Fr. Fitzgerald Threatens to Quit Over ROTC Contract Issue the Rev
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Vol. LIV, No.5 GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON, D.C. Thursday, October 1, 1970 Fr. Fitzgerald Threatens To Quit Over ROTC Contract Issue The Rev. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, the beginning 1 have made every about the provIsions. Thornton S.J., academic vice president and in effort to treat the ROTC question retorted that there was nothing in charge of the ROTC negotiations, objectively. 1 have not attacked Fr. the contract which would exclude stated Sunday evening that if one Fitzgerald's integrity and have dif· pI'ofessOl's on active military duty fourth or more of the members of ficulty understanding the reasons from teaching courses for which the Board of Directors vote against for his unusually defensive posture." credit would be given. the proposed contract, he would Thornton went on to say, "We resign. have not a nd do not intend Lo The academic vice president question Fr. Fitzgerald's integrity Dean Berghoff made the surprise announcement or honesty. 1 respect Fr. Fitzge while appearing before the student raId's administrative abilities and senate to clarify the proposed hope that the possibility of losing Seeks Homes contract. them will not further cloud oUI' Fr. Fitzgerald officially an substantive concerns with the new nounced his decision in a letter to contract. I still feel that we can For Students The Rev. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, S.J., academic vice president, appeared the Rev. Robert J. Henle, S.J., reach agreement on this issue if we An ad hoc housing committee, before the student senate last Sunday evening to clarify the proposed University President, dated last can restrict ourselves to the issues chaired by Valerie Berghoff, dean ROTC contract which he negotiated. Monday. involved. " of women, submitted a report to The letter read, in part, "Since Fr. Fitzgerald told the senators the Rev. Robert J. Henle, S.J., some persons have charged that 1 that "there at least seems to 'be University president, j'ecommend am not faithfully carrying out that some dispute as to what went on in ing the construction of a new dorm University Mourns (the Board of Director's) mandate, the committee" with regards as to around 1975 or 1976, and the use 1 wish to demonstrate my good whether Appendix F was part of of universiLy·owned town houses faith and full accountability. I the "Findings an~ Recommenda for student off·campus housing. therefore ask that the Board of tions" of the committee. The appointment of the com McI(enna's Death Directors approve, at the earliest In a letter to Thornton released mittee by Fr. Henle came on the possibie date, the arrangements I to the senate Sunday, the academic heels of a decision to convert Students, teachers, and admin Department colleague of Dr. Mc shall have made. Should one fourth vice president wrote that "any Kober·Cogan from a dormitory to istrators have expressed shock and Kenna's was asked to comment on or more of the Board vote negative claim that Appendix F should be an administrative office building for sorrow at the death of Dr. John his death. He said that John ly, I will immediately resign." part of the 'Findings and Recom dental and medical school per McKenna, professor of English. McKenna had given "of his life to Fr. Fitzgerald later said he had mendations' ... runs counter to the sonnel. The Rev. Robert J. Henle, S.J., learning and to teaching. That such used,the words "1 shall have made" manifest intention of the commit According to Dr. Patricia University President, said that "one a vital man is dead is outrageous. in reference to the contract to show tee. " Rueckel, vice president for student can only feel sympathy for his His students know what 1 mean that he was willing to consider "It is also true," the letter development, there are over 50 family and his friends and, of when I say 'vital;' the term is mild suggestions that may be made with continued, "that the full committee pieces of property within a six course, it is also a great loss to when used to describe the intensity regards to changes in the language 'approved' Appendix F, and we block area that could house about Georgetown since he was one of with which he gave himself to every of the contract, a point which he have been examining Appendix F 225 to 275 students. "This could our very much loved and effective moment. His knowlege of the Bible, mentioned several times during his to determine to what extent it can take care of the housing needs for teachers. " Joyce, Dante, Auden, Foster, and appearance before the Senate. be implemented." the next two to three years," Dr. Mike Thornton, president of the Shakespeare all seemed like per Fr. Fitzgerald, after the senate On the academic