Chancellor Archie Dykes appointed a 12-member Council on Human Relations in January 1972 to assist in identifying and removing any areas of racial discrimination at UT Knoxville. The council was asked to advise and make recommendations to the chancellor in the area of human relations; receive suggestions and complaints from students, faculty, and staff; initiate inquiries and hold hearings as appropriate; maintain liaison with individuals, committees, departments, and offices of the university that may be involved in matters that come before the council; and make recommendations to the office of the chancellor as necessary on issues on which findings have been rendered by the council. Dr. Charles Cleland, agricultural economics, was appointed chair.