Montana Labor News

MINNESOTA BOARD OF REGENTS RE-INSTATES PROF. W. A. SHAPER

One of the most significant acts by a state board of education in recent years is described in the March issue of The Bulletin of the American Association of University Professors.

In September, 1917, Prof. W. A. Shaper, head of the political science department of the University of Minnesota, was called suddenly before the State Board of Regents and charged with being "a rabid pro-German." There were no acts of disloyalty charged against him. He simply did not hold the right idea about the war. With no time to set up a defense for himself and with no bona fide hearing, he was dismissed.

In January, 1938, Governor Elmer Benson presented the case to the present state board and the board found that the following things were true of Prof. Shaper's dismissal in 1917:

"He was not furnished with a copy of the alleged information against him. No charges were made against him that might have been considered by a faculty committee and, therefore, none were considered by such a committee.

"He was not confronted by his accusers.

"He was not given sufficient time or opportunity to meet the charges, nor to engage counsel for his defense."

The Board of Regents, finding that "the dismissal was without due process and, therefore, unjustified," rescinded the board's action of 1917, and expunged the resolution terminating Prof. Shaper's University connection from the records and minutes of the board. The board has paid Prof. Shaper $5,000 in reparation of his loss of salary for 1917-1918, and has restored him to the rank of professor emeritus.

The AAUP Bulletin story shows clearly that Prof. Shaper was not "a rabid pro-German," but was the victim of popular prejudice in 1917.

Numerous efforts had been made in the past 20 years by members of the staff, former students of Prof. Shaper, and alumni of the University of Minnesota to reopen the case, but the matter did not receive the attention of the board until Governor Benson urged it. The Minnesota chapter of the American Association of University Professors and the AAUP Bulletin have both congratulated the Board of Regents for taking this stand on the question of academic freedom and tenure.