Truman State University - Echo Yearbook (Kirksville, MO)

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Spring Issue, 1971 By March, 1971, the two teachers com- prising the sociology staff had announced their contracts would not be renewed for 1971-72. Since they comprised the total so- ciology staff, many students questioned if that major would be eliminated. President McClain, in a message to all students, announced that sociology was not being eliminated from the curriculum, and that three sociology teachers would be hired. This was being done because teachers with doctorates would be needed for a graudate program in sociology which was under con- sideration. Concurrent with the President ' s an- nouncement were several rallies where speakers expressed varying viewpoints. For some concerned, the issues had grown beyond the question of whether sociology was being eliminated from the curriculum. The issues climaxed at a Student Senate meeting attended by approximately twelve hundred students where the main issue was the possibility of a student strike. Arguments and varying opinions of both support and op- position were presented. A decision was made to call for a student election regarding the proposed strike. Approximately one-half of the student body voted in the election with the proposed strike being defeated by a vote of 1353 for ' ' and 1656 against . Normalcy returned with the strike defeat and spring vacation. The administration ' s statements proved to be accurate in that by the spring com- mencement three professors had been em- ployed for the sociology staff— two with doctorates and one with all doctoral require- ments except completion of the thesis. 23