Cornell's Corson Affirms Stand On Minority Education Policy

Dale R. Corson, president of Cornell University, told members of the school's faculty council yesterday that the university has not lessened its commitment to minority education and he denied reports that the Cornell administration has intentionally reduced the number of black students and teachers.

Corson's speech followed last week's controversy over the dismissal of Herbert Parker, former assistant director of financial aid at Cornell.

Parker's dismissal led to a sit-in by protesting students at the admissions office and the administration building last Tuesday. The sit-in ended the next morning when students were ordered from the buildings by a temporary injunction.

While Corson yesterday failed to comment specifically on the Parker case, he did say Parker's "professional employment since 1972 has been marked by a series of difficulties."

Robert Hines, city prosecutor for Ithaca, N.Y. and Joseph Jock, district attorney of Tompkins County, are investigating the damage done to the admissions office during the student sit-in in order to determine whether enough evidence exists to bring charges against individual students.

Barbara Kauber, Cornell's judicial administrator, is currently conducting a separate investigation to determine whether any students, faculty or staff have violated the school's conduct code.