Yesterday we brought you part one of the story of Daniel Q. Posin, who was particularly gifted at explaining physics to the common man. In 1946, Posin moved to Fargo, where he became chairman of the physics department at the Agricultural College now known as NDSU. Posin was a colorful dynamo, and he became a household name as Fargo’s first television weatherman.

Unfortunately, trouble erupted on campus in 1954. Oil was discovered, and UND was considered the main source of geological expertise for the state. The state Board of Higher Education decided the Ag School’s geology department was overlapping UND’s and therefore chose to withdraw Fargo’s geology program as a major – but it could still offer geology classes.

NDAC President Fred Hultz, however, took it one step further; he fired his two geology professors, one of whom had tenure. His action drew quick criticism, and the situation escalated into a controversial feud between President Hultz and a core group deeply concerned about professional tenure and academic freedom rights.

By April 1955, Hultz wanted four of his most vocal critics, including Dr. Posin, to resign. The four men refused. One week later, Hultz made a public statement in which he stated Posin, Cecil Haver, Baldur Kristjanson and William Treuman “deliberately intended to interfere with, undermine, frustrate, and render ineffective the administration.” To underscore his charges, he stated they “sneered and snarled” at him, and they asked too many questions, too quickly, during campus meetings. He called for their immediate dismissal pending public hearings.

The hearings began May 16, 1955, and were conducted for nine and one-half days – each of which resulted in front page stories in the Fargo Forum. Posin, who was born in – and fled from – Russia, was questioned about a biography we wrote about a noted Russian physicist. He was also questioned about his desire to uphold another professor’s wish to conduct a class in Russian history, to which President Hultz was adamantly opposed.

As the hearings neared completion, the national office of the American Association of University Professors suggested, to the ND Board of Higher Education, the controversy be settled with reprimands to both sides, and they asked that the professors be allowed to keep their jobs. This request was ignored, however, and the four men were fired. Many years later, Dr. Harold Klosterman, former head of the biochemistry department at NDSU, recalled Hultz and his supporters freely referred to the ousted professors as communists.

Dr. Posin bounced back in fine form, however. He developed and hosted several television series, including Dr. Posin's Universe, On the Shoulders of Giants and Out of This World, for which he received six Emmy awards. He also traveled the world lecturing in favor of peace, for which he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on six different occasions.

Posin died at the age of 93 on May 21, 2003. It is said he was dancing in the halls of a New Orleans nursing home until his final days.

By Merry Helm

Sources:
Fargo Forum. 29 Mar 55; 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31 May 55; 1, 2, 5, 6 June 55.
Schwert, Donald P. Departmental history: the closure of the geology program in 1954. <http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/schwert/temp/ndac_geology_closure_1954_schwert.pdf>
The Controversy of 1955, North Dakota Agricultural College (NDAC). NDSU University Archives. <http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/archives/collections/Controversyof1955.htm>

This text and audio may not be copied without securing prior permission from North Dakota Public Radio.