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serious academic freedom issue since the early 19 fifties. The University of California Board of Regions are meeting in emergency session here at the University Extension Center in San Francisco. The issue was whether Angela Davis, an admitted member of the Communist Party, should be allowed to teach

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at U. C. L. A pending her appeal of dismissal. It was at the September regions meeting that it was decided to fire Miss Davis because of a university regulation which states membership in the Communist Party bars anyone from being an instructor. Since then, courts in the

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East Coast have ruled that membership in the Communist Party cannot be considered grounds for dismissal. University President Charles Hitches joined with U. C L A Chancellor Charles Young and agreed to allow Miss Davis to continue teaching until her case could go through the appeals procedure. It

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is this decision. The regions of discussing and inevitably the center of the controversy is Governor Ronald Reagan. This may be the most direct confrontation between the governor and the academic community, which has happened in his administration. The governor realizes this is mawr than the right of

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employment of one faculty member. This is a fight on basic philosophy over control of the university. This is one of the few meetings where the governor declined any comment Before entering the session, however, Lieutenant Governor Ed Reineke did talk to newsman the question of Chancellor Young

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refusing to obey an order from the regions. I would hope that we do not, under any circumstances rehash the case of Angela Davis. It's simply a question of insubordination, direct order from the regions that he refused to carry out. How do you know he refused to

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carry it out? Alright, accused me. I'm assuming that according to all the reports I've had, I want to hear his side of the story before I make a final decision. But if it's a question, uh, in view of the fact that and he said in on

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the on the session, he knows what went on Hey knows that it was very definitely the will of the regions that she should not be hired and he saw fit to go ahead and hire her anyway, even during the pending of hell. This is contrary to

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what the orders were, and so I think he has to stand the cross examination to see what? His justification. Waas. This is a difficult session for the region. Some feel that if they do order the immediate dismissal of Miss Davis, it could bring about the resignation

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of Chancellor Young and possibly even President Hitch. But no matter what happens, it will eventually have to go to the courts. But until then, the battle lines have been drawn between the regions and the university faculty. Rollin post for eyewitness news at the Board of Regents

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meeting in San Francisco. Governor, what do you think? Maybe resolved today? I don't think we're late on. I've told everybody until we can do it fairly. For everybody. Yeah, yeah. Uh huh. I don't know. Yeah. Good morning. You were getting pursuers. Will do after watching our

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morning. Yeah, I don't think we still better get out right away. Not only are you for yeah, Yeah, that for very I mean, even goodbye, family. Well, sometimes this is Miss Davis should have an opportunity to be heard. An ordinary person

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who would be hired by the federal government would have the opportunity unless there was a clear in prison danger. Nothing has been said about Mrs Davis, except that she is an avowed member of the Communist Party. She has not tried to indoctrinate anybody. She has not

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tried to subject anybody to her opinions, and I'm fearful. I'm fearful of the future. And what can happen is faras. The academic community is concerned assed faras. Our basic procedures as well as to what is happening substantively now I don't think, is far as Miss Davis

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is concerned. The resolution goes that far to say she will be arrested. She is still a member of the faculty of the University of California and subject to the time, place and manner rules the university. The region's vote today is almost sure to touch off strong

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reaction on the campus, if not throughout the state University system. Thousands of teachers and platoons of lawyers have already rallied to the side of Miss Davis. Students returned to classes on the Los Angeles campus on Monday, and it is their reaction authorities will be watching most

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closely. Ben Williams reporting for eyewitness news, be it resolved that the region's instruct the president during a full quarter of 1969 Miss Davis shall be assigned no teaching duties on this. She shall not be authorized to give instruction in any course under the jurisdiction of any

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school, college department or other academic agency approve of the region, Be it further resolved that during the period of appropriate university hearing procedures, she shall continue to be compensated as provided in her employment. Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen. You were told at the beginning that I

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would not answer questions. I have not changed my mind. I will not answer that question or any other German square with the region's own policy that questions when the border regions is supposed to serve the people of the state. How can you not answer questions on

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the topic? I have told you that I refused to answer questions. Those were my instructions from the border regions. I will abide by those in trouble. What about the region's policy that no political test would ever be made in the pointing of a faculty member, sir?

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Mm. Yeah,