EXTRA
Daily hansan
EXTRA
57th Year, No. 105
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Thursday, March 17, 1960
Kansas Loses Murphy
2 Regents Cite Docking Feuds For Resignation
A Difficult DECISION—Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy reflects concern over his difficult decision to leave KU on the eve of his formal announcement to Kansan reporters. (Kansan photo by Jack Morton)
Bv Susanne Shaw and Tom Turner
By Susanne Snow and Toni Turner Ray Evans, chairman of the state Board of Education Franklin D. Murphy's resignation, "a great personal shock and a great loss to the Kansas educational system."
Mr. Evans was not alone in his dismay over the resignation. Other Regents commented.
Claude C. Bradney, of Columbus said:
"A man has to have peace of mind. Gov. Docking's criticism has hampered his (the chancellor) doing a fine job. This feud has been one-sided. Franklin has just tried to conduct a school."
Commenting on the effect Chancellor Murphy's resignation will have on the educational status of KU,Mr.Bradney said Kansas has taken a step backward.
Mav Hurt Docking's Vote
"I think we can find a good man but it will take time," he said.
Harry Valentine, Clay Center said: "If Kansans take time to examine the entire Murphy-Docking situation, they will realize that the Chancellor's resignation may well have resulted in part from Gov. Docking's frequent attacks on education at all levels. It may hurt Gov. Docking's vote very materially."
Mr. Evans was reached at his home late last night where he had just learned of Dr. Murphy's decision over the radio. He said the announcement caught him "completely by surprise."
"Of course we have no ideas as to who the chancellor's successor will be, but a special meeting of the Board of Regents will be called in the near future to start looking for prospective candidates," he said.
Mr. Evans said that the Board of Regents had not been officially notified concerning Dr. Murphy's acceptance of the UCLA position. He commented that he was sure every effort would be made to retain the chancellor.
Mr. Evans said he had a breakfast appointment with the chancellor this morning at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, presumably to discuss his acceptance of the UCLA position.
"I am not in position, or have the power, to offer the chancellor any inducements to remain at the University. This sort of action would take a meeting of the board," he said.
No Comment on Docking
Mr. Evans said he would rather not comment on whether Gov. George Docking's attacks on the chancellor and the University had any effect on Dr. Murphy's decision. The Docking-appointee said he was going "to stay clear of the issue."
Mr. Evans described the procedure by which the new chancellor would be selected:
"The Board of Regents will first have to call a special meeting to appoint a committee to talk, visit and
"We want to congratulate Dr. Murphy on his opportunity to greater responsibility. We knew he would be hard to keep because of his leadership, vision and inspiration. We wish him well in his new venture. He has done much to advance our educational system at the University of Kansas. Naturally, he will be a great loss to the state of Kansas."
Mr. Evans, speaking for the board as a whole, issued the following statement this morning in Kansas City at the Medical Center:
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Faculty 'Mourning' Greets Resignation
Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy gave no hint of his impending resignation at yesterday's Faculty Forum luncheon at which he was the speaker.
Faculty members who attended said the Chancellor spoke with considerable satisfaction of the progress the University has made in several fields.
One faculty member said he noticed the Chancellor seemed "less animated than usual." Another faculty member said:
"One thing was obvious," he continued. "Dr. Murphy was optimistic about the future of the University in view of the actions of the 1960 Kansas Legislature. It appropriated funds for salary increases, research projects, foreign study centers and other matters the Chancellor has been interested in.
"Now that I look back on the Forum, maybe the Chancellor was summing up his accomplishments here."
Murphy Optimistic
"And these developments came despite Gov. Docking's opposition to them," the faculty member said.
The resignation of the Chancellor was termed a great loss by the University deans, although they refused to comment on the Murphy-Docking relationship.
"Higher education in Kansas has lost its most effective leader. Without Dr. Murphy's militant leadership, it will be difficult to implement the recommendations of the recently-published report of the Kansas Educational Survey."
KENNETH ANDERSON, dean of the School of Education and first academic dean appointed by the Chancellor, said:
Comments Limited
JOHN McNOWN, dean of the School of Engineering and Architecture said: "His resignation is a tremendous loss to the University. He will be hard to replace."
HAROLD G. BARR, dean of the School of Religion, said:
"I feel that Dr. Murphy has not only been a great Chancellor here, but he has been a chancellor with a great interest in the School of Religion and the religious life of the University."
"The Chancellor's leaving is a great loss to the University. I think
GEORGE WAGGONER, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences:
that much of the great progress of the University in recent years can be attributed to him."
