Faculty Records (University of Maine). Howard (Michael) Papers

The majority of the material in this record group relates to the work of the Council of Colleges appointed (1989) Ad-hoc Committee on the CIA and University Recruiting Policy, which Professor Michael Howard chaired. Opposition to the recruitment of students on the Orono campus by the Central Intelligence Agency stemmed from concerns at the CIA's recruitment policies which were viewed by critics of the CIA as discriminatory and also the CIA's overseas operations, as part of U.S. foreign abroad (particularly in Central America), and its impact domestically.

A series of lectures and public forums were held on the Orono campus to educate the campus community and promote dialogue, including a discussion involving member of the University of Maine community (September 27, 1989), the debate "Social Responsibility, Free Speech, and the Law: The CIA and the University" which featured Louis Menand III and Chip Berlet (October 19, 1989) and was supported by funding from the Maine Humanities Council, lecture from CIA critic John Stockwell "The Secret Wars of the CIA'' (November 1, 1989), and an representative from the CIA Michael Turner (November 29, 1989). Finally, on January 24, 1990, there was an open forum on the CIA for members of the University of Maine community to attend. The events were sponsored by many University of Maine units, including: the Office of the President, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Research and Public Service, the Honors Center, and the Maine Peace Action Committee. The Haymarket People's Fund also helped support the lecture by John Stockwell.

The Committee also produced a report of its findings and recommendations amongst which was to bar the CIA from recruiting on campus. Subsequent resolutions brought to the Faculty Senate to ban the CIA from recruiting at the University of Maine were defeated in a February 28, 1990, vote. However, both the Faculty and Student Senates did recommend policies condemning covert recruitment on campus. In May 1990, the Faculty Senate also accepted proposals that would require, upon request, outside recruiters to schedule a public forum to discuss the recruiting organization's policies and practices; that members of the University of Maine community should report any relationships they have as recruiters for the CIA; that the Careers Center should exercise leadership to expand and enhance opportunities for students to consider a broader range of ethical issues and personal values in their career planning; and that all employers seeking to recruit on campus and any university units that host recruiters should comply with the University of Maine's non-discrimination policies.

Other subjects covered by the material in this record group are opposition to a visit to the University of Maine by the National Security Agency in 1986 and additional ROTC programs on the Orono campus (1990-1991). Professor Howard led opposition on the grounds of the ROTC discriminating against students based on their sexual orientation and conflicting with the University of Maine's policy on nondiscrimination. And the Nuclear Freeze movement in the United States during the 1980s to secure an agreement between the U.S. and Soviet governments to halt the testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons and which Professor Howard was a member of (1982-1985). Professor Howard led the Nuclear War Discussion Project at the University of Maine, which was funded by grants from the Maine Humanities Council, and consisted of 40 programs in 8 cities in Maine (1983-1984). Professor Howard also led efforts for a public hearing for an "Act to Amend the Nuclear Issues Clearinghouse Law" in the state of Maine (1985).

There is also a folder in the record group featuring letters from writer, teacher, and antiwar activist Mitchell Goodman who resided in Temple, Maine in the 1980s and a notebook and diary written by Robert F. Threadwell, who was a professor of philosophy at the University of Maine.

Professor Howard came to the University of Maine in 1981 as an assistant professor and would later chair the Philosophy Department from 1993-1998 and 2008-2009. Among the books authored by Professor Howard are Self-Management and the Crisis of Socialism (2000) and Socialism (2001). Professor Howard has been involved with various peace and justice organizations, such as the Maine Peace Action Committee Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine, seeking non-military solutions to conflict. Professor Howard retired from the University of Maine in August 2022.