3/22/1969, Burlington Free Press

GODDARD STUDENTS, FACULTY WON'T STRIKE OVER PRESIDENT

PLAINFIELD (AP) -- Students and faculty at Goddard College here have agreed to take a nondisruptive approach to the argument over selection of a new college president.

Meeting Thursday night, a group representing less than 10 per cent of the student-faculty membership voted 45-14 against a motion to stage a nonviolent strike to shut down the college if the Board of Trustees failed to respond to student-faculty demands for a greater voice in selection of Goddard's new administrator.

President Royce Pitkin, a founder of the school, plans to retire in June.

A nine-member selection committee recommended earlier this month that independent film producer Roger Hagan of Seattle, Wash., be named the Pitkin successor.

However, students and faculty at the college, including 500 resident undergraduates, 240 adult students in degree programs, 80 commuting adult students and 70 faculty members, petitioned the trustees for a postponement in the selection process until Hagan could visit the campus and be interviewed by the student body.

They further demanded an eight-member student-faculty selection committee be appointed to advise the Presidential Selection Committee on possible candidates.

Two other candidates being pressed by the student-faculty group are Stuart Miller of the Esalen Institute in California and former Vermont Tax Commissioner Gerald S. Witherspoon.

Student spokesmen say they are not opposed to Hagan, but feel his nomination was "pushed through."

One student leader has promised nonviolent action such as class boycotts, if the selection process is not reopened.

Goddard trustees have delayed action on Hagan's nomination pending a settlement of the dispute.