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8

for their capable handling of a difficult task. I wish to commend them,
highly for the manner in which they have conducted their investigation, for
their thoroughness in getting at the facts, and for their forthrightness
in reporting the situation as they found it to be.

/s/William Friday"

2. Report of the Committee to Investigate Differences between the Administration
and the Faculty of the Woman's College submitted to Acting President
William Friday

"A. History of the Committee.

"The Visiting Committee of the Board of Trustees submitted the following
recommendation:

'With respect to the Administrative problems existing at the Woman's
College, and particularly with respect to the differences between some
of the faculty members and the administration, this Committee has
requested the Acting President of the University to make a detailed
investigation and report concerning the problems which he finds existing
at Woman's College, together with a recommended plan of action for the
solution of such problems, and to make a report of such findings to this
Committee not later than the first day of May, 1956.'

"Pursuant to the authority and duty specified in the foregoing, Acting
President Friday appointed Vice President William D. Carmichael, Jr.
(Chairman), Acting Provost William M. Whyburn, and the Dean of the Graduate
School, W. W. Pierson, as a committee to conduct the investigation and to
submit a report to him. On March --, 1956, an invitation was extended to
all members of the faculty and Administration of the Woman's College to
appear before this Committee. The meetings of the Committee were held on
the campus on the College in designated places. All persons who appeared
were given the following statement to read prior to their interviews with the
Committee:

'This is a free, fair, and responsible investigation - as conceived by
President Friday, and it is our intent to make it so.

'If you wish your statement, for whatever reason, to be in whole or
in part a confidential communication, it will be so received and
respected. It should be said to you, however, that such confidential
statements are inadmissible as evidence and cannot justly be allowed
to enter or affect the report. Factual testimony, of first-hand
knowledge, submitted without condition as to use in the report to the
President, will be recorded. Should you wish it, you will be given an
opportunity to read, or to have read to you, the transcript of your
statement.'

"Each individual was given the option of submitting a statement either in
writing or orally, or both. The great majority of those appearing before
the Committee offered unrestricted testimony. Their statements, during
the first two days of the hearings, were recorded by a stenographer. On
the second two days the Committee was able to obtain the services of a
court reporter who made stenotyped records. On the fifth day of interviews,
a stenographer again recorded the testimony.

"The main questions asked by the Chairman of the Committee (Mr.. Carmichael)
were two:

a. Will you tell us about any differences that exist between the
administration and the faculty?

b. Do you have any solution to offer for this situation?

"There were other questions which were designed to clarify the testimony
or to obtain information.

"Some 132 members of the faculty appeared before the Committee and offered
their statements. The testimony, when transcribed in typewritten form,
ran to somewhat more than 600 pages. In addition there were more than 600
pages in the form of exhibits or prepared statements.