City College of New York - Microcosm Yearbook (New York, NY)

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Ntoivrevt coxlovai ol lK« kind ik«»n (obo.«| d«id d l« ®f »“brjo iludent politicos. Included in tlis group ore tKreo condidotei for heiidMl 0f IW Student Council. Furnbock (luccoitM), Pecker end Steicker. unanimously recommended by the Romance [.anguage Com- mittee on Appointments. Clifford McAvoy having been granted a leave of absence, the same committee recommended appointment of John M. Mangieri to replace him as a teacher of Spanish. After an attack on Mr. Mangieri' scholarship by the Campus, the Department found that it could take care of the vacancy without a new appointment. Although the Department's action in reference to Mr. Gobi was challenged as reactionary. Gold was not re-instated. The new term was scarcely begun and the Gobi case hardly dead, when another test of the I’lynn by-law forced all extra-curricular activities into the background. Sigmund S. Arm had been a member of the City College teaching staff for six years and a tutor for three. It was generally underst..I that re-appointment of a tutor for a fourth year automatically resulted in his receiv- ing tenure. Following the procedure set by the Flynn by-laws ey . with booths in the alcoves, dancing in Lincoln Corridor, the coronation of the Queen in the Great Mall — without Larry Clinton. During the Christmas recess, the College was host, in it downtown Center, to the Xmerican Student Union Conven- tion. In the new platform, indicating a complete support of President Roosevelt's New Deal policies, collective security wa once more endorsed, and the United States Government's rearmament was not opposed. The Dies' Committee' search for reds was lampooned strongly in a rally at the Hippo- drome. The semester closed with a “hot election which ex- cited every class but '39. Karlicr in the term the Tech and Haskcrvillc Clubs had inaugurated a campaign to better the reputation of C.C..M.Y. and thus help graduate secure em- ployment. ilh merican Student Union backing, the Build City College Committee decided to run a ticket which was drawn up by representative of various clubs. United Action again contested a few Student Council office , 'flic Progres- sive Student Party, arguing that it opponents were merely interested in the peace question and not in ’ working for the class ami school , nominated candidate in the three lower classes. The Senior Class Presidency went to Bernard G. Walpin, elected with serious competition only from Mickey Mouse. I lie other members of the Council were Joel Slcigman. Vice- President: Reuben Morgowskv, Secretary, and Burl Jacob- son. Historian. Fasily defeating the U.A. candidates, Stanley Lowcnhraun. Gerard Tracy and Audrey Bayle were elected Student Council Representatives on the B.C.C. ticket. The new by-laws of the Board of Higher lul neat ion faced another test at the close of the semester. Non-reappointment of Hyman K. Gold, tutor in the French department, was 28

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completely, exclaiming, What’s the use of attempting scientific discov- eries to save lives, when madmen in Europe today do their utmost to destroy them?” Extra-curricular life focused on the march of dictators, assisted l v the apparently whole-hearted cooperation of the new administration. The Great liall was jammed more than once hy an aroused student body and faculty. The largest meeting of the term was the Save Czechoslovakia Rally”. Despite the pleas and angry denunciations by Senator Vojta Renes, brother of Czechoslovakia' President, Stanley Isaac . Borough President, and Recorder Ackley, representing the dmiuistralion. Czechoslovakia was not saved. Humanitarian aid to the suffering non-combatants of Spain and China was the topic of a gathering addressed by representatives of the Spanish and Chinese Consulates. Germany was the chief object of attack. The Faculty Council went on record as condemning the restric- tions against the Jews. Graphic description of the lack of academic free- dom under totalitarianism was given at the draping of the Nazi college flags which hang in the Great Hall. t a ceremony presided over by John T. Flynn and Nelson P. Mead drapery hearing the words Till the old Germany shall awake” was afiixcd to the pillars under the Hags. The savage activities of the dictators struck home when it was an- nounced that, in addition to the other C.C..YY. boys, Ralph Wardlaw. instructor in the Public Speaking Department, and Jack Freeman. Presi- dent of the '39 class, had died in Spain, fighting Fascist aggression. Social and club life was not forgotten in the sweep of history. Frosh- Sopli warfare was reawakened. A Junior-Senior Committee was formed to bring about cooperation between the classes. The Faculty Council require- ment that clubs list their members in the Dean's office was repealed, thus removing a source of friction. All ’39 activities were pointed toward ilia affair, the Senior Prom. Offered free to Prom pledgees, the Fall Reunion Dance was a flop”. The Prom Chairmen. George E. Pecker ami Rill Tomshinsky, scoured New York hotels for a ballroom to equal that of the Junior Prom. Rut the Astor Roof Garden could not he duplicated. Aided hy the free dances, pledges poured in. Rrcaking all records. 180 tickets were sold. Outstand- ing at the prom was Artie Gellin's orchestra. Audrey Christie and Charles Walters of I Married An Angel reigned as King and Queen. The House Plan Carnival outgrew the gym and moved to the Main Building. There, aided hy Frank Davidson, the new Director, the House staged an affair so grandiose that it was more than mere words can con- Th v«r-lib«rol it.-dtnt body. hooded by Stvdent Council ProideM Harold Roth. weloomed Sonoter Vojto Be»«i to tho CoU«9 irt the itirring doyl of the Ciech cmH. 27

