"That's not how things are done," said DominicA. Nwasike, professor of history and a member ofthe search committee, about Counter's refusal ofthe offer. "I'm sure that he had accepted theoffer." Nwasike added that he was skeptical aboutthe "distinction" Counter made between acceptingcandidacy and accepting the job.

Nwasike said he was not particularlydisappointed that Counter had turned the schooldown. "It just means that my job [as a member ofthe search committee] is to be more difficult,"Nwasike said.

Some professors at the school do not seem to beregarding Counter's refusal as a great loss,though whether that displeasure results from hisdecision to turn down the school is open toquestion.

Counter "was not a favorite candidate. He didnot stand out head and shoulders above the othercandidates," said Doris C. Withers, professor of*** and a member of the search committee.

"He was an interesting enough candidate to moveforward. He doesn't have a strong senior-leveladministrative background--not a dean, not a vicepresident, not a provost," Withers said. But sheadded that Counter is thought to have a strongacademic background.

But another professor, who interviewed Counterduring the search process, said the Harvardprofessor had stood out.

"I was impressed by Counter in theinterviews--not only because of his background,but because of his willingness to undertakeventures," said Roderick Loney, chairman of MedgarEvers' division of education.

Still, many find it hard to swallow Counter'sexplanation of what transpired.

Withers described a painstaking search process,in which many of the original candidates droppedout of the race because they did not take theappointment seriously. Three candidates werefinally chosen to visit the campus in early Mayand spend a day meeting with alumni, faculty,administrators and staff.

The interviewers wrote reports that were sentto the search committee. At this time, Witherssaid, the three candidates were interviewed by theentire CUNY Board of Trustees, and met forone-on-one conversations with the universitychancellor.

The way Withers tells it, the final trusteevote on Counter was regarded as a formality. Itwas assumed he would accept, she said.

"Dr. Counter was spoken to on Friday beforethat meeting. The chancellor, Murphy, spoke to himand said, `I'm going to forward your name to theBoard of Trustees for approval, will you acceptthe job?' The story is that he said `yes,'"Withers said. "When you get to the point that yourname is going to the board of trustees--that'salmost like a gentleman's agreement."

During the interval between the school'sannouncement and Counter's refusal, Withers said,some faculty members speculated that theirdesignated leader was trying to get CUNY to agreeto give greater support to the small Brooklyncommunity college.

Some of the faculty grew so impatient duringthe wait that they called Counter, Withers said.She added that she does not believe reports thatthe professors discouraged Counter from taking thepost. She said the calls came from people who"would not have called to discourage him." Sheadded that "many of us felt it was inappropriate"to contact Counter about his decision.

The notion that a disagreement with CUNY washolding up the appointment had a sound basis inhistory, for the two schools have sometimes shareda less than friendly relationship. Thehighly-publicized Counter appointment, and thescholar's subsequent refusal, came as the mostrecent blow for a school that has been dodgingpunches all its life.