Category Archives: The Barnett Period 1962-1969

p. 341 – The Barnett Period, 1962-1969

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meeting of the Board each year would be open to faculty and students who might wish to discuss any matter with the Trustees and that faculty and students should be seated on all standing committees of the Board except the Executive Committee. Meanwhile, the faculty had voted that there be student members on all faculty committees except the Curriculum Committee.

By the fall of 1967, some months prior to the sit-in and its consequences, Dr. Barnett had come to the conclusion that the presidency of an American college could no longer provide the personal satisfaction he had hoped for, such as opportunities for teaching, scholarly pursuits, and professional consulting work. He had intended to announce his retirement in June, 1968, effective a year later, when the University would be entering a new cycle of planning, he informed the campus community. Subsequent campus developments, however, convinced him that a review of University policies and structures was so urgent that his successor should be found promptly so that he might participate in this examination. Furthermore, the endowed professorship which he had accepted had become available a year earlier than he had anticipated. These were the circumstances which prompted him to advance his retirement date to February 1, 1969. During his tenure Colgate made notable advances in teaching, physical plant, and financial resources and his efforts for a greater Colgate won him esteem and gratitude.

The changes of the 1960’s reflect the unrest and concern to be found quite generally throughout American colleges as well as on the Colgate campus. On the eve of the 125th anniversary, James C. Colgate sent a message to the alumni which has relevance for all who support the University on its 150th birthday. He wrote:

We have a grand past to celebrate. This is one asset which cannot be taken away. It is ours.

As to the future I have no anxiety. With such a history we cannot be on a dead end street . . . [All] will not be unanimous in their views but will be united in their efforts and a greater Colgate will result.

‘Faith of our fathers, holy faith,
We will be true to thee till death.’

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p. 340 – The Barnett Period, 1962-1969

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Colgate undergraduates and their friends from other colleges an opportunity to meet with leading artists to observe their work, listen to their lectures and engage in discussions. Among new student publications appearing on campus was the Colgate News, a competitor of the Maroon.

Though the official University policy on fraternities since 1955 adhered to the principle that there be no discrimination based on race, creed, color or national origin in the selection of members, there were suspicions that some Greek letter groups were ignoring it. Aware of the problem, the Trustees created in October, 1967, a joint Committee on Fraternities which included faculty, administration, students (fraternity and non-fraternity), alumni, and Trustees to study Colgate’s fraternities and make recommendations. In the spring of 1968 occurred a series of events growing out of the fraternity problem which led to a sit-in demonstration in the Administration Building of some 400 students and 40 faculty members who felt no other methods remained to eliminate discrimination practices. The immediate consequences of the events were the suspension of one fraternity’s charter and the revocation of a second. At their May, 1968, meeting the Trustees reaffirmed the University’s basic policy against discrimination and also approved the Joint Committee’s recommendations: that University rules must supersede fraternity chapter rules and procedures; that election to membership be by affirmative vote of a simple majority; that the University have ultimate supervision of housing and food services and conditions relating to health and safety; that the President appoint a continuing committee on fraternity affairs, consisting of an Assistant Dean of Students for Fraternities and student, faculty, administration, and alumni representatives to work with the Board and its committees; and that fraternity hazing be abolished at once.

Related to the question of fraternities were other issues concerning University government to which faculty and students had called attention. In response the Trustees established an ad hoc Committee on University Organization made up of Trustees, faculty, administration, and students to examine the responsibilities of each group and make recommendations for improvements. A second ad hoc committee, this one to review policies on admissions and scholarship aid and to have a membership from the same constituencies as the first, was also appointed. In October 1968, the Trustees provided that one

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Coeducation becomes part of the undergraduate program (p. 339)

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Among the administrative changes of the Barnett period was the creation of a new office. A Provost was appointed to be in charge of university affairs in the absence of the President. The Vice President for Development was made Vice President for Development, Alumni Affairs, and Public Relations. The office of Vice President for Business and Finance was set up as a concurrent appointment to be held by the Treasurer. The staff of the Dean of Students was enlarged by adding an Assistant Dean of Students for Fraternities, to provide professional leadership in developing policies and standards for fraternity chapter operations.

Colgate’s enrollment, slightly less than 1,500 in 1962, had risen to just over 2,000 in 1968. Tuition, which had been $1,375 in 1962, by 1968 had increased to $2,285. So far as possible students whose financial resources were inadequate to meet costs were assisted by scholarships, work opportunities, and loan funds.

