Before the crisis

In August 1968, six months before the Masterson crisis arose, Kenneth Pitzer resigned as president of Rice University. 

Following his resignation, the Rice Board of Trustees formed an internal committee for the selection of the next president. This committee then requested that members of the Rice faculty form their own committee to assist them in their search.

The Faculty-Student Advisory Committee for the Selection of the President consisted of six faculty and three student members. They collected names and researched potential candidates for the presidency, until news of the Masterson appointment broke in February 1969. 

Click on the pages in the right-hand menu to learn more about Pitzer's resignation and the student-faculty advisory committee.