Professors' Vote

Able, hard-working James Herbert Case Jr., Wall Streeter turned educator, left the presidency of Washington and Jefferson College nine years ago to take over a lively problem school: tiny (295 students) Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. Bard was broke; a onetime experimental affiliate of Columbia University, it was left with more teachers than it could adequately pay. Case moved in with a sure hand. His 47 teachers have seen their paychecks increase an average of 60%. A full professor who used to get $6,000 yearly can now expect $9,000.

It was still not enough, and Case agreed. But when the teachers demanded another 10% raise this fall, he had to turn it down. Bard was still in the red. The teachers would have to wait for next year's drive to raise $2,900,000, one-third earmarked for faculty salaries. President Case knew full well what his decision might mean: the militant local chapter of the American Association of University Professors threatened a vote of no-confidence in the president. "I defend this right of theirs," said he, and awaited results. Last week they came: a two-to-one vote against him. That was enough for Jim Case. Obeying the electorate, however unwise, good President Case, 53, promptly resigned.

With one of the nation's highest tuitions ($1,680), Bard can squeeze little more out of its students, whose total costs per year are now a hefty $2,500. Last week Bard's onetime parent, Columbia, calmly turned the trick by boosting college tuition 21% to $1,450. Reason: "the imperative need" for increasing faculty salaries. A Columbia full professor's minimum pay will now climb to $11,000.

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