PATTI THOMPSON Parking meters have been in-stalled in various locations on campus to ""facilitate the many visitors and also any emergency-type parking for college person-nel,"" according to the TSC Traffic Committee. The meters have been placed in tbe following locations: eight meters in front of Stephens Hall, four in front of Newell Hall, seven meters in the new library parking lot, three at the top of the hill in area ""R"" on McKeldin Road, two meters in ""F"" lot in front of the Barracks, and two on the road be-tween Linthicum and Lida Lee Tall School. These parking meters have been installed, at the cost of $83.00 per meter, on a. trial basis. It is ex-pected that they will pay for them-selves, in the future. If they are successful, there is a possibility of expanding the program. The meters have not been in-stalled with a profit motive. How-ever, any extra funds will be used for maintenance of the shuttlebus, signs, on campus, and other areas of concern to the Security office. Inside . . . Pg. Editorials 2 Sports 6 Bulletin Board 5 Marijuana 3 Moore on Lottery 3 Getting Married 3 "
