Word: blodgett
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Dates: during 1950-1950
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Professor Donald S. Kemmerer, a long-standing friend of Blodgett, charges that Bowen and Hagen forced Blodgett out because he was conservative. Kemmerer points to the fact that since Hagen became chairman and Bowen, dean, two of Blodgett's main courses have been taken away from him and given to professors hired by Bowen. Moreover, texts written by Blodgett were formerly used in classes attended by 2,100 students, are now used in classes totalling...
Bowen denied that political views had anything to do with Blodgett's leaving, and asked that a special committee investigate the situation. Such a committee was appointed, despite protests by Blodgett supporters that the matter should have been handled by the university Senate academic freedom committee...
However, the case has stirred up some interest in the state legislature, where certain legislators have rallied to Blodgett's defense. They have warned Stoddard that if he doesn't "clean up" things, they may get after...
This influx of newcomers has been emphasized by the Blodgett case, and aroused angry comments in the local press. According to the Chicago Sun Times, the Urbana News-Gazette, commenting on the Blodgett case, looked "askance at the 'outsiders' whom Bowen hired and allows as how it was much nicer when there were only 'comfortable' profs around who belonged to the local Kiwanis and Rotary clubs and thrilled to the deeds of the Illini gridiron heroes...
Student reaction to the case has been mixed. One former student of Blodgett wrote the Daily Illini, university newspaper, "Are you students going to give up Blodgett without a fight?" But 13 graduate students replied with a letter declaring that they felt that there was no departmental attempt at indoctrination in any one philosophy...