Three Former Communists Retained on M. I. T. Faculty

One of the bright spots in this year's Academic Freedom picture is M.I.T.'s handling of the cases of three professors who testified they were members of the Communist party before and during World War II.

A week after the professors appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee in Washington, the Institute announced that it intended to retain them on the faculty. The statement by President James R. Killian Jr. and Karl Compton, chairman of the Corporation, read in party, "Because of our confidence in them, as well as the candid manner in which they have reported on their past associations, we find no cause to change their status at the Institute."

At the same time, the Institute said it would consider the case of a fourth man, Lawrence B. Arguimbau, associate professor of Electrical Engineering, who testified in executive session and would reexamine the case of Dirk J. Struik, suspended professor of Mathematics. The decision on these two is still pending. None is actually expected yet on Struik, who was not called by the committee since he is still awaiting trial on a charge of conspiracy to overthrow the government by force and violence.

Four in Cell

The M.I.T. case broke into the headlines on April 22, when William T. Martin, head of the Mathematics department and Isador Amdur, professor of Chemistry, told the Un-American Activities Commit in open session that they had joined the Communist party in 1938 but quit in 1946 and 1944 respectively. Martin named Norman Levinson, associate professor of Mathematics, and Professors Arguimbau and Struik as members of the cell.

On the same day President Killian issued a statement in which he said that before Martin and Andur left for Washington they had given a "complete report of their activities" to representatives of the Institute. "The information which they have given," Killian said, "is being studied by a committee of the faculty and by the Executive Committee of the Corporation. When our investigation has been completed, the Institute will announce its decision with respect to these members of its staff, as well as professors Arguimbau and Levinson, whose testimony before the committee is, of course, not yet available to the Institute."

For a week, the Institute administration studied the testimony of the three professors. Then, on April 28, Killian and Compton released their statement.

"The Executive Committee of the M.I.T. Corporation," it opened, "decided today that Professors Martin, Amdur and Levinson who testified freely and cooperatively before the House Un-American Activities Committee, will be continued at the Institute without change of status and in good standing."

"While we in no sense condone the earlier association with Communism of the three professors, nor would we tolerate the presence of a known Communist on our Faculty, we are convinced that since the true nature of Communism became apparent to them some years ago, they have been free of any sympathy for it and have dissociated themselves completely from it. They have spoken with candor about their past activities and we are convinced that they are teachers of integrity and loyalty."