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Image provided by: University at Buffalo
—- • I H mKrm Vol. 30, No. 31/SUNY at Buffalo/29 October 1979 dlatfttNatod fraa to lha UnhrarsHy comimintty/llmtt ana copy-par parson Ketter tells s he may stay despite possi campus oppo by Elena Cacavas News Editor University President Robert L. Ketter told UB students Friday that he would still consider retaining his presidency, even if students, faculty and professional staff voiced significant non-support. g< h. coi th The President said a vote of essentially “np confidence” would have some influence, ‘‘but would have to be discussed with the Chancellor and SUNY He stressed, however, that overwhelming dissatisfaction by those three groups would by no means draw an immediate resignation from him. Casually clad in a sweater and trousers, Ketter addressed about 256 students in Haas Lounge for a question and answer session organized by the Student Association (SA). His appearance was spurred in part by SA’s desire to allow students to question Ketter prior to an upcoming referendum designed to evaluate him. The referendum will be held November 6—7, representative to the University Council Michael Pierce announced prior to Ketter’s opening remarks. cntioi remain in his post. While he said it would “affect” him, he maintained that “a number of other factors” would be considered. and administrators to SA’s 1978 vote of “no confidence,’’ saying students feel remote from what is going on.’’ Another possible explanation for students’ lack of support, Ketter said, could be the ' that “it’s just not what it was when they got FACE TO FACE: President Robert L. Kattar cama down from hit Capon Hall otfica to tacfcla atudants’ qua it Iona In Haaa Lounge Friday. Baton, formar EdHor-InChlaf ot ‘Tha Spactrum’ Jay Roaan was loM that votaa of 'no oonfldanca’ ham ttto campus community would not necessarily bo a factor In determining whether ha would still want to remain President. Vies President for Academic Affairs Ronald Bunn (below, left) and DUE Dean John Poradotto (right) accompanied the President during Ms one and one half hour talk with students. “It [leading a school without firm constituent support] is frequently done,” Ketter claimed, referring to a Chicago university president’s tenure. When former Editor-in-Chief' of The Spectrum Jay Rosen questioned Ketter’s intentions, the President responded, “At times a person takes some negative lumps so something good happens for other people.” > Ketter tackled the source of students’ most vitriolic criticisms—his administration’s “neglect” of the student constituency—by shifting responsibility for UB to, outside sources, such as the State, or voicing support of increasing student involvement. Ketter’s last major address to the student body—in April 1978 —packed the lounge and drew sharp response from a fiery crowd. The polite, but bitter audience helped convince the SA Senate then that a vote of “no confidence” was in order. Responding to one charge that actions by the Ketter administration are unrelated to student concerns, the president noted that academic matters go before his cabinet and input is encouraged. He did, however, relate the poor communications between students But Friday’s group was marked by calmness —except for a staged exodus by members of the Students view Ketter to form own opinions Some had come prepared, armed with questions and deep-rooted views. Other were just passing by, wondering who tl>e man in the blue and white ski sweater was. But the majority of people in Haas Lounge Friday had come to make up their own minds, to decide for themselves if Robert Ketter should continue as University President “A lot of people around here are against him and I just wanted to make up my own mind,” one sophomore remarked. It appeared that those students genuinely interested in Ketter’s comments seemed to be seated towards the front and sides of the room, while those standing at the back admitted stopping by out of curiosity. “I saw a lot of people here and 1 thought it was a revolution,” one senior Accounting student explained. Others had just come upstairs from the Rathskellar and wanted to sec why so many students had congregated. Most claimed to have come with an open mind, disregarding all they had read and heard about Ketter, and attempting to form their own conclusions. But some had come with their minds already made up. “I think he’s had a miserable performance,” one senior noted. “People make him out be be malicious, but he’s not. he’s just incompetent.” One bearded student sarcastically remarked, ’’I just wanted to sec if he truly exists. I’ve never actually seen him before.” Some started Filtering out of the Lounge shortly after Ketter began speaking. “1 realized my homework was more important,” one freshman noted. After close to one half-hour of listening to the President, a sophomore Biology student headed for the exit. “I was curious what students had to say to him, but 1 soon got pretty bored.” \ Another going for his doctorate in Pharmacology, characterized Ketter “as a typical administrator,” but qualified that by calling Ketter’s position “a political type of job.” \ Photos by Garry Prenata and Dennis R. Floss Inside: Education breaks away—P. 9 / Another kind of editor—P. 10 / Energy tug-of-war—P. 11 / Students oppress students—P. 14
