University president under pressure to resign Gemmill, the president was seated plaint the next day. President Gaither ly scheduled meeting Monday w ith the On Tuesday. May 5. the Faculty w hile not actually calling for the Presi­ by Joe Saunders next to the complainant during a din­ did not meet the woman again until University 's deans, a meeting which Council met in an executive session dent's resignation, underscored the O f The Tnangle ner party. w hen he put his hand on her Monday morning (April 27) when he none of the deans attended That same with vice presidents Gemmill and difficulty of his current position .\c- knee and "squeezed her more than apologized to her in the prescence of day. a separate deans' meeting was McCullough where the Council was cording to Dr Richard Mortimer, University President William S. once.” The woman, realizing that her supervisor. Vice President for Ad­ held where it was decided to pass a fully informed of the situauon and the Associate Vice President for Graduate Gaither faced the gravest challenge of there were people seated at the table ministration. John McCoUough, in ac­ resolution expressing "moral Faculty Council unanimously passed Studies, the gist of the Committee's hi^ tenure in office this week as the who could decide whether Drexel cordance with Drexel's sexual harass­ outrage " over the president's a resolution that. " ‘for the g o ^ of the actions was that they felt that, "the filing of a sexual harassment charge couJd enter Genesis, acted in a very ment policy. which Gaither has spon­ behavior, according to Dean of the University, the President be im­ continued [prescence] of the president against him by a University employee professional manner. Gemmill said, sored and has yet to be implemented. College of Science, and to express mediately relieved of his duties. We jeapordizes the integnty and credibility spurred numerous calls for his resigna­ and moved her chair slightly away W’ord of the incident spread to the dissatisfaction with Gaither's leader­ further recommend that he be advis­ of the Graduate Program, the Office tion from both faculty and from the president. When the behavior administrative staff and faculty during ship. The deans' strongly worded, and ed to resign and that steps be taken to of the President, and the University." administrators continued, she left the uble and went the next week, sparking wild and un­ unanimous, resolution (formalized in legally remove him ft-om office." The Yesterday, at a meeting with The charge, filed on Fnday. April to the ladies room for the remainder confirmed rumors throughout the writing on Wednesday but dated May resolution was passed on to President representatives of The Triangle, ar»d 24. was prompted by an incident of the meal. campus. 4) demanded Gaither's immediate Gaither, as well as Board of Trustees \MCDU s news department. President which occured while Gaither was in After dinner, the woman took a taxi Last Monday, May 4, an unofficial removal from office and implied that Chairman Roben McClements. that Gaither reaffirmed his decision not to Toronto with several members of the back to the hotel and flew out to meeting of several members of the if the president is retained by the Board night and released to the press the resign and to remain in his posiDon un­ administration in an effort to enroll the another city the following day on Board of Trustees convened and decid­ of Trustees, the deans will resign en following day. til the Board of Trustees decides the University in the insurance group. previously scheduled personal ed to create a special committee to in­ masse. On Wednesday, the University issue. The Board is expeaed to vote Genesis. According to Vice President business. She returned to Philadelphia vestigate the president's condua. "W e are unable to participate in his Graduate Committee met and on the issue in a full membership for University Relations, Elizabeth Thursday evening and lodged the com­ Gaither was to have held a routine­ leadership." Davis said. unanimously passed a resolution, that. meeting on Wednesday. .Vlay 20. Gaither interviewed: Will not resign Council dem ands Yesterday afternoon Dr. HWiam pologize in front of her superior.] Gaither met with r^-o Triangle (Dr. Gaither was refering to the reporters, Joe Saunders and Ed­ new policy concerning sexual har- president’s ouster ward Hartnett, and a WKDl' rassment. It is awaiting Board of represeniitive. Ken Blackney. Dr. Trustee approval.) Gaither answered questions free­ Q. The Faculty Council has ask­ ly on topics such as the sexual har- ed for your retirement. Do you by Edward Hartnett rassment complaint, the Faculty think you will still be able to lead Tnangle Sutff ^ ’nxer Council resporse, and the resolu­ the Faculty after this incident? tion o f the Departmental Deans. A. [Absolutly.] I have been ■After meeting with Vice President The bulk o f the intenie^ is through a number of crises.. .peo­ for University Relations Elizabeth presented here. Items appearing in ple often take rapid and extreme Gemmill, and Vice President for Ad­ brackets are paraphrased. positions, especially in a universi­ ministration John McCullough last Q. ATiat h a p p e n ^ in Toronto? ty setting. My job is to stand back Tuesday, the Drexel University Facul­ A. [A^’e were at a dinner and] my and look at the overall effect on the ty Council passed a resolution recom­ mending that President Gaither be im­ place at the table and my institution.. .1 have no doubt that I mediately relieved of his duties, ad­ neighbor's was unusally close. can continue to be an effective vised to resign, or be removed from There was physical contact during leader at this university . his position as president of Drexel dinner. Q. >^"hat about the Dean’s University. Q. Was it intentional? resolution [demanding your im­ The resoluDon is one of ai least three \ Yes. I suppose it was inten­ mediate removal and refusing to actions submined to the Board this tional. intentional and accidental. work with you anymore.] week concerning {^resident Gaither In Q. Did she misconstrue your •A. They have made their posi­ addition to the Faculty Council, the action? tions [clear] very strongly... [Let college deans hav e issued a statement A If she w as offended, then, by me explain the difference between demanding that the President resign his Dr. John Savchak definition. I was at fault. the Faculty Council resolution and ter one [President]'’" [If the answer position immediately , the University Q. VN’hy did you do it? the Dean's resolution.] The facul­ their resolution.] is yes then maybe this is the time Women s Studies Comminee has President has never been strong, the A. I have on occasion, and I'm ty are privihged to make this sort Q. Isn't It going to be difficult to ask him to resign, if the answer released a resolution to the Board of incidents surroundmg the harassment sure there will be future occas- of resolution. The Deans are not. to run the University if the Deans is "hriimm. .maybe not. ' then it Trustees "'[deploring] the recent complaint and its consequences, in­ sions. [touched people without sex­ [They are officers of the ad­ won't come to meetings? would not be a good idea to ask me behavior of President William Gaither, cluding unchecked rumor and ual mtent .] Human contact need n a ministration and are appointed by A. There would have to be to leave.] which he himself has acknowledged." anonymous media tips, have have absolute sexual connotations. the administration.] They have Deans who would [show up at the Q. Wouldn't theu" decision be af­ calling on the Board to "relieve him underscored the lack of whate\ er sup­ [In some churches people shake chosen to lay their jobs on the line meeting] and I'm sure that I can fected by the affea this might have of his duties and remove him from of­ port the President may have once en­ hands.) in my church we mill against mine. find people who would. You may on enrollment? fice immediately." The Graduate joyed. Dr Savchak, however, demes around in the aisles and hug each Q. If the Deans from every col­ have people with academic I think the leadership in any Comminee has joined in the censure that this has influenced the Council's other. lege resign, can you see this as a f)edigrees (and very respectable institution is very important. The by prepanng a statement calling the decision on the resolution. Q. .\lthough the complainant viable institution? academic credentials].. .but there is quality of the leadership determines President's continued tenure in office was registered on a Friday, you did Without question I can. None somethmg special about people See F.iC U in- COUSCIL on Page 2 w hat direction an organization will an injury to the "integrity and not apologize until .Monday. Why of us are indispensible in this who are leaders. take. I don't think that the Board credibility" of the University as a did you wait so long? institution. Q. Do you think the Board of of Trustees w ould make a decision whole and that they believe that Dr. A. 1 only learned (that she was Q. Was there a meeting schedul­ Trustees will ask for your on this President on the basis of a Gaieher's ability to lead has been Student feelings offended] w hen 1 spoke to her hus­ ed with the Deans last Monday? resignation? few students.