UA-R-GC-1914-01-01-1942-10-16_Page-076

1 REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE to THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES The American University at Cairo For the year 1941-42 Meetings of the Finance Committee were held, one on May 27, 1942 in Pittsburgh and one on October 16, 1942 in New York City directly preceding the meeting of the Board of Trustees. The Committee felt that Dean Badeau should remain in America for 1942-43 The following considerations entered into this decision: 1. Interpreting the Near East and the Moslem world to America would be rendering a service of real value to the total war effort, and Dean Badeau has outstanding qualifications to undertake this difficult but important task. 2. The building up of a constituency which can c4rry the financial load is a matter of great concern to the Finance Committee. Now when the thoughts of Americans are turned to the Near East is the time to make friends and win contri-butors. Such an opportunity may never present itself again. 3. Dean Badeau will be a continuing influence and able to carry on and develop the many friendships which can be made now. 4. A six months' limit is placed on Dean Badeau's stay so that if peace should come, he can return immediately to his work in Cairo. (This feeling on the part of the Finance Committee was not shared by the rest of the Board. Circular action was taken requesting Dean Badeau to return to Egypt, is possible, for the opening of the college year 1942-43). The Finance Committee has read the recent letters from the staff in Egypt und views with alarm the physical condition of the staff brought about by overwork because of the increased participation in outside war activities and because of the general strain and tension due to tige war. The following consider-ations are brought to the attention of the staff: 1. The Trustees insist that each member of the American staff take at least one month of complete rest and relaxation away from Cairo during the summer of 1942. The Trustees stand ready to provide approximately 00 extra vacation allowance to help insure the carrying out of this suggestion which should be considered as a Trustees' order. The dispending of this extra vacation bonus is left to the discretion of Dr. Watson. 1 2. While the Trustees appreciate the value of the outside war work being done by the members of the staff, they do not look with favor on the continuance of this work since it is evident to all that it is interfering seriously with the staff's efficiency as teachers and administrators of the American University at Cairo. Our University work itself is a most effective and penetrating piece of war work. The understanding therefore is that the staff should concentrate its efforts on the actúal work of the University and undertake outside war activities only in most unusual cases. The Trustees dare to hope that this will furnish the staff with a ruling which can be used by them to avoid outside work just as a