Coeducation became a part of the undergraduate program in 1968. Women were first permitted to study on the graduate level in summer session in 1959 and at the special summer session commencement in 1961 they received their first earned degrees (M.A.). They were admitted to the teaching intern program in 1963 and attended classes during the regular academic year. Accepting the recommendations of a trustee-faculty-administration-alumni committee, the Trustees in 1967 endorsed the principle of coeducation and directed that feasibility studies be made of methods by which it might be adopted. A few months later, however, they decided that a pilot program should be initiated in September, 1968, and three women were admitted as undergraduates. Plans were made for Skidmore College students (approximately 50) to join in the 1969 January Plan on the Colgate campus and for the same number of Colgate students to participate in Skidmore’s January Plan. For the spring term of 1969, Colgate and Vassar College expected to initiate an exchange of students, probably 20-30, on a one-to-one basis. Vassar had already completed similar arrangements with Williams and Trinity Colleges.

Noteworthy features of undergraduate life included the elimination of compulsory chapel. Worship services, normally led by students, were held Wednesday morning with voluntary attendance. In October, 1964, and in March, 1968, students organized and conducted the Creative Arts Festival and the Fortnight of the Arts which afforded

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p. 338 – The Barnett Period, 1962-1969

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BRYAN HALL
BRYAN HALL

O’CONNOR CAMPUS CENTER
O’CONNOR CAMPUS CENTER

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p. 337 – The Barnett Period, 1962-1969

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Dana Arts Center, A1000-35, p337

bookstore, coffee shop, campus U.S. post office, and computer center. Other additions to the physical plant included: the Max Kade German Language Center and the Romance Languages seminar room named for the late Charles A. Choquette, Professor of French and Spanish, 1927-67-both in Lawrence Hall; the remodeling of the sub-basement in McGregory Hall for the Psychology Department, and of the East Hall basement for the Department of Philosophy and Religion; the renovations of the dormitories, Andrews and Stillman Halls; the extension of the ski slope and installation of a T-bar lift, lighting, and snowmaking equipment on Trainer Hill; and the completion of the new 18-hole Seven Oaks Golf Course.

Cutten Hall, A1000-31, Folder 2, p337

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Dana Arts Center, Cutten Hall, Bryan Hall, and O’Connor Campus Center built (p. 336)

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also established a scholarship program for five years with an initial grant of $130,000 with the possibility of extending it for a second five-year period.

The expansion of Colgate’s physical facilities, an important feature of the Case presidency, continued during his successor’s. Four new buildings were erected and others modified or renovated. With the destruction of the Administration Building by fire in October, 1963, the old library, then serving as a Foreign Language Center, became the new Administration Building after extensive alterations and the transfer of the language center to Lawrence Hall. The Reid Athletic Center, in use since 1959, was completed in 1966 with the dedication of the basketball court to the memory of Wesley M. Cotterell, ’19, Trustee, 1961-65; the hockey rink in 1965 had been named for J. Howard Starr, Professor of Physical Education Emeritus, and former hockey coach. Alumni Hall was completely remodeled in 1965 and occupied by the Division of the Social Sciences, except for the Education Department which was located in Lawrence Hall; Arthur A. Meggett, ’36, was the architect. The Arts Center, named for Charles A. Dana whose foundation had provided a challenge grant as the basis of the funds raised for the building, was completed in 1966. A striking example of modern architecture, it was designed by Paul Rudolph, and provided classroom, office, studio and performing space for courses and activities in the fine arts, music and drama, and also housed a theater and an art gallery. Two residence complexes, Cutten and Bryan Halls, were completed in 1966 and 1967; the architects were Perkins and Will. The first was named for Colgate’s eighth president and comprised four houses commemorating faculty members active during his term-Albert P. Brigham (geology); Frank L. Shepardson (Greek and University Treasurer); Harold O. Whitnall (Geology) and Melbourne S. Read, (Philosophy, Psychology, Education, Vice President, 1912-21, and President pro tem, 1921-22). The second building perpetuates the memory of Colgate’s seventh president and also consists of four houses named for Dean William H. Crawshaw, ’87; George W. Cobb, ’94, Trustee (1907-45) and donor of the Cobb Awards; William M. Parke, ’00, Trustee (1926-61; President, 1937-48); and Norman F. S. Russell, ’01, Trustee (1928-54; President, 1948-52). The A. Lindsay and Olive B. O’Connor Campus Center, designed by Arthur A. Meggett, ’36, and opened in 1967, provided facilities for the

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p. 335 – The Barnett Period, 1962-1969

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Economics Department which had been located there since 1962. A French study group at the University of Dijon also was instituted by the Department of Romance Languages in 1966. The Argentina study program had been formally terminated in 1964.

