The Senate of Tel Aviv University adopted a resolution supporting Rector Benzion Katz in his policy dispute with Dr. George Wise, who resigned as president of the University last week. Prof. Katz is ex-officio chairman of the University Senate.
In the resolution, the Senate declared it “lends its support to activities of the rector in preserving the academic level and to his basic position in the matter of freedom of academic institutions.” Dr. Wise had charged that Prof. Katz had taken policy decisions, while Dr. Wise was out of the country, to which Dr. Wise was opposed. The resolution also thanked Dr. Wise for his “positive activities in the past on behalf of the University.”
The resolution received 24 votes, the single opposing vote being cast by Dr. Yuval Neeman, who resigned with Dr. Wise as University vice-president. Four Senate members abstained. Dr. Katz reportedly favors a small-size university devoted to academic pursuits while Dr. Wise has sought to expand the university and diversify its faculties.
Prime Minister Levi Eshkol was reported here today as “very anxious” that Dr. Wise withdraw his resignation. Mr. Eshkol, it was learned, may set up a public committee to look into the dispute which led to Dr. Wise’s resignation and to try to resolve the conflict inside the university administration.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