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die Government Department Committee on Appointments studied the case for some thirty hours and voted 1 to 1 to reappoint Mr. Arm with tenure. The one man who opposed Mr. Arm. Mr. Hillman Bishop. favored re-appointment for one year. Only one other member of the department. Mr. Oscar Buckvar, opposed Mr. Arm. The next body to act in the case was the Faculty Committee on Personnel and Budget, which is composed of the chairmen of the various depart- ments. After a bearing, that committee voted II to 3 to reappoint Mr. Arm with tenure. l the same time. President Mead recommended that Mr. Arm be reappointed for a year, so that any doubts as to his qualifications might be cleared up. Messrs. Buckvar and Bishop, however, submitted their minority report, which, they claimed, impugned .Mr. Arm’s scholarship, to the City College Administrative Committee of the Board of Higher Education. Without studying the majority report, the Administrative G.littce. on February 8. voted to refuse reappointment to the tutor. For several days students ami faculty were too shocked to take any action. Then, the Government Department dis- patched a brief to every member of the Board. The Campus carried banner headlines and editorials in every issue. A letter stating the students' viewpoint was submitted to Board members. Mrs. Mcdalic was contacted personally, ami used her influence to secure a rehearing. Petitions were circulated among the students. Approximately 400 telegrams and letters poured into the Board, expressing the protests of students and graduates. The Student Council unanimously granted Mr. Arm a Major Insignia. The pressure of the various groups took effect. The Ad- ministrative Committee granted a rehearing at which the case for Mr. Arm was presented by the faculty, headed by Professors Guthrie. Overstreet and Joseph. The Committee adjourned without voting because there had been a division on the interpretation of the by-law on tenure. Student sentiment reached a peak at a Great Hall rally at- tended by over 1000 students, who heard Dr. Abraham Fdel, Professor William Bradley Otis and Mr. Jesse Mintes. Under- graduate leaders of the Arm Defense Committee collected over twenty testimonials from members of the Faculty, including Professor Emeritus Morris R. Cohen. A week later, the Executive Committee of the Board adopted the interpretation of its by-law that no tutor should receive tenure unless he had fulfilled the requirements for instructorship. among which is a doctorate degree. Mr. Vnn was one of nineteen tutors, passed by the Faculty, who had not received their Ph.D.’s. The Administrative Committee, which then met again, reversed its previous decision by vot- ing Mr. Arm reappointment without tenure. At the regular Board meeting the following Monday. Mr. John T. Flynn led the fight against Mr. Arm. Vs a result, by Tbo «homo of Ibo Collego »0» tko Boctions' Commilito. tbo»n 1« otlion (wo- ol vol ) bolo». Look of syilomotic bo oti«g o d toonli-g roiulled in froqoonl mitgpi.