Professor Sorokin Criticizes Particulars of Tenure Report

In the face of controversy over the University's tenure policy and an increased exodus of young instructors from Harvard this spring, Pitirim Sorokin, professor of Sociology, issued a statement last night objecting to details in the University's attitude about faculty tenure as formulated by the Committee of Eight's report.

Professor Sorokin's statement is prompted by the abnormal exodus of many of the younger instructors in the College. The Sociology Department is particularly affected because Robert K. Merton, one of the most experienced tutors in Sociology, is leaving to take up a permanent position at Tulane University. Many others are leaving for other universities from the Economics, Government, and Sociology Departments.

Agrees With Union

Professor Sorokin agrees in principle with the objections to the Committee of Eight report of the Cambridge Union of University Teachers published last week in its Bulletin.

The sociologist feels, as does the Teachers' Union, that the policy concerning appointments ought to be more flexible in regard to salaries and rank. He objects to the automatic increase of salaries for instructors and associate professors, saying, "Instead of this automatic and mechanical increase, a more flexible scale of remuneration, non-Automatic but based on the merit of the instructor or professor, appears to be more advisable."

Professor Sorokin pointed out that the professors who were on the Committee were hard on the lower ranks. "The report did not at all reduce the salaries of the full professors, especi- ally the and reporting them and twelve thousand a year, and quite sharply reduced the salaries of the lower ranks," he said.

Sorokin defends the institution of assistant professor as "a bridge for the most promising young scholars," and says. "I am glad that--President Conant decided not to abolish entirely the category of assistant professor."

Depieres Loss of Better Men

Referring to the exodus of instructors, Professor Sorokin says "the better scholars have better chances to receive offers from outside and when they are convinced that the situation after three or five years would be cut down at Harvard, they naturally go to other institutions. Less capable scholars have much less chance to receive an offer and respectively they would remain with us and step by step would supplement more and more the better scholars.

In addition, in several departments the exodus of the better and more mature scholars this spring happens to be so great that a considerable part of the tutoring next year will have to be done by new and less experienced tutors, This means that they would be getting their experience at the expense of their tutees, and would be sharpening their teeth on their brains.

"This is especially important because the figures show that teaching of students is increasingly done by non-professional instructors, assistants, and tutors. Such a situation may turn into a new type of tutoring school," he concludes

Sorokin defends the institution of assistant professor as "a bridge for the most promising young scholars," and says. "I am glad that--President Conant decided not to abolish entirely the category of assistant professor."

Depieres Loss of Better Men

Referring to the exodus of instructors, Professor Sorokin says "the better scholars have better chances to receive offers from outside and when they are convinced that the situation after three or five years would be cut down at Harvard, they naturally go to other institutions. Less capable scholars have much less chance to receive an offer and respectively they would remain with us and step by step would supplement more and more the better scholars.

In addition, in several departments the exodus of the better and more mature scholars this spring happens to be so great that a considerable part of the tutoring next year will have to be done by new and less experienced tutors, This means that they would be getting their experience at the expense of their tutees, and would be sharpening their teeth on their brains.

"This is especially important because the figures show that teaching of students is increasingly done by non-professional instructors, assistants, and tutors. Such a situation may turn into a new type of tutoring school," he concludes