And according to Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R.Knowles, the Douglas vote might not be the kind ofissue that draws the Faculty out in droves.

"This particular issue is one of the Faculty'sconfirmation of a delegated responsibility," hesaid.

The Faculty voted to dismiss Douglas by anoverwhelming majority, after the AdministrativeBoard found that a rape had occurred in the case.During the meeting, Dean of the College Harry R.Lewis '68 moved that the Faculty dismiss Douglason the recommendation of the Ad Board.

Knowles says low attendance might be more of aconcern when academic policies that have a directimpact on the classroom are on the agenda.

Yet, some Faculty members who were absent fromlast week's meeting say the Douglas case itselfmight have been a disincentive to attend.

Emery Professor of Organic Chemistry E.J. Coreywas unable to attend the meeting because of anout-of-town speaking obligation. But he says thateven if he were in town, he does not believe he isthe proper person to decide Douglas' fate.

"I believe in high quality of justice, whichmeans a very high quality of informed judges,"Corey says. "I really think [the Douglas case was]a serious enough matter that the decision ought tobe made by people who really knew everything."

Corey says he just isn't sure if thepresentation of the accounts of the incidentprovided during the meeting could have given himenough information to feel comfortable casting avote.

Others say they don't attend meetings when theydon't feel expert in the topic beingdiscussed--even when the topic is lesscontroversial than disciplinary action.

"This is not an abandonment of responsibility,but rather a recognition that others may be morequalified than you," Knowles says