Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Patteri BY BOB BAKER Editor-In-Chief Beginning with last summer's announcement of a reorganization for USC and ending with this summer's eradication of the Division of Liberal and Cultural Disciplines, the University under President William Patterson has survived an extensive one-year examination of policies andper sonnel. But, its overall effect, if any, cannot be measured until students return in the fall. And, as President Patterson enters his second year, it might be well to reflect some of the changes made over the past year. First, with the reorganization announced in July, 1974, two for mer vice provosts, Dr. Bruce Nelson and Dr. John Guilds were not to get promotions. Nelson eventually left the University to assume the position of associate provost at the University of Virginia. Guilds was demoted to the position of dean of the College of Arts and Letters here at USC, and later, he too left to assume the position of dean of Humanities and Fine Arts at the University of Houston. Both men had impressive tenures at Carolina and were the first of a vast series of resignations at USC involving some of the most innovative faculty here. (Editor's Horsesh< BY MARION ELLIOTT News Editor The bricking of the road through USC's Horseshoe area, another step in the renovation of the area to look as it did before 1860, should be completed by early September, according to Vice President of Operations Hal Brunton. Construction crews started bricking the road during the last week of July. It will become part of the old-fashioned look that is being restored on the Horseshoe in celebration of our nation's bicentennial birthday, Brunton said. The Horseshoe will be reopened to traffic after the road is bricked. "We will try to keep it open for casual, non-stop driving through it by visitors and sightseers," Brunton said. All parking on it will son's F note - Members of the Gamecock Staff tried all summer to get a complete list of resignations and were led to believe that such a list was being compiled by the Provost's office. Two days before this issue was to go to press, the Gamecock was informed by In formation Services that Provost Keith Davis had refused to relegse such information.) Later in July, 1974, President Patterson instituted a media policy which stated that certain University officials could contact the media only through USC's Office of Information Services. Since this appeared to have a somewhat muzzling effect on the University Administration, Pat terson had to issue a follow-up memo clarifying the statement. In August the head of the Center of Cultural Development resigned. No new head was appointed and apparently the center, which was created to increase the academic atmosphere at USC, has been left to die on its own merit. Four weeks ago President Patterson himself announced that "I have absolutely no idea what is being done with the center." When there was speculation in late August 1974 that the in dependent study Contemporary University program might- be phased out of the University or left to die without administrative >eCRoad B be removed and trat fic will later be banned if other than casual traffic becomes abundant, he said. The cost of bricking the road is minimal, Brunton said, because old brick and unemployment labor that is available from federal unemployment funds is being used. The Horseshoe Advisory Com mittee (HAC) recommended bricking the road as part of its renovation plan for the Horseshoe which has been studied for the past year and a half. Two consultants working on Horseshoe projects as well as alumni members preser vation groups have been consulted about the decision, Brunton said. Whether or not the Horseshoe should be reopened to traffic has caused some disagreement among officials. After the HAC became divided over the issue, President William H. Patterson asked the Academic Advisory Committee (A AC) to make a reommenatn. irst Yec support, a group to "save C.U." emerged showing a strong interest in the program. The program is still here at USC, but not with the complete support that USC's former president, Dr. Thomas F. Jones, had for it. When fall officially arrived, the decision not to grant two members of the law faculty tenure created a stir among law students and some members of the faculty. One member of the law faculty ap pealed and was finally granted tenure. In October, Charles Witten, USC's chief student affairs officer stepped down from that position following months of speculation and rumors. During the July reorganization, Patterson redesignated Witten as dean in stead. of the previous vice presidency he had held. After Athletic Director Paul Dietzel announced that he would be resigning as footbtall coach, a search went into effect to find a replacement. After months of deliberation, the Board of Trustees not only found a new coach, but also announced that three persons would assume the responsibilities Dietzel hqd previously held. Dietzel was then appointed Vice President for University Relations. Miffed at the new arrangement, Dietzel left USC in June to assume duties as Commissioner of the Ohio ricked according to George Curry, a member of the HAC and assistant to the president. The AAC recommended that the road be made somewhat narrower, that parking be removed and that traffic be allowed in the area in a controlled manner, Curry said. "The Committee felt it would be a pity for people not to be able to drive slowly around the area,"~ Curry said. Also, the road is the easiest way to supply offices in the area and a fire hazard would develop if entrances were com pletely blocked, he said. During the summer when con struction was going on, traffic was rerouted to allow faculty and staff parking between the Horseshoe and Green Street to exit at the crosswalk in front of Russell House. That brought objections from Student Government Wh4 W eHapp Valley Athletic Conference. In January the dean of the College of General Studies, Harry Varney, was informed that his college had been restructured. It took only two days for students to speak up showing the great need for such a college. The College has not undergone any major reorganization. Late January found many students and faculty upset over a plan which would grant the President of USC and the Board of Trustees the power to appoint seven per cent of the entering Law School class. Creating an uproar over possible political appointees, the whole decision was turned over to the Law Center and is sup posedly dying on the back burner now. Trying to not create any more friction with students the rest of spring seemed to be the ad ministration's watchword. However, in May, while students were away for the summer, Pat terson announced, without facuity approval, that both the Colleges of Arts and Letters and Social and Behavioral Sciences would be combined. Dr. Robert Landen and Dr. John Guilds, respective deans of these colleges announced that they would both be leaving the University under pressure. Guilds acknowledged that his philosophies differed somewhat from the ad Horseshoe construction reached crews attempted to renovate buil look as they did before 1860. Th program designed for our nation' '"A. Asoito PeietStv il Ascat tei n resdnt Stevessell House would be closed by Sep tember. The administration is cn sidering having traffic in such parking lots both enter and exit between Lieber and Pinckney colleges, Brunton said. As for other Horseshoe renovation plans, construction on the McCutcheon House is expected Elt ned? ministration's. On May 28 President Patterson again took the opportunity of having students away to announce that tuition would be raised sub stantially &$25.00 for in-state and $50.00 for out-of-state students). And, in June, it was formally announced that the dean for Fresh men had resigned to return to teaching. Dr. Paul Fidler was placed in charge of freshmen advisement and will be studying it for the next year to see if any changes need to be made in that area. Through all these changes President Patterson has kep busy Apparently he has tried to con solidate programs and tighten his grip over both students and faculty personnel. The Gamecock has been in formed by a high faculty source that the changes have come about as a result of Patterson's and the Trustees' fear that they were losing control over students under former President Jones. - No matter what the case, Provost Keith Davis has an nounced that "hard times and controversial decisions are coming in the next year." So, perhaps students should expect more policy and personnel examination this year, for it ap pears that University reorganization has just begun. i peak this summer as construction lings and walkways to make them e project is part of a restoration s Bicentennial celebration. .4e sem to be doe. Two e saise acoingav tobeut Brunton Workd. The University is too short on funds to renovate any of the other buildings on the Horseshoe at this time, Brunton said, however, the front of these buildings will be painted so as to create a pleasing atm,Eha-~ br- vinie