Despite the consensus that changes needed to be made at the college, there was heated debate over what should be changed.  In a proposal presented to the Board of Trustees in May 1947, Gilbert suggested eliminating the positions held by C.A. Sumner, a part-time drama teacher who had been with the school for many years, and Adele Lawrence,

instructor of the secretarial science courses.  Gilbert planned to use the funds saved by

removing these positions to hire more full-time teachers of core subjects.  The Board of Trustees rejected this plan and immediately reappointed the two teachers and raised their salaries.  Gilbert and the Board continued to argue until Gilbert finally resigned, stating that, pay raise or not, he would not return as long as the drama and secretarial science positions were filled.  Many students supported Gilbert’s decision to remove the two faculty positions, adding to the growing conflict between students and the Board of Trustees.  The students, many of whom demonstrated in a parade down Merrimon Avenue, claimed that Gilbert was being manipulated out of his position as dean because he was competing with the chair of the Board of Trustees.  However, because Gilbert had already refused to stay on as dean, the board could do little to appease the students.

The Board of Trustees appointed R.A. Tomberlin Interim President while they attempted to find a suitable candidate to replace Gilbert.  Tomberlin served in this capacity for the summer session in 1947.  He was appointed President instead of Dean because the Board of

Trustees had decided that the current size of Asheville-Biltmore College required a

President.

The History of the University of North Carolina at Asheville

© 2006 UNC Asheville One University Heights, Asheville, North Carolina  28804    828-251-6600
Created By, D. H. Ramsey Library Special Collections Staff 2006

Cody Bradford, Jessica Wallace, and Andrew Fedynak
360° Sepia Panoramic Photograph of UNCA — James Phelps