Pusey Denies Strictness of 'Publish' Rule

The doctrine of "publish or perish" in regard to appointment of professor is not so strict as many suspect it to be, President Pusey said yesterday, discussing undergraduate criticisms of Harvard's educational programs.

A close examination will not bear out the belief that professors here must write a great number of books before they gain tenure, Pusey said. Men are often promoted on the basis of skill in teaching rather than amount of publication, he added.

In answer to the continual request for increased contact with Faculty members, the President opined that "the question is not just contact by itself, but what kind of undergraduate is in contact with what kind of Faculty member."

He preferred "lectures by men who have written books" to "conversations with men who are reading those books," and added that "undergraduate appetite is insatiable" on this matter.

Discussing the science departments, the President pointed out the several new appointments which have been made since the war, citing the Biochemistry Department as an example. Although these departments do not appoint many new Ph. D. graduates to their ranks, he viewed it a good thing for these young men to gain experience in the science departments of other universities, and then to return to Harvard with tenure appointments.