While the faculty was taking final action on curriculum and calendar revision, the Trustees, at President Barnett’s suggestion, established a Long-Range Planning Committee to examine the basic purposes of the University and set up ways and means for meeting them. It was composed of faculty, administrators, and Trustees-several being also alumni. It held the first of its periodical meetings in September, 1963, and was put on a continuing basis in 1965.

Hardly had the committee begun its work when the Ford Foundation invited Colgate to apply for a special grant. To qualify for consideration the University had to submit a ten-year projection specifying goals and how they might be reached; in preparing the document the President and his associates drew heavily on the work of the committee. On the basis of this presentation the Foundation awarded Colgate $2,200,000 contingent on raising matching funds of $6,600,000 over a three-year period ending in June 1967. Following notification of the grant, the Trustees adopted a set of financial objectives embodying long-range needs which were incorporated into a specific campaign goal of $23,000,000 to be reached by the 150th anniversary of Colgate’s founding, in 1969. By the end of December, 1966, more than six months prior to the deadline for the Ford Grant, over $6,800,000 had been received as against the required $6,600,000. Toward meeting the over-all goal of $23,000,000 approximately $21,-290,000 had been received by the fall of 1968. Included among the gifts were endowed professorships in literature and American institutions from Mrs. Olive B. O’Connor and in international relations from Mrs. Evelyn Picker. The Sloan Foundation gave $400,000 to strengthen the science program in such ways as addition of new faculty, technical assistance, Sloan Research Fellowships, travel, and acquisition of new equipment. The Charles A. Dana Foundation made a grant of $250, 000 to be added to endowment and which, when matched with a like amount from the University, would constitute a fund of $500,000 the income from which was to be used for four “supported professorships”; i.e., the income would permit a differential above the average salary levels for professors chosen by the University. The Dana Foundation

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p. 334 – The Barnett Period, 1962-1969

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President Vincent M. Barnett, Jr., 1963-69, Bio Files, p334

between the terms was a special four-week study period in January. With the inception of the four-course load came a reduction in course offerings and a modification of the core program. This new approach was designed to permit students to concentrate on fewer courses each semester and at the same time afford them an opportunity for pursuing special interests for a month. Study during the January period differed markedly from the work of the regular semesters in placing greater responsibility on the student as well as enabling him to devote his entire time to a single topic of his own choice free from the demands of the conventional courses. The program also provided for independent individual and group projects both on and off campus. In 1968 it included such diverse topics as: classical art, genetics and physiology of higher fungi, the music of Bela Bartok, archaeological excavation in Florida, and Indian and Japanese literature. Opportunities for study abroad under Colgate auspices were expanded in 1966 when the History and English Departments established one-semester study groups in London to be conducted in conjunction with that of the

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Vincent M. Barnett Jr. becomes president (p. 333)

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Chapter XVI -THE BARNETT PERIOD, 1962-1969

If the reference to Josiah Quincy’s reluctance to cover in detail the history of Harvard for the half century prior to the date of publication, on the ground that he lacked proper perspective, had relevance for the Case administration in the previous chapter, it is especially pertinent for the last seven years which round out Colgate’s century and a half. The University’s historian of the future may well evaluate this period as one which saw the most rapid and far-reaching changes of any of the institution’s entire development. For the present, there remains the task of attempting to record some of the high points.

To serve as Acting President until a successor to Dr. Case could be found, the Trustees, in June 1962, selected James A. Storing, Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Political Science. His wide experience and familiarity with the Colgate scene eased the transition from the old to the new regime. Vincent M. Barnett, Jr., the President-Elect, took up the duties of office in February, 1963, and was inaugurated the following April. A graduate of the University of California, he had a Ph.D. in government at Harvard and had been a member of the Williams College faculty since 1939 where he was Professor of Political Science and Chairman of the Department.

The first major change was the reorganization of the curriculum and calendar. The proposals which the faculty had studied extensively prior to Dr. Barnett’s arrival were adopted in the spring of 1963 for introduction in 1964-65. They provided that students would normally enroll for four courses rather than five as had been customary; the regular term was shortened from 16 to 14 weeks-that for the fall beginning in early September and ending in December and that for the spring starting in February and ending in May-and incorporated

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