Tel Aviv University Board Refuses to Accept Dr. Wise’s Resignation

The executive board of Tel Aviv University voted here last night not to accept the resignation of Dr. George Wise, who had quit the presidency of the university, as well as to refuse to accept “all other recent resignations.” The board’s decision was voted by a ballot of six to two, the dissenters being Dr. Ben-Zion Katz, rector of the university, and Prof. Alfred Klopstock, the former rector.

The board called on Dr. Wise, who had left for the United States, to return here as soon as possible and resume his duties as president. Tel Aviv Mayor Mordechai Namir was instructed to communicate with Dr. Wise immediately and to inform him that, as soon as he comes back, the executive board will meet with him to iron out the disputes between him and the various governing bodies of the university. Pending Dr. Wise’s return, the board ruled that Aharon Doron, the university’s director-general, would head the institution’s administrative and financial departments as acting president.

After the meeting, Dr. Katz, who said he will not resign, stated that he had opposed the rejection of Dr. Wise’s resignation because Dr. Wise “interfered in academic matters in such a way as to endanger the university’s level of instruction.” “I don’t believe,” he added, “that Dr. Wise would change his habits.”