The question of whether Prof. Albert Einstein should be given complete authority to select a president for the projected Brandeis University was the major cause for the split in the university’s board, it was stated here today by George Alpert, president of the board.
The split resulted in the resignation of S. Ralph Bazrus and Prof. Otto Nathan from the board and in the withdrawal of Prof. Einstein from the university’s fund-raising foundation, which bore his name. These resignations, Mr. Alpert told a press conference, will in no way impede the progress of the university.
He emphasized that plans are being made to open the Liberal Arts section of the university in 1943 with 500 students and to bring the total to 2,000 students at the end of four years. About $2,000,000 in pledges have been secured up to now, he stated. Mr. Alpert revealed that the Einstein Foundation will be renamed the Brandeis Foundation.
He said that the board of the Einstein Foundation, without securing the agreement of the university’s board, voted to authorize Prof. Einstein to select a president for the university and suggested the appointment of Prof. Harold Laski, British economist. The board’s action, and particularly the naming of Prof. Laaki, was strongly opposed by him as president of the university’s board, Mr. Alpert declared, whereupon Mr. Lazrus and Prof. Matlan told the board that they must end their association with the university.
The opposition to the appointment of Prof. Laski was based to a great extent on the fact that Laski is not an American, Mr. Alport stated, adding that he would continue to insist that the president of the university be an educator of high standard; an American, if possible; a person loyal to the principles of American democracy; and a good administrator.
An Educational Advisory Council which will make recommendations regarding the selection of a president is now being formed by Prof. Max R. Grossman, the university’s provost, Mr. Alpert announced.
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