Lawyer Explains EMU Settlement With Professors

YPSILANTI - About 50 f aculty and students from Eastern Michigan University last night head George Newman, attorney for David Cahill, Dr. Lawrence Hochman and Dr. Richard Sroges, explain the meaning of the EMU settlement with the former professors. The three men had sued EMU for reinstatement af ter they were fired from the University last night heard termed "political reasons." Newmen explained the settlement, made public last week, included the payment of $38,000 cash to the plaintiffs. Newman said community news media had reported part of the settlement would be used to pay attorney's fees in the suit. "I want to make it clear I did not get one penny of that money. The check was made out to me and to each of the plaintiffs." Newman's fee was paid by the Michigan Federation of Teachers. He said the entire settlement sum was divided among the professors. Other terms of the settlement included the stipulation that those involved in the suit would be allowed to discuss it. " T h i s is something the university fought against," Newman noted. "One of their proposed conditions for settlement was that the plaintiffs I not be allowed to discuss the I trial." Other conditions stipulated I the EMU administration I move all political materials from. the plaintiffs' files and iJ write a favorable letter of recommendation for e a c h professor. Newman explained that durcng the hearing in Federal District Court before Judge Damon S. Keith, materials unrelated to classroom performance and activity had been found in the professors' files. Canill: material from the Indiana State Pólice given to EMU at the request of university officials; a photo copy of the check Cahill used to pay the printer of the underground paper "The Second Coming"; photo copies of articles from area newspapers regarding "The Second i ing" and Cahill's political activity, several with official stamps from the Michigan State Pólice investigative bureau; Sroges: copies of a petition that appeared in The News signed by Sroges and about 200 others in support of Dr. Benjamin Spock with Sroges' name underlined; a student's academie and non-academie record clipped together with a notation to watch the student! in connection with political activity with Sroges; Hochman: materials and news articles relating to nis I 1968 candidacy for vice-president on the New Politics ticket. A copy of the Spock petition was also included. Newman asked other EMU faculty members to consider what might be in their files and what action they could take to get the material removed. At this time, it is not known whether other EMU faculty members will request to see their files. Newman also told the audience the settlement had been i initiated by EMU, contrary to written statements released yesterday by the president's office. SHmysëtüëmëütthere is ■ a great deal of reciprocity, I 1butwewentintothesuitwith Sssibly a great deal tenger the decisión wereappeaiea , He added it was disappo ntinj to him as au attorney "to Sve up a case so pregnant Kh possibilities of being A-on -- iB