Interview with Lewis W. Cochran, August 6, 1985

Interview Summary

Lewis W. "Bud" Cochran begins this interview by discussing a censorship incident around 1979 surrounding a book called Black Spring, by Henry Miller, used in one of the undergraduate English classes by a part-time instructor. He talks about the use of the same syllabus for multiple section courses for undergraduate students, and that occasionally the issue of academic freedom would surface over course material. Cochran recalls that a student, Mark Goss, complained about the book to his father, Eugene Goss, a "mountain lawyer" from Harlan, Kentucky, who had been a member of the University of Kentucky's Board of Trustees. Cochran recalls he responded in a manner designed to keep it from "becoming a more major issue than it deserved to be". He mentions Joseph Bryan, Chairman of the English Department at the time. He discusses how the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and UK added constraints to the statement of standards regarding academic freedom to help keep the course descriptions consistent.

Cochran describes the position of ombudsman and it purpose within the university. He mentions the Omnibus Personality Test, given to all entering freshman.. Cochran discusses the development of specialty programs at the regional universities, including Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State, and Murray State. He talks about the Council on Higher Education and its recommendations regarding degree programs, particularly the interdisciplinary doctorate degree, and cutbacks in some disciplines. Cochran remembers the problems that developed with the Communications Department in 1979 by allowing simultaneous searches for a Director of the School of Journalism and a Dean of the College of Communications, and recalls that there were already problems within the department between these two areas. Cochran credits Robert Murphy, Professor of Communications, and Herb Drennon, Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences, with helping him with this situation.

Cochran remembers several secretaries at the President's office, including Ann Wilson and Miss Lucy Hogan. He discusses some of the every day activities as well as the responsibilities of his office, the importance of having a small, competent, and dedicated staff in order to be an effective administrator, and the frustration of working with limited resources. He talks about the informal chain of command that was in place when a crisis situation might arise while the President was out of town. Cochran recalls his working relationship with President Otis A. Singletary and his observations regarding Singletary's administrative style. He discusses the role of blacks and women in faculty and administrative positions, and possible reasons for the low percentages.

Interview Keyword

Bud Cochran

Interview LC Subject

Cochran, Lewis W., 1915- Cochran, Lewis W., 1915- --Interviews Singletary, Otis A. University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.