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A nationally renowned historical institute will sever ties with SIUC because of the way the university treated the late professor who brought the work here 44 years ago, the association's president said Sunday.
Frank Williams, president of the Ulysses S. Grant Association, said the association would move because of the way the university handled sexual harassment allegations against John Y. Simon, who was locked out of his office in January.
"What happened here to John and the association never needed to happen. But what happened will never be forgotten," said Williams, who is also chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
Simon, a historian known for his work on Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln, taught at the university since 1964. He died July 8 at age 75 without knowing the specifics of the claims against him, friend and former Faculty Association President Marvin Zeman said.
Zeman said the university did not respect due process rights when it addressed allegations against Simon and other professors accused of sexual harassment. The situation could have been avoided if suggested changes to the university's sexual harassment policy had been implemented when they were turned in more than two years ago, Zeman said.
Williams echoed those sentiments when speaking to Zeman and more than 300 others during a memorial service for Simon at Shryock Auditorium Sunday.
After the service, Williams said he would not comment further because negotiations between the association and the university will be an ongoing legal matter.
Simon was executive director of the association, which he established at the university when he arrived in Carbondale in 1964. Housed in the library affairs office, the institute held several well-known historical works, including the 30 published volumes of Simon's "The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant."
University spokesman Rod Sievers said Sunday those dealing with the matter for the university, likely in legal counsel, would not be available for comment until today. Sievers said he hopes the association stays at the university.
"Even though we'd like to have that stay here at SIU, the future is a bit cloudy at this point," Sievers said.
Williams compared Simon's situation with that of Alfred Dreyfus, a French artillery officer during the 19th century Franco-Prussian War. Dreyfus was convicted of treason against his country and imprisoned before being released when the charges were found to be without merit.
Eventually, Dreyfus' reputation was restored, but not until he was dead, Williams said.
"As was the case in France, we have in this instance been confronted with unfair charges against a great man and a truly, truly shocking affront to basic principles of procedural due process and justice," Williams said.
Williams was one of 12 friends, family members and former students of Simon to speak at the service. They included Ulysses S. Grant's great-great granddaughter, Claire Ruestow Telecki.
Nearly every one of the speakers noted the historian's passion for his work, important contributions to the public's understanding of Civil War-era history, and irreverent sense of humor.
The latter was a significant factor in Simon's long-lasting effect on his students, said Sam Wheeler, a doctoral candidate from Springfield studying history.
Wheeler said he admired Simon's work before coming to SIUC in 2003 as his teaching assistant for a Civil War class. After nearly five years knowing Simon as a friend and mentor, Wheeler now teaches the Illinois history class Simon used to instruct.
When someone asked him whether he enjoyed having his own class, Wheeler said he doesn't see it that way.
"As far as I'm concerned, I'm simply doing what I've done whenever Professor Simon's been away. I'm merely filling in for a legend," he said.
Editor's Note: This story has been changed to reflect the following correction: John Y. Simon was locked out of his office in January, not December as was originally reported.
Sean McGahan can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 254 or mcgahan@siu.edu.
