http://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/upimage/VF_I18C_027.pdf

Media

Part of Response to the statements received from the Black Student Union:, April 28, 1972

Text

Vol. 21, No. 80

In a series of meetings conducted over the past two
days, members of the University's Black populace
confronted the administration with a list of demands. The
first meeting was held in Capen 140 last Wedneday
afternoon at l :30 -- it was short and abrupt and
constituted simply of written statements being read aloud
, [these demands appear on pages two and three in complete
form]. At this time, President Robert Ketter was given 24
hours in which to respond.
Promptly at l :30 p.m. the following Thursday,
President Ketter, accompanied by Executive Vice
President · Albert Somit, Acting Vice President for

State University of New York at Buffalo

Academic Affairs Anthony Lorenzetti and Campus
Security officials, presented his response to the Black
representatives [his statement appears on this page].
At a subsequent meeting held later the same day, a
Black spokesman for the 200 people in a Hayes Hall
conference room reported to President Ketter: "We have
looked at your response to the Black Populace. You were
presented with a detailed proposal and a summary of the
demands of the Black Populace. You have not dealt with
the specific questions which were outlined in the
document presented to you."
He continued: "This administration has asked Black

Response to the statements received from the Black Student
Union:

Friday, 28 April 1972

Populace to share their desires in resolving these matters in
abstraction and symbolics. Our position is very definite That there are no alternatives to our specific demands. The
demands must be met in full and not in the Administration
controlled world of abstraction and symbolism."
When President Ketter attempted to fully delineate his
position, the Blacks left the conference room declaring the
whole meeting a "waste of time." At press time, a meeting
was scheduled to take place because as one Black
representative declared: "Let's go get together because we
know we know how to deal with the man from here on
out."

Now the case of Professor Gayle. Professor Gayle is in
the second year of a three-year appointment which runs until
June 1973. The Department of Music has overwhelmingly
voted not to renew that appointment. The Personnel
Committee of the Faculty of Arts and Letters is currently
reviewing the case. The objection has been raised that there
has been no minority representaion on the two Faculty
entitles which have dealt with this case. Given this situation,
I plan to appoint a special committee, on which there will be
minority representaion, to study this matter in careful depth
and to make an appropriate recommendation to me.

Yesterday, after a meeting with black students, I was
presented with three documents. I shall focus this statement
primarily on the document which presents five "Demands
from the Black Populace at U .B." I do this because it seems
to be the latest document and also because the problems
raised in these five points tend to subsume most, though not
all, of the problems raised in the other documents. At the
conclusion of this statement I will indicate how I think those
other questions might most constructively be approached.
Before turning to specific questions, a preliminary 4. Dialogue with Minority Professional and Graduate
comment is in order. The documents given to me call Students
attention to a variety of problems and concerns. Many of
Over the past two years, I have met a number of times
these are very real and we should do whatever is possible to with minority students from the School of Law and from
come to grips with them.
several of the Schools in the Health Sciences. Others in the
If the history of the past several years has taught us President's Office also have had meetings with students from
anything, however, it is that we do little to solve problems these areas. I would be happy to continue these meetings.
when, even for the best of motives, they are stated in the either on a periodic basis or as specific issues require. Other
form of demands. I can understand the circumstances and graduate student groups could also be included in these
the factors that lead to the use of this form. But I think we discussions.
have all seen that even when genuine problems are stated in
this fashion, a constructive solution may be impeded, rather 5. Regular Dialogue Between President's Office and Minority
than accelerated. There are more fruitful ways of Students and Faculty
As you know, I have regularly reserved Tuesday
approaching these remarks.
Turning now to the five-item document, let me take up mornings for meetings with students, faculty and staff. A
the points in the order in which they have been raised. 1. numbe of members of the minority community at the
University have taken advantage of these opportunities. In
1. Black Studies
addition, I meet, from time to time, with the various
Acting Provost Hollander of the Faculty of Social advisory groups and committees that have been constituted
Sciences and Administration informs me that, over the past to recommend courses of action on particular issues. Here
several weeks, there have been discussions looking to the again, a substantial number of minority individuals are
redesignation of the Black Studies Program as a Department. inciuded in these sessions. At their request, more or less
A formal proposal for such redesignation was made by him regularly scheduled meetings have been held ·with officers of
today to the Policy Committee of that Faculty. I am happy many of the organized groups on campus. I would be happy
to inform you that the Policy Committee has unanimously to explore whatever arrangements might be necessary or
voted to set into motion the procedures required for the desirable to improve or regularize these already existing
Program to achieve full departmental status.
modes of communication.
I believe that the discussions which would occur in these
2. Tenure and Review Procedures
dialogues offer the most fruitful and c;onstructive means of
Tenure and related faculty personnel recommendations tackling and resolving some of the other problems identified
are made at three levels - departmental, Faculty, and in the documents given to me. This administration shares
all-University. I think you know that I have already your desire that these problems be resolved in manners which
established the practice of having minority representation on will provide optimal benefit for our minority students and
all University-wide search committees. I am requesting all
for the entire University community. I am prepared to begin
departments and all Faculties to modify, if necessary, their these discussions with your representatives at the earliest
personnel procedures so as to ensure minority representation possible occasion.
on all committees which make such recommendations. I will
I should stress, though, that three · conditions are
also take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that the necessary if these discussions are to be as productive as we all
all-University recommending authority will have minority want them to be.
representation as of the academic year 1972-73.
First, they will have to be approached by all parties with
a sincere desire to arrive at a constructive solution. I can
3. Professors Banks and Gayle
assure you of such an approach on the part of this
It is essential that the facts in these cases be fully administration. I look forward to your collaboration.
understood.
Second, as indicated earlier, the concerns you have
Professor Banks is already assured of a three-year raised must be approached as common problems, whose
reappointment at the University. What is a issue is not his solution is in the common interest. We must be willing to
continuation at the University but his request that he be examine alternative solutions in terms of their possible
promoted to Tenured Associate Professor. The procedure in merits.
such matters is as follows: first, a departmental
Finally, I fully agree that the resolution of these matters
recommendation; second, a Faculty - in this case the will require on-going discussions. At the same time, I am sure
you will agree, the student participants in these discussions
Faculty of Social Sciences and Administration
recommendation. The Department of Anthropology has must be representative of, and be recognized by, their
recommended promotion; the Faculty Personnel Committee, student constituents. I ask, therefore, that you proceed to
however, has recommended that consideration of promotion designate the individuals who are to meet with us in these
be delayed for another year, since Professor Banks is only discussions.
now completing his third year at this University.
It may be that, in the officials you have already elected,
Under these circumstances, the matter now goes before you have the representatives you wish; it may be that you
the all-University faculty personnel agency, the President's wish to hold other elections for this purpose; I ask simply
Review Board. The Board is scheduled to consider Professor that, by whatever mechanisms you wish to employ, that you
Banks' case tomorrow. lt would be improper and, in fact, identify and authorize those individuals who are to serve as
possibly prejudicial to Professor Banks, for me to make any your representatives. I hope you will proceed to this
statement on this issue until I have the Board's authorization as soon as possible.
recommendation before me. I expect to receive this
-Robert Ketter
recommendation tomorrow.