September 2, 2008

Dispute Widens Between Southern Illinois U.-Carbondale and Ulysses S. Grant Association

A dispute between Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and the Ulysses S. Grant Association has deepened with the filing of a lawsuit over the association’s collection of papers of the U.S. president and Civil War general — which are held at the university’s library — and a welter of contending accounts of the split in the news media.

According to reports in The Daily Egyptian, the student newspaper at Carbondale, the association has sued the university to seek the release of the papers. The association voted to remove both itself and its papers from Carbondale in May.

The move was precipitated by a dispute over sexual-harassment allegations made by co-workers against John Y. Simon, the former executive director of the association and editor of The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, a publishing project. Mr. Simon spent 44 years at the university in those roles and as as a professor of history. He had completed 30 of the 31 volumes of the Grant papers when was fired by the university in January. He died in Carbondale in July.

Today’s issue of The Daily Egyptian also published an article in which Mr. Simon’s widow, Harriet Simon, said that her husband had never seen a full report of the investigation against him. Officials at the university contradicted that account.

The Daily Egyptian also reported that the vacuum of leadership at the association after Mr. Simon’s termination had led to allegations — made in the lawsuit — that Mr. Simon’s signature had been forged on some payment documents. The allegation was first made in correspondence between the association’s lawyers and the university that was obtained by the newspaper. —Richard Byrne

Comments

1. I knew John Y. Simon as a friend and, by long distance, mentor. The Daily Egyptian notes that the library director used foul language to the Grant Association and apologized, and the university spokesman dismissed it as a minor mistake. Yet a senior professor with 44 years at a school faces this kind of accusation and the school puts him and his family through the wringer, without even providing him with a proper outline of the charges (and if John and Harriet Simon say he never got the formal charges outlined, you can take their word to the bank). How dare they?

   — Michael Green    Sep 2, 06:04 PM    #

2. Everyone who knew John Simon knew that his word was good. I knew Harriet less well, but I have no reason to doubt her word. These charges against John Simon reek of Star Chamber, and the process appears to be something that would make Joe McCarthy very pleased.

   Let’s all hope the policy on such matters at SIU changes quickly and that other universities with similar policies take note.

   — astounded    Sep 3, 11:15 AM    #

3. I can corroborate that Dr. Simon never got a complete written copy of the charges against him, and that the investigators verbally changed the substance of what their claims actually consisted of regularly as they sought to find any truly sexually harassing actions or comments against him, which they never did. He NEVER received any Sexual Harassment training in over 44 years, yet managed to save many women from true predators over the years, myself included, with good advice and active protection. He also promptly handled all sexual harassment cases brought before him by his staff, which did not endear him to the predators. In fact, one charge against him had actually previously been brought against one of his staff and dealt with, and the supposed complainant denied to me that she had ever made a claim against Dr. Simon. The complainants were offered, and some received, promotions and awards for their actions. This is just one of several cases this University is prosecuting against its faculty over age 65. Stay tuned for excellent documentation on both the falsity of the charges against him and the not-too-clever forgery incident in current and future lawsuits by multiple parties.

   — Tamara Smith    Sep 4, 02:55 PM    #

4. I can’t go on until I stand up for my good friend, John Simon. I joined the Ulysses S. Grant Association four years ago, and embarked on a personal quest to understand the life of General Ulysses S. Grant. Dr. Simon guided me with advice, information and encouragement. He was always so kind, and had the very highest of character. I was heartbroken to hear how the university had mistreated him. I corresponded with Dr. Simon for four years, and was in his company at three weekend long Grant Association meetings and one Civil War symposium. He always treated everyone around him with kindness. I have gone over this and over this in my mind, and given the positive experiences I always had with him, I feel his character was so high, he just was not capable of doing anything to hurt anybody. I cried my heart out when Dr. Simon died, and my whole family was sad, because they knew how wonderful he was. I feel so lucky to have known Dr. Simon, and I will be happy to vouche for his high character, for the rest of my life.

   — Patricia Cameron    Sep 8, 04:18 PM    #

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