American Association of University Professors (AAUP)

In 1923 a chapter of AAUP, with a membership of 33, was formed at UT during a disagreement between the faculty and the administration over the dismissals of six faculty members. In 1925 the AAUP passed a resolution at its national meeting that was somewhat at variance with the findings of its investigatory committee, stating that all of the dismissals were unjustified and criticizing conditions at the university. The local chapter became inactive following the confrontation and was not revitalized until 1938–39, when L. R. Hesler and other faculty reinstituted the chapter. The local chapter urged restraint to the national organization in a 1938 investigation of the dismissal of a professor, but the national organization censured UT at its 1939 annual meeting.