Mrs. Jerod Poindexter and Robert Montgomery, both instructors of design, have donned mourning bands.
W. CLARKE WESCOE, dean of the School of Medicine:
"The University has lost its greatest est son. I have never known the University without him and I cannot
(Continued on page 3)
Murphy Chancellor Goes To UCLA July 1
By John Peterson
Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy resigned his position as Chancellor of the University of Kansas last night to assume duties as Chancellor of the University of California at Los Angeles.
The University of California Board of Regents selected Dr. Murphy from more than 100 "leading educators," said UCLA President Clark Kerr.
The 44-year-old Kansas administrator will succeed Dr. Vern O. Knudsen who retires June 30 at the administrative age limit of 67. Dr. Murphy will assume his duties July 1.
DR. MURPHY refused to comment on his reasons for leaving any further than his prepared statement. But his friends said they attributed his decision to Gov. George Docking's continued opposition to his plans for the University.
Gov. Docking vetoed a bill during the last session of the legislature which would have provided funds for a new building for the School of Engineering and other plant improvements. The governor has constantly criticized the operation of the University.
Dr. Murphy said last night it was a "great privilege to be invited to become a member of the University of California family and to join the forward thrust which characterizes the state of California today."
THE CHANCELLOR will become the sixth Chancellor of UCLA, the second largest of the seven campuses of the University of California system with 17,000 full-time students and 10,000 extension or night-school students.
Dr. Murphy has served as Chancellor of the University since 1951. Prior to that he was Dean of Medicine at the KU Medical Center for three years.
The Chancellor was at Los Angeles discussing the position just before he left on his three-week tour of Latin America. He returned March 7. He said in an interview last night that he finally made up his mind on the matter while in Washington Monday.
"MY WIFE and I spent many hours trying to make this decision. It was the hardest choice I have ever made in my life. It is one of those things, you can only cut bait so long and I decided to start fishing Monday." Dr. Murphy said.
Dr. Murphy said the regents in California offered the position to him with no financial limitations for operating the university.
"They told me that they wanted me to build the University into one of the great universities of the nation. It is a great challenge which I am looking forward to," he said.
TODAY UCLA has a teaching staff of 1,500 and a non-academic staff of 3,250 on a 411-acre campus in the western portion of Los Angeles. The university's 40 buildings were constructed at an original cost of $128 million dollars.
Dr. Murphy said last night that there is "something" about the University of Kansas.
"I'm sure that nobody ever forgets Mount Oread," he said. "It is sort of like a first love affair, it will always have a warm spot in your heart."
"There are alumni of the University throughout the world, but I know that there will never be a more interested alumnus anywhere than in Los Angeles."
THE CHANCELLOR was asked if Gov. George Docking's attack on
(Continued on Page 3)
Chancellor Gives His Statement
"The Regents of the University of California have asked me to become Chancellor of the University of California at Los Angeles. I have accepted their invitation as of July 1, 1960.
"This is probably the most difficult decision Mrs. Murphy and I will ever have to make. Certainly no decision in the future could ever involve as much soul-searching.
"My wife and I were born in this area. I was graduated from the University of Kansas. I have lovingly and without reservation given the University and the people of Kansas twelve years of my life, three as Dean of Medicine and nine as Chancellor. I have shared the pride of the state and the area in what I believe has been modest progress at the University during these years, progress achieved in spite of unreasonable and indeed unprecedented handicaps. It is especially hard to contemplate leaving the faculty and staff of the University, those members of the legislature, and those enlightened Kansans in all parts of the State who have so believed in the future of Kansas and its children that they have been willing to work through these last years, often against great odds, to ensure the continued development of the University. Theirs is the kind of vision that built this state and theirs is the vision that will keep it developing. I shall always be in their debt.
"However, the State of California, with its dedication to and central involvement in the great thrust to the future, is a compelling magnet. The University of California at Los Angeles has the intense and active interest and support of Californians at all levels. The creative educational opportunities are unlimited."
"So we leave our native midwest and my Alma Mater with mixed feelings—sorrow and anticipation pride in past accomplishment and hopes of future contributions to our troubled society in these complex times.
"I also leave with the firm conviction that my fellow Kansans will not let their University falter but will, in fact, give it ever greater support as a crucial instrument for the future development of our State and its greatest natural resource, the youth of Kansas."
Weather
The robins herald spring but the weatherman predicts more cold weather and possible snow flurries for Kansas.