points of the Rueckel said. undergraduate student government, sonal recollection, as if literature meeting, denied that he was trying contract. Thornton argued that Dean Berghoff acknowledged said that "the respect and admir were an event taking place in his to prod the Board of Directors to sections 2A, 2B, and 2D of the that certain problems will exist if ation of students for Dr. McKenna mind every day of his life. In John accept the contract by threatening contract are inconsistent with the Georgetown turns over its town is well known. His talent and McKenna we have lost a man with to resign. He said he wanted the recommendations of the ROTC houses exclusively to students. dedication made him one of our the capacity to create events and, Board to "pass formal judgment on Committee. He believes that the "The houses are unfurnished, with finest teachers. His death is a tragic thereby, to absorb us into his the accuracy on which 1 am prerequisites for credit for ROTC no utilities, and legal problems will loss for Georgetown." involvement with great works of fulfilling their mandate." courses should be stated in the occur because tenants have stag Thornton had supported last art. Mike Thornton, president of the contract. gered leases," the dean explained. Spring's controversial fight to ac "Like a natural resource, he undergraduate student government, Fr. Fitzgerald argued that such No area was recommended for quire rank and tenure for Dr. never conserved himself; let us be as said it is "unfortunate that Fr. provisions do not have to be the proposed new dormitory, but McKenna. That struggle finally generous with what he gave." Fitzgerald has reacted to our ROTC specified in the contract, and that the committee suggested that it succeeded this Fall but only after disagreement so personally. From the Army has been put on notice have a 400 bed capacity, and that it Fr. Henle had asked for a review of be built with what Berghoff Lermed the case. "a new style." A student who knew Dr. Mc Losses Estimated At $4,000 Members of the committee be Kenna well said, "In the death of sides Dean Berghoff include Jack Professor McKenna, the university Burgess, assistant dean, School of community lost a tremendous, Foreign Service; Susanne Forsythe, dynamic teacher who extended Thefts Plague Student Center assistant director of housing; Ellen knowledge to us. But the commun Stanton (SFS '72) and Jim Geisler ity lost a great deal more in the (Call. '73). death of the man McKenna, who by Jon Davis committee, consisting of Susan Dr. Reuckel expressed anxiety Both Dr. Rueckel and Dean extended himself to his students in Asst. News Editor Palmer, assistant director for that the student center will have to Berghoff mentioned that the need a way not found too often on The new University Center has student activities, Henry Beale, be as closely guarded as the for a new dorm and for student campus today. All I can say is he been beset with robberies amount instructor in economics, and John Lauinger Library, in which all town houses is increased by the cared in his actions, not in his ing to $4,000 worth of furnishings, Kelly (Coll.'71), has spent about departing students are forced to rising demand and prices of suitable rhetoric. " according to Dr. Patricia Rueckel, $30,000. On furnishings alone, the exit via one door. off-campus apartments. Robert J. Dixon, director for vice president for student develop committee has spent $10,000, of ------------------------------------------------------------------ student activities and a long time ment. which $4,000 worth has been member of the Georgetown com TwentY-one sofa and chair stolen. munity, said, "I met John McKenna cushions, four large leather chairs, "What is disillusioning," Dr. for the first time two years ago at a lamps, frames, slip-covers, spare Rueckel said, "is that we wanted to brunch given by the Women's carpets, and pictures have all been keep the doors to the center open. Honor Society where he was being removed from the center. People broke locks to steal. We've honored and praised as a teacher. I "They're stealing from them asked for the locks to be changed, last saw him at the College Tropaid selves, because this was all furniture and we will hire four students to exercises in June. He was receiving for students," Dr. Rueckel said. work there as guards on weekends the Bunn Award for excellence in "We won't be able to finish it the and after the administrators have teaching. That's the way I will way we planned. We don't want left for the day." always remember him, as an ex appreciation, but at least some The persons responsible for the emplar to all. He is and will be respect for the materials and effort thefts have not been apprehended, sorely missed." put into the project." nor have their identities been Garvin Walsh (Col.'72) spoke of According to Dr.