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Student-Regents Meeting Denied: President Ruthven Turns Down Request

Student-Regents Meeting Denied: President Ruthven Turns Down Request image
Parent Issue
Day
4
Month
March
Year
1949
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Copyright Protected
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
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Student-Regents Meeting Denied

President Ruthven Turns Down Request

Regents of the University have declined a proposal by Student Legislature representatives for a public meeting with the regents' board.

In an official answer, President Alexander G. Ruthven said it was “the unanimous opinion of the regents that no good purpose would be served by a public meeting of the type proposed.”

The proposal, incorporated in written “invitations” submitted to each of the regents and considered by them at their meeting last Saturday, was signed by James P. Jans, literary college senior from Detroit, who is president of the Student Legislature.

Suggest Discussions

The letters suggested that “projected policies of the board" be discussed publicly, and asked President Ruthven to reply to the proposal.

President Ruthven added that “the regents will be pleased to have an opportunity to meet informally with a representative group of students at any convenient time,” but not for a public discussion on policy.

“University policies are evolved over a long period and after much discussion, and are not made on a platform in a public meeting," Dr. j Ruthven emphasized.

Telephone Invitations First

It was explained that the letters received by the regents followed invitations to a “Meet Your Regents” get-together issued individually by telephone.

The written proposals did not conform to those made in the telephone conversations, the president said, and several regents withdrew previous acceptances when they learned that the slated purpose was different from what they had understood it to be—one of “getting acquainted.”

The acceptances had arisen, it was explained, out of a natural desire on the part of the regents to meet representative students.

Student Legislature President Jans said today that his organization probably would launch plans for the “informal” meeting suggested by the regents.