Word: furniss
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...Provost Furniss actually knows his informant's name and position...
Shortly after the informant had delivered his oral report, the Prudential Committee informed Professor Brand Blanshard, chairman of the philosophy department, that Mr. Cohen was not to be appointed. This contradicts Provost Furniss' statement that the case was never decided against Mr. Cohen, but merely "held in abeyance." The committee further stated that when a man's rejection was based on communist affiliation, the department involved would have no voice in the matter...
This was in line with Provost Furniss' own inclination: not to admit any known communists to the Yale faculty in any capacity. "Some educators argue that communists should be admitted in certain research and non-controversial fields, but I cannot make that distinction," the Provost says. "If we have Communists on the faculty now, however, we are not going to fire them for their beliefs," he adds...
Professor Northrop also soon learned of the charge. After a long talk with Mr. Cohen, he went to the Provost and stated that he definitely believed the charges to be false. Provost Furniss then agreed that the case seemed to demand further investigation and expressed a desire to talk with Mr. Cohen...
During the five days of re-investigation which followed, Provost Furniss consistently refused to name Mr. Cohen's alleged Communist associates. To clear himself with the Provost, Mr. Cohen submitted a four-page statement of his political credo. He also felt forced to report to Provost Furniss, down to the most minute details, every political activity he had engaged in over the past four years...