Maroon

              loyola maroon rf  t February 9, 1973 Vol. XLIX no. 15 Math department decides to cut two faculty members By KATHY TORREGANO Two major changes have recently been initiated in the mathematics department—a new chairman has been elected and two faculty members will not have their contracts renewed in the fall. The Rev. Bernard A. Tonnar, S.J., associate professor of mathematics has been elected as the acting chairman of the department, the result of a faculty initiated secret ballot early in December. The Rev. James C. Carter, S.J., Provost said that Fr. Tonnar was named "acting" chairman rather than permanent chairman at Fr. Tonnar's request. The department is presently processing applications for a new chairman. Fr. Tonnar is replacing Dr. Robert T. McLean who had been chairman for the past five and one-half years. Fr. Tonnar explained that he is acting chairman of the department until a new faculty member is hired from outside the university who could also serve as chairman. Fr. Carter said no one from within the department has been recommended by the faculty. The only qualification for chairman is that the candidate be a faculty member; no tenure is necessary. So far the department has received between 50-75 applications for the slot. Former chairman, Dr. McLean, said he backs the vote for a new chairman 100 per cent. Dr. McLean said that in 1970 he and Drs. F. Conrad Raabe and David G. Keiffer served on a sub-committee of the curriculum committee that sought to establish rules of protocol for the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S). Dr. McLean, who served as chairman of the committee, said that a departmental chairman, once elected, would not be disturbed for a three year period during which time he could organize his. department. Within five years, a departmental vote would be taken for chairmanship. According to the Rev. Joseph A. Tetlow, S.J., Dean of A&S, the protocol has been approved by the president but has not been voted on by the A&S faculty council. Fr. Tetlow said the faculty council will consider it at the end of the year to decide on the length of term, if any. "The reason we haven't gone back to it is that the present system has been working," Fr. Tetlow said. A source within the math department has said that the two faculty members whose contracts will not be renewed were instrumental in organizing the ballot. They are Drs. Robert A. Conover, assistant professor in mathematics and Mohamed A. Mahrous, associate professor in mathematics. Fr. Tetlow said that Conover and Mahrous and other members of the math department brought him the sealed opinion of the faculty in electing a new chairman. Fr. Tetlow said that he had met with the faculty several times last semester and had asked them point blank whether they wanted a new chairman. They told him no. He said that when the four faculty members brought him the sealed envelopes he was "indeed surprised." He said that he would have expected them to come to him and discuss it before they collected faculty opinions. When Dr. Conover was asked about his involvement in the balloting he replied, "no comment." Both professors have refused to give a statement at this time. Originally, only one faculty member was to be terminated to cut back expenses in the math department. Fr. Tetlow explained that he meets with all departments to discuss the needs of the department. The math department, he said, was one that was over staffed and therefore one of the non-tenured faculty member's contracts would not be renewed. But at a meeting of the tenured members of the math faculty (Fr. Tonnar, Lewis Todd, Ray William, James Schmit and Dr. McLean) it was decided not to renew two faculty contracts instead of one. Such meetings are standard university procedure. In regard to the termination of the second facuty contract Fr. Carter said, "It is not the University's practice to give reasons concerning the non-renewal of non-tenured faculty." A source within the department has said that at the time of the meeting it was discussed to terminate three faculty contracts. Fr. Tetlow agreed it had been discussed but that the faculty had decided against it. Many of the students in tne math department were surprised by the changes-some saying they learned of them at the end of last semester and another not until a week after they had accurred. One junior math major said the "undercurrents in the department have not made it an easy environment to work in during the past semester." Another junior math major said, "There'sbeen a tremendous turnover of teachers, so something must be wrong in. the department but I don't know what it is." She also said that she has heard all kinds of conflicting stories, and she said shefeels the students won't have anything to say about the changes. Another math major said she feels she is speaking for the majority of students when she says she is disappointed that the two teachers are leaving but understands the need for the department being cut and can understand how the administration is rationalizing their decision. Some students feel they need time to adjust to the changes and to the temporary status of the new chairman. Fr. Bernard Tonner, SJ.: new chairman of math department Knipfing addresses SGA on SAGA issue By JO ANN KOTTER At this week's SGA meeting, Vincent Knipfing, Dean of Student Affairs, spoke on the situation concerning SAGA's contracting of Tulane students on the SAGA meal plan and other complaints concerning SAGA's food service. Knipfing believes that the current complaints voiced by Loyola students this semester of food shortage, poor quality of SAGA food and long lines alledgedly due to Tulane students, could possibly be the SAGA management's fault. Knipfing said that there were 735 boarders last year when the mandatory boarding policy was in effect. This fall there were 676 students on the contract meal plan. This semester, according to Knipfing, the SAGA food service enrollment dropped to 640, out of which 130 are Tulane students. Knipfing said that SAGA must obtain 574 contract! to obtain a profit. He indicated that if only Loyola students were on the SAGA food plan then SAGA would not reach its profit margin and this could prompt SAGA to increase its prices. Knipfling said that it would be in the best interests of Loyola students on the food plan to allow Tulane students to contract meals from SAGA. Several SGA members then commented in response to Knipfing's talk. Richard Chopin, SGA vice piesident, said it should be of no interest to the university whether or not SAGA is making a profit. In the past six years prices have skyrocketed, food has gotten worse and service is terrible, he said. Louis Stagdel is unwilling to cooperate with the students and the university, Chopin added. Jeanne Sheehan, A&S representative, says that SAGA doesn't care about the students and that prices in the A La Carle room are constantly misquoted. Bob Uevoto, another A&S rep, strongly ' advocates allowing Tulane students on the SAGA contract. He says that Tulane students contract with SAGA because of the poor quality of food at Tulane. He believes that this is proof thai SAGA's food is not so deplorable and is not outrageously priced. "If Tulane students are helping prices stay down then they should be allowed to stay," he added.!his might be a step to better cooperative relations between the two schools, Devoto said. Kevin Gilligan asked what type of policies should be set up regarding Tulane students and what their priorities would be. In response to Gilligan's question, Knipfing suggested a possible solution to continued on page 7 Consortium: the full story p. 3 1973-74 Bulletin Analysis, part 111. p. 5 Features: Oxford musician on campus., p. 8 Reviews: "Sounder", "Young Winston"